Toby Vernon and Georgie Spence were both among the winners at the first competition of the 2008 British Eventing season, where they were competing alongside Olympians such as Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson.
EAST Kennet trainer Peter Jones, who delighted his many followers in the area when his charge Stripe Me Blue won at Kempton, found himself in the winners' enclosure again this week when George's Boy (11-2) won the Windsor Partners Amateur Riders Handicap Chase at Plumpton.
BARBURY Castle trainer Alan King saddled Oh Crick to a fourth successive victory in the handicap hurdle at Hereford in midweek, the trainer's 91st winner of the season.
FARINGDON trainer Sean Curran had his biggest pay day so far in his short training career when he saddled 11-1 shot Iris de Balme to win the £16,000 Kent National Handicap Chase at Folkestone in midweek.
TRAINER Alan King paraded his 18-strong team for the Cheltenham Festival at a press day held in glorious sunshine at Barbury Castle in midweek - and nominated Franchoek in the JCB Triumph Hurdle as his leading chance.
Trainer Paul Nicholls is said to be satisfied with the ground conditions ahead of today's meeting at Ascot where his charge, Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star, will be going to post in the Grade I Commercial First Chase in his warm-up race for the Festival showpiece.
