Edited press release from the All England Jumping Course

Scottish rider Nicole Lockhead Anderson took the top spot in Thursday’s CSI4* 1.50m ClipMyHorse.TV Derby Tankard at the 2023-edition of the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting with her new ride Catino 10 (Catoki x Quidam de Revel). 

A total of 27 combinations came forward for the 1.50m world ranking class, with nine riders producing that crucial first round clear to go into the jump-off. Nicole was last to go, and she produced a perfectly-timed round to shave one second off the leading time, relegating Ireland’s David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve (Bamako de Muze x Taran de La Pomme) into second place.

“I didn't actually see anybody go before me, but he's naturally a very fast horse – he's so careful and everything planned out perfectly,” said Nicole. “He loves this big arena, and it’s amazing to win here.”

She has only had the ride on the 10-year-old bay for a couple of months. “He just gets better and better,” she added. “He’s such a little character. He's only about 15.2hh but he's got so much jump and he's got a heart of a lion.”

Nicole is based in Kent, where she is stable rider for Tom and Jess Williams. “I am very lucky – I have some incredible horses to ride and I’m very grateful. I've got lots of nice young ones and I've got some really good older ones to jump these sort of classes, which is great.”

Her next stop is Friday’s Agria Derby Trial, and from there possibly a first tilt in the Al Shira’aa Derby. “We'll see how it goes. I haven't done the Derby and I'm very excited, it's an amazing class.”

Lockhead Anderson has been a prolific winner at Hickstead for the past few years – so what’s her secret? “I like going fast! And luckily so do the horses, and it’s nice when it pays off.”

William Funnell (GBR) and Equine America Billy Picador (Billy Mexico x Animo) placed third, while Simon Crippen (GBR) and Handsome (Toulon x Phin Phin) finished fourth and Jonathan Smyth (GBR) fifth aboard Mulvin Lui (Luidam x Castleconnor Barron).