Win for HOYS first-timer

Leon Thisjjen, making his first visit to HOYS, scored the second Dutch victory of the show when he won Friday afternoon’s Dick Turpin Stakes on Lute P.

Norwegian star Geir Gulliksen held a long-time lead with Steps Illusion, but Leon, 35, cut the corners a fraction tighter to win by 0.57sec. The best of the British was young rider Louise Pavitt, who finished within 1sec of the winners on her speedy chestnut, Make Haste V.

“She’s a brilliant speed horse,” said Eindhoven-based Leon, who has scored more than 30 wins on the grey Lute P.

Carron Nicol scored one of the best victories of her career when she galloped to Aon Six-Year-Old success on partner Steve Lamb’s Concorde stallion, Hollywood.

Sussex-based Carron won from pole position in a classy seven-horse jump-off to defeat Susie Rawding’s good round on the scopey Pandour by a cool 3sec.

Laura Mantel was another rider enjoying the HOYS spotlight for the first time when she headed the Blue Chip Junior Newcomers final on her smart part-bred Arab, Custom Cruiser.

This victory was some compensation for Laura and Custom Cruiser, who produced the fastest time in the opening day’s junior Foxhunter jump-off, but lowered a fence en route.

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