Guy produced two of the three clear rounds with Crumbgraft (Crumble, breeder: Kai) and BH Gringos Legacy, while the 2023 and 2024 Derby Trial winner Carlos Mota Ribas delivered the other clear with Juan Van't Arkelhof (Diamant de Semilly, breeder: wies en Hans Moens).

For the past three years, the Agria Derby Trial has not had an outright winner, with riders opting to share the honours in order to save their horses for Sunday’s Al Shira’aa Derby. But today Guy was keen to add his name to one of the few trophies he is yet to win at Hickstead, and he opted to jump a second round with brand new ride Crumbgraft in order to secure the win.

“I’ve only had Crumbgraft for two weeks,” explained Guy, who originally comes from Kent but now lives in Yorkshire. “I jumped him in a 1.40m class not long ago, and we were a bit rusty to say the least – so I jumped him twice yesterday. Today I thought if I could jump a clear I could get lucky and win some money!”

The 10-year-old grey Holsteiner gelding by Crumble will now back his debut in Sunday’s Al Shira’aa Derby, along with Guy’s second placed ride BH Gringos Legacy. Asked who he thought he had the better chance of winning on, Guy named the latter. He has had the ride on BH Gringos Legacy for just six weeks, but in that time she has had some really good results in the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Spain as well as in France.

“I also took her to Hamburg for the Derby in preparation for this, and she was second in the first qualifier and won the second one, and was fourth in the Derby itself,” explained Guy.

Before Guy got her, BH Gringos Legacy evented up to intermediate level, and today she looked entirely at ease round Hickstead’s permanent fences. “I was very confident today,” Guy added. “She’s a very good horse, and as an eventer she never thinks backwards at all. Her main thought is forwards.”

Brazil’s Carlos Mota Ribas has become one of the most consistent Hickstead performers in recent years, winning two Derby Trial titles as well as securing several top three placings in both the Al Shira’aa Derby and the British Speed Derby.

Juan Van't Arkelhof, who is by Diamant De Semilly, came third in the Al Shira’aa Derby last year, and Carlos has high hopes for this year’s class. “I needed to scratch the jump-off today because he’s 16 years old and he’s had a knee surgery, so I have to be very careful. I respect him a lot, because when he’s in good shape he gives everything to me. I’d rather have him good on Sunday to provide the crowd with a good show – I’ll be trying to win this class, because that’s something I’ve never accomplished so far.”

Hickstead’s crowds could be in for a treat on Sunday afternoon, with one of the most competitive Al Shira’aa Derby fields in years.

Sammie-Jo Coffin (Chaccomo Blue) and Olympic event rider Gemma Stevens (Envoy Merelsnest Z) were the highest placed lady riders in fifth and sixth place respectively, while in fourth was Joe Fernyhough on Calcourt Particle.

Four members of the Whitaker family ended up on four faults apiece in the trial, with Robert, Michael, Joe and last year’s runner up William all featuring in the top 10.

In the final class of the day, the 83-strong Hickstead Derby Two-Phase, the honours went to Ireland's Peter Moloney and Nielson.

Moloney doesn’t ride and train the horse on a daily basis, as the chestnut gelding is based with owner Lisa Oakes and ridden by stable jockey Anna Telford. “She keeps him going at home, and I just ride him at the shows – so they make my job easy enough,” says the Irishman, who took the ride on Nielson at the tail end of 2024. 

For full results click here.