Robert Walker as soon as once more proved a pressure within the novice hunter ranks, and landed the 2026 Royal Windsor novice hunter championship, sponsored by Alan Marnie.
The Cheshire-based producer steered Jill Day’s Floor Management (Sundae) – a five-year-old by Lagans Obus – to the title.
Sundae has been a member of Crew Walker since final summer season.
“Simply earlier than Dublin, PJ Casey rang me and advised me he had a horse that may go well with us. He despatched us a video of him and Jill purchased him from the video,” defined Robert. “The primary time we really noticed him was at Dublin.”
Regardless of being immature, Sundae stood four-year-old champion at Dublin, and moved to the Walkers’ base afterwards the place he was turned away for a break till Christmas.
This was the standard gelding’s third outing on English soil – he gained the earlier two – however his first main query.
“I’ve rides on him at residence the place he provides me goosebumps, however was a bit babyish once more in the present day,” admitted Robert. “There’s nonetheless a lot extra to return of him but.”
Robert additionally gained the heavyweight novice division aboard Jill’s BC Fox Rock.
The six-year-old gelding by Attain For The Stars was additionally bred in Eire.
“Some buddies – Amy Stunt and Brian Murphy – had him and Jill purchased him from them. He’s an enormous horse and an enormous mover, so once more, there’s extra to return from him.”
In reserve was one other Cheshire-based competitor. Vicky Smith rode her mom Angela Smith’s Tremarl Timber (Tim) to the reserve spot within the 2026 Royal Windsor novice hunter championship having stood second within the light-weight division.
The six-year-old Timolin gelding first made headlines in 2023, when regardless of being solely evenly proven, he claimed one of many largest prizes on the in-hand exhibiting calendar: the Value Household Supreme in-hand championship at Horse of the 12 months Present (HOYS), dealt with by Simon Charlesworth.
Since then, Tim has been rigorously and slowly produced by Vicky with a clutch of strong novice wins, together with on the 2025 British Present Horse Affiliation (BSHA) championships.
Bred within the purple, Tim’s full sister, Tremarl Timpani – nonetheless owned by their breeder Jane Davies – is the reigning HOYS using horse of the yr, and stood reserve at each Windsor and RIHS final time period.
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H&H exhibiting editor
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as exhibiting editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Exhibiting World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she began exhibiting as an adolescent and has loved wins at main exhibits up and down the nation, together with Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, in addition to HOYS, RIHS and London. She is especially obsessed with Welsh breeds and can be a Welsh language commentator.