We wanted to find out a little bit more about Agria equine insurance because they have come on board with the eventing podcast. They have a brilliant message to share and I'm delighted to say Vicki Wentworth, Chief Executive of Agria UK is with me. Vicki, sustainability is such a massive topic of discussion at the moment. What does it mean to Agria? - So, you know, I in a blowout trumpet were the UK's only carbon positive pet insurer, you know, and I joined the business a couple of years ago and I said to my team, you know, there's things that are really important to us. We like to make a stand as an organization for things that we feel offer a better quality of life, both to our owners and to the pets that we ensure and they own and sustainability is one of those, yeah. So every single event that we run is at least carbon neutral. So we offset all of our events, but, you know, we've got some brilliant, brilliant initiatives. We support worldwide initiatives for, you know, whether that's digging water wells in Africa to support them, you know, the irrigation systems and actually keeping village tribes alive or, you know, whether it's for a station in the Amazon. So actually, there's some of it is really, really big, global scale stuff. Some of it's quite small. Some of it is about planting trees using veterans, you know, that are traumatized by either the physical or mental effects of war. They're volunteers and we support a charity that does exactly that, you know, plants trees. So we offset our events, not just by planting trees, but of course it's doing some good when we can sort of do that. We also give seeds away for the bees to a lot of our partners and customers, but actually we've also got a super initiative, which I love, it's really, really innovative and it's our hoofprint and our pawprint calculators. So you can offset or at least go and find out what the carbon footprint is of your horse or your pet. So we do dogs, cats and rabbits as well. And you can offset that with us on our website or you just as a matter of interest, know that your horse equals X number of tons of carbon per annum. And it's all about where you seek your feed from, how much you travel around in the lorry. Do you, for example, use wood shavings or straw? What fodder do you feed it? All of these things, you know, is it wrapped in plastic? Is it not wrapped in plastic? But all of these things come together to create a carbon hoofprint of your horse. And I just think that's really special, yeah. There's so many people who don't actually know, but are really keen to understand the impact they're having on the environment. So maybe you don't necessarily have the money to offset. It's not extraordinarily expensive, but I appreciate that every pound is a pound. It's about 14 pounds to offset your horse. But you know what, go and have a look, go onto our website and have a look at your carbon hoofprint. (upbeat music) - Hi listeners, before we dive in to this episode of the podcast and the Blenham Preview Show, one of the big favorites for the eight nine oral class, Bubby Upton's It's Coolie Time actually withdrew after we recorded it before it was released. And let's just say he features pretty heavily in the conversation and on our podiums at the end of the show. So unfortunately, it is the way the cookie crumbles and great to hear that actually it isn't anything too major and he'll be back out and about next season looking forward to seeing where their journey takes them, but it does mean that he isn't heading to Blenham. So just bear that in mind, but otherwise enjoy the rest of the show. - Listeners, welcome to the Blenham Palace International Horse Preview Show and kick things off. First of all, this show is actually I think celebrating some pretty big news for the sport of venting because it was announced in the last few days that Argria are taking up title sponsorship of Blenham, which has been without a title sponsor. It should be said for the last few years for the next three years, which is absolutely huge for the sport. It's brilliant news for Argria who we've worked with for a little while and we wanted to kind of celebrate and support them because they're investing a lot of money into a question in sports, not just venting. And actually it's really cool as to what it might mean for the future, for the venue. Rosie is with me, Rosie, first of all, I think Blenham has long been, you know, since back in what, 1990 or whenever it was that it first started. I guess one of the destination events, one of the calendar events of the year, it's classed as a big B and actually, I don't think we can take for granted just how important it is to the landscape of eventing in Great Britain. - It's huge. It has so many avenues in the sense of, from a spectator's point of view, I went there for the first time three years ago and it was stunning. And it still is stunning. I'm not saying it was, it's not possible. But it is a stunning venue. But I think I-- - You've added the aesthetics, Rosie. - Yeah, I just didn't almost expect how incredible it would be when you have the dress argerinas with the stunning house as the backdrop. It is a beautiful venue and for spectators, there's so much to see and do. From a writer's point of view, the eight and nine year old class, which is just such an exciting class because the stars of the future are sat there, ready to go on and do magical things like we saw with Coolie Rosie last year. She won it last year since gone on to win Kentucky. And you also have then the four star long class of which we've seen the likes of Yazin go on and win. And then she went on to become world champion. And we also had Colytos Quidditch K. Oh, we love that horse didn't we Nicole? Back in 2022 when they won, that was fantastic. And also, you know, sometimes sets them up for if they're going to Maryland at the end of the year. There's so many different avenues for this event and why it's so important. And I'm just delighted that Argria are now such a big part of it. - They are, and do you know what? I don't mean we can actually underestimate the investment that Argria have made because they are relatively, while the company itself is actually very established and has been in operation for a good number of years. I guess their support of equestrian sports, particularly in this country that we have seen so visibly has really only come about in the last couple of years. And actually now you look at Burley, you look at Hicksdair, you look at London and National Hall Show, all of these major events. And Argria are involved in supporting them. And actually their input is enormous because we've become quite used to seeing the likes of Defender, the likes of Mars, you know, brilliant companies who do an enormous amount for the sport. But I guess we haven't necessarily seen anybody else come in recently and really make that level of investment. You know, the economic climate hasn't been the most straightforward over the last few years with COVID, et cetera. So it is absolutely brilliant to see and I'm very excited to see where it might take them. And I think it's brilliant for Blenheim. It's brilliant for stable events who run Blenheim. They obviously took on the event last year from the Jockey Club, you know, and they're very much finding their feet in what is the kind of the way forward and the pathway of making sure that ultimately the event is a sustainable business because as much as we all have horses and horse trails, you can't run it for a loss of money because it doesn't work for a very long. So it's just brilliant. It's great for them all. And looking forward to seeing where it might go and, you know, exciting times for the future as to what might be installed, I think we might have to find because obviously the Argyre Horse for Lifetime series actually has been one of my favorite new additions to the roster this year. And interestingly, the show that's coming up next on the Horse for Lifetime series is actually going to be an Irish focus because Argyre have obviously, you know, launched into Ireland. Sarah Ennis is, I believe, one of their riders. And actually they've kind of expanded their support. I think they're now involved in the high performance team in Ireland, you know, so it's not just over here. It's eventing as a whole. And so we will be doing a special on the Horse for Lifetime series at the end of the month that will have an Irish focus. I will say no more listeners. I will wet your appetite and I will leave it there. Watch this space as to what might come about. And actually, of course, I mean, one of their first rider that they got to work with was Roscanto who's now the early champion, the European champion. She's, let's be honest, they didn't pick too badly when they supported Ros. Okay, Blenham this year. We obviously, I think before we dive into the show, I'm just going to throw it back to a show that Sam and I did last week which went out in conjunction with Blenham, which focused on the 89-year-old class. And we dive a little bit deeper. We'll link it in the show notes here if you haven't already listened to it. But we dive a little bit deeper into actually some of the stars that have come out of the event that have gone on to one of five stars. So these are 89-year-old class graduates. So that means they've completed the 89-year-old class and they've gone on to win five stars. So you've got the likes of Kimbo for Andrew Nicholson. You've got the likes of Janelle Price is very dynamo who's a former winner. You know, Cooley Rosalind, Rosie, you mentioned her at the beginning of the show with Oliver Towne and one last year, then went straight to Maryland, was on the podium at Maryland. Be interested to have a look at this year's entry field actually and say if we might see somebody else that could take a similar trajectory. But basically these are the real superstars of the future. So looking forward to seeing what superstars are going to be unveiled this year. And I would just say Rosie on the show that Sam and I did, I'm going to find out what camp you're in here because I made a big thing about getting a new notebook, go to Blandon with your new notebook and you can find your stars of the future. You can say I was there when this happened. Now everybody in the Discord group has really got behind me on this and there's a lot of new notebooks. They appreciate stationary. Sam thought I was a little bit mental. Are you a fan of a new notebook? - I am, especially this time of year 'cause September, all the kids are going back to school. So there's really nice stationary because everybody's out there, obviously promoting for the kids going back to school. But I obviously don't go to school anymore but I walk down the aisle and I'm like, I wish I was going back to school because there's some lovely stuff here. So from an aesthetics point of view, yes, I am so up for a new notebook because I love that satisfying feeling of having it all new. That was the only good bit about September when you had to get back to school was everything was new and I really liked that. But definitely worth getting a notebook for Blandon, I'd say, yeah. - I just think, I think there's something about that kind of fresh opportunities and these are kind of the stars that actually, yes, we might have seen coming up the grades and yes, they might not be the ones that finish in the top 10 at the end of the weekend. However, as we saw with the likes of Ballomol class for Oliver Towner and Toledo de Cursor, Tom McKuean, who back in what 2016 or something five years before the Olympic Games in Tokyo ended up happening, they came and they finished in like 36 and 38th place or something. And so you can find the stars, you can find those horses that are actually really worth following for the future and actually wants to look into for next year. So let's start there because the eight nine year old class, as we've said, plenty of big names in it. I think when we look at the entry list and you look at the kind of ones to watch, I'm gonna start things off by saying that actually one horse that stands out for me would be for Piggy March. And Piggy's actually had a really quiet season by her standards. You know, it's not been the easiest of seasons. She's training unbelievably hard for Cycle for Caroline, which is gonna be a huge undertaking, obviously, in November. But it hasn't been straightforward. Horses didn't go to plan, had a couple of injuries, pre-Badminton and it's hard to pick yourself up, dust yourself off. But I would say she comes to Blandham, she's got two in the four star long, she's got one in the four star short with a serious chance, actually. Dassett Arthurland is the one that she has in the four short. He's nine years old. He actually missed all of last season, which is a real shame, but he picked up an injury post-Lelion Donge, but actually went to Lelion as a seven-year-old and finished second, but finished on a score of 22.7. So he's a really, really competitive horse. He's not got a huge amount of mileage, especially as a nine-year-olds coming into this class at the four-star level. He's not actually had a run cross country at the four-star level yet. So step up here, however, he's been to Lelion, he can take in a big atmosphere, and I'm very excited for Piggy, 'cause I would love for her to have a good weekend. - Oh, it would be amazing if she could come here and do well. And she's actually one here twice. She won on Halo in 2022 and won with Fly Machine back in 2009. And actually Dassett Arthurland's a great shout, 'cause they're the highest rated show jumper in the field. And that show jump ring provides a lot of atmosphere that some of these horses may not have experienced before, because everybody's quite closest. It's a proper, true, big B international arena, if you know what I mean. With the house, the backdrop, and everybody's close, there's a buzz. And I think that having a good jumper is really important in this class. I think they're a super, super shout. - I also, just a quick one, because actually she's got a couple of very good chances in the four long in Halo, who won this a couple of years ago, as you say. And Brookfield future news, who was second here, for both of them coming back for the four long. She actually has four Blen and Winz to her name across the two classes. Only one rider has more, and that is William Fox Pitt on five. So, in theory, she could overtake William this weekend. It's not out of the realms of possibility. - Very, very impressive. Definitely a happy hunting ground for her. But a lady who is on flying form, and this horse especially, Bubby Upton, it's coolie time. I think are ones that we need to take a note of, because they come in with a six RA of 28.1, which is in the top five in the field. They've just come off the back of a fantastic run at Hartbury, where I think Bubby took the one to at Hartbury. I think she won with Cola, and was second with its coolie time in the four-star short there. And only two seconds over the optimum time. And Hartbury's a hard place to make the time. It's fast there. So, a really, really super horse that's jumped double clear in the last three international runs, two of them both being four stars. I think that they are ones to really take note of Bubby immensely competitive. So, we'll be coming here and meeting business. And I think they've got two four-star runs under their belt, which sometimes people come here, and this is their first four-star run, which of course it would be when you've got the younger horses, but they've got two under their belt and two successful ones as well. I have a bit of a horse crush on his coolie time. I have to be honest, because he's just gorgeous. I mean, he's just so stunning. And I am a bit of a sucker for a grey. I'm not gonna lie. But he is really, really smart. He looks the real deal. And actually, I know Bubby's worked pretty hard to get a syndicate together, a small syndicate to be able to keep the ride on him. And he just looks like he's got all of the bits that she needs to take him right to the top. He, I think, is a great shout. He's nine-year-olds. I was actually gonna pick up on an eight-year-old. The last eight-year-old to win, Blenham Rosie. Do you want to throw a guess in? The eight-nine-year-old class? Ooh. I'm gonna guess a year is what I'm gonna guess. 2008? I don't know. No, 2016. I think it was 2016. It was Willem Newton, Kia 20. Ooh. The last eight-year-old to win. But actually, there's a really nice horse in the field that I think should be pretty competitive. And again, has got a four-star short run under his belt, jumped double clear at Hartberry. And that is Sarah Blenham's choromero. Interestingly, actually, looking at the test that he scored, I mean, he's been on the podium as a six-year-old in Lilion. He actually didn't get selected. Had a couple of 20 penalties back end of last year and didn't get selected then for Lilion as a seven-year-old. And Sarah took him out to Montalabressi for the three-star long at the end of the season and won that. But he's come out this season and jumped very well. The only thing I would say in his one four-star test, he scored a 31.5 when he's been, you know, consistently in the mid-20s. And I just wonder whether the changes aren't quite established yet, because... And I didn't see the test, so I could be totally wrong on this. But actually, it is a big old step up to the four-star test from the three-star test. And some of these young horses, particularly when you ask them to put it together in an arena like the Blenna Marina, it is a lot for them to do. So I'll, you know, watch this space on that. However, very much looking forward to seeing them. And I'd be really thrilled for Sarah to have a competitive weekend, to be honest. - Yeah, we love Sarah. That would be amazing. And actually, I've got another one who's kind of in that low 30s region. They've only had one run at the four-star short. But I know it's a horse that Georgie Goss thinks an awful lot of, and that's Kojac. Absolutely stunning horse. This is my horse crush, I must admit. - I have a lot to be honest, Rosie. I'm pretty loose with my old horse crushes. - He is absolutely stunning. Like I say, he's only been to four-star once that was at Belgium at the end of July. And they scored a 31.7 there. Jump clear, cross-country, just rolled one pole in the show jumping. But a combination who have won so many international, international, I should say national events, sorry, here in Britain. They have won internationals, though, because they won the three-star long and Ballon Dennis last year. I don't think they're gonna be podium finishers, but definitely wants to keep an eye on for that top 10, I'd say. - Who was that, sorry? - Georgie Goss and Kojac, yes. - Okay. Right, I have got, I've got, I've just got to pick a man to be honest, Rosie, because I feel like he is riding with so much confidence that anything is possible. Harry Mead, in his dashing white cross-country fellows, obviously riding high off the back of a brilliant couple of placings and third and fourth at Burleigh. He's got a couple of really nice young horses here. He's actually just got two in the eight nine year old class in Amiro Island and Cooley, anything you like. So Amiro Island, a little bit of pace to make up in the first phase, but generally speaking, pretty good cross-country jumper. And then, and again, only an eight year old, but went to Lily on last year, so has seen a good bit. I think that's interesting, because obviously Blenham is quite an imposing venue, there's a lot of atmosphere, there's a lot going on. Interestingly, the main arena, they do dress out of the four short and the four long, alongside each other in the main arena, which definitely, I think, helps these younger horses, because they've sort of got a friend. They're not quite as isolated, but then they do obviously come in, the show jumping as hells very early on Saturday morning. And it's usually quite foggy. I remember there's been a few Blenhams where actually you can't really see a huge amount. First thing in the show jumping, and then the sun kind of rises, and all of a sudden you get this palace that you didn't know was there. But there is a good atmosphere in the show jumping, and it's normally a tough enough track, as you say. So he's got Amiro Island and Cooley, anything you like, who actually was originally produced by Piggy March, a new ride for Harry this year, but one with Piggy did win the two star long at Houghton Hall a couple of years ago. So that's quite a cool addition to his string, owned now by James Michelin Gay-Skula, who've been massive supporters of Harry and Piggy, and eventing. They've had horse with Polly Stockton and the like. I think Westwood Mariner from memory was one of that. So lovely to see them sort of continuing their affiliation. And I think I just don't think you can discount Harry Meade. He had three really good results here last year in the fall long, of which horses then have gone on, you know, animal Valona was one of them. Ed Hoptomatz as well was another, who went so well at Bramham and is en route to Maryland. So just keep your own old cheeky Harry Meade. See what he's up to. - He's absolutely flying at the moment. Like if he continues his form, his world ranking is going to just absolutely fly, because there's so many horse testing. - Exactly, he has the horse power. He is on a mission. So yes, do not discount him. I totally agree with you there, Nicole. Izzy Taylor has won in here. I'd like to pick up on nine-year-old SPH Big Wall, coming in with the joint second lowest six RA of 28, absolutely phenomenal combination. Top 10 on the cross-country jumping metrics. They're fast at top five on the speed metrics. And I mean, they've just come back from a win in Laskarven, where they won in the four short there. That was only last month. So they're on flying form at the moment. Only one second, as you know, they're clear inside the time there. 26.9, they can very smart in that first phase. And actually for the eight nine-year-old class, that's really important, because from our last winners since back in 2009, the average dressage score has been a 26.5. From the combinations have gone on to win. So I think they could be definitely ones to watch, to be right up there. Yeah, I think Big Wall for me is one to watch, particularly in the show jumping. Can have a couple down, but I think actually there's, he's a young horse and kind of growing in strength, jumped clear in Laskarven. So I'll, I think Izzy's got some really nice young horses. Perhaps not being as, I guess, prolific at the sort of the five-star level over the last couple of years. And actually it was really nice to see this kind of wave of younger horses coming through at the three-star level, stepping up to the four-star level. She's a really competitive rider, and she had a great weekend actually at Corbinbury as well. And I'm sure we'll see her at Lillian a little bit later on in the year. Right, I actually am going to throw one more name into the mix because he's going to lead us very nicely on to the four-star long format. Tom McEwen has Cecilia Cobra, eight-year-old in the field, actually owned by James and Joe Lambert, who obviously are part owners of jail, Dublin, brilliant story there. This was pretty an experience, it's only done four internationals, done one for short, up at Blair, picked up at 20, but I think just an interesting one to watch because these are the next generation of Tom McEwen stars coming through. Tom also has, which is going to lead us now into the four-star long format, a really smart horse called Isa, who I know he thinks a lot of, was actually produced over in, I think in Europe by a German rider called Charlotte Whittaker, and had some good wins at the three-star level over there. So it's not often that you see Tom McEwen necessarily taking on a horse that has kind of been brought over from Europe at the three-star level, but he thinks a lot of her. She's 10, she's in the four-star long, it's her first four-star long, and I think this is one that we just want to keep a very close eye on. And guess what, she's grey. (laughing) - Right. - Did you have greys when you were younger? Do you have loads of washing or anything to do when you're younger? Do you just like greys now you're older and you don't? - No, no, no, no, no, to be fair, I had one of my first ponies was a little grey Welsh mountain pony called Rupert, and Rupert was Snow White. Rupert also spent, he had a few injury problems and bits and pieces, and he had to be on box rest for a little bit. And bearing in mind, he was literally pure white. He was the whitest pony I have ever seen, and he stayed white. He was incredible. He just literally was like, you'd bring him out for stable, and he'd still be like sparkling. So maybe I'm just not scarred from the grey. That's off spot for them, but yeah. - They do look beautiful, I must admit. And, you know, the grey unicorn we always talk about is in the four star long halo that you mentioned. I think that, you know, he needs to be mentioned for this class because he's really, really competitive. We said he won back in 2022. He's coming in with the second lowest six RA of 27.6. They actually have already had a four star win this year at Aston Lawools back in July. 26.6 was their dressage that had jumped double clear, just picked up 1.2 time. So Aston Lawools is a hard place to get the time because it's quite twisty, turny, and you've got to be riding forward the whole time. I'd love to see Piggy go and win again here with him. Like you said, she's got a great record here, and just whilst we're on the Grey's, I thought he needed a mention. - To be fair, he actually has the record dressage score, in the eight, nine-year-old class, which was 21.3 when he won a couple of years ago. And that's still the record. So he's got a blannum record for his name already, but he can score very much in the low twenties. He's actually pretty experienced. Taylor now, he's very established at the four star long level. So I think that will play into his favor. Piggy also has another ride in the class, which is Brookfield's future news, who won the two star at Frickley, lost a couple of times out ago, actually, and then was second up at Blair Castle as part of his prep for this. - So he's another horse that actually has been relatively lightly campaigned. You know, he went to Blannum as an eight, nine-year-old last year and finished second, but actually hasn't done a huge amount. Miss sort of bit of the early part of the season, and has only had a couple of international runs last part of this season. But he's really smart. He's owned by the Brookfield team. So Alison Swinburne and then John and Chloe Perry. And you look at his record, and he's, I mean, check this Rosie from, so he's had 13 international runs. He's actually only run cross country in 11 of them. 10 from the 11, including Blannum eight, nine-year-olds, including Lillian Donge, seven-year-olds, young horse world championships. He's been inside the time. - That is mad. - 10 from 11. And the only one he wasn't was his first four star up at Blair, which he got 13.6 time penalties. And I'm pretty certain that was like the second fastest of the day. Oh yeah, second fastest of the day. The only one quicker was the badminton winner, Caroline Paul Greenhake, a special couple here. Oh no, beg your pardon. Parig McCarthy snuck on in. And I think Josie Prok to snuck on in actually, right a little bit further on down the leadboard they were. So basically he is rapid. So one to look out for in the cross country. - That's seriously, seriously impressive. One I want to mention actually, lovely to see them over here at Blannum. Don't think they've been to Blann before. Jerome Robine is coming over with black eyes. And I think it's lovely to have such a great international contingent coming over. Because as Sam mentioned in the show that you said about earlier that you guys did last week, which was really great to look back at previous winners and things. Blannum is not just such a big event in the UK. It is an international event that people all over the world care about and use as prep ratio, nor as like a mini championship as we say with eight and nine year olds. So it's lovely to see him over here, made his German team debut back at the Europeans last year. And they were top 10 there. I'm really excited to see them here at Blannum. - Yeah, interestingly actually, I was just looking at that because we've also got, we've got Jerome and we've also got Calvin Bockman, Phantom of the Opera, who obviously were the traveling reserves, the number four rider for Germany in Paris. And I have a feeling, so last year, Calvin and Le Bissaboo Lübaker came over as part of like a German Federation Grant. And they came over and they trained with Yulia Krebski for the week. And basically she came over and kind of worked with them. And their opportunity was to come over to Blannum and train and actually get some real experience. And I don't know for certain, but I would imagine that this is the similar thing again. So that's perhaps why we're getting the opportunity to see them. And I agree, I think they're very, very strong chances. I mean, the Phantom of the Opera, for example, one will be one of the fastest horse in the fields, but two, he actually has won our field on his last outing, the Four Star Nations Cup there, but he was second arcan to Yulia Krebski and nickel. He has some serious form. And this is a horse that actually has been to travel a good bit as well, went out to Kentucky in the spring, top 20. But I think they will have a great chance. I don't think it is, by any stretch of the imagination, set that it is going to be a British win here, because I've also got another one that I think we just have to throw in. Philip Dustin is making the trip. And he actually has a horse called Denim that was produced over in Europe, actually, has been with Philip for a little while. Last couple of years, I think, was actually produced originally by Merrill Blum, Blum Holzman, went very well in young horse classes, and then Philip bought the horse at the beginning of 2022, has had some really nice results coming up the levels, and has Four Star Long Form, was fifth at trial and earlier on this year. Been to bookalow, completed bookalow. Only a nine-year-old has done a lot for a nine-year-old, actually, went to bookalow as an eight-year-old, been top 10 at Le Leon with Philip as a, you know, finished seventh there as a seven-year-old. Like, basically, is just a really, really smart horse for the future. And I think that's very cool that Philip's bringing the horse over and having a craft with him. - I love seeing this international contingent. It just makes me so excited. Okay, where else have we got? Jesse Campbell has his Tokyo ride, Diachello in the fields. You have got... - Laura Collin Hester, another great. - Yes, and actually, that's an interesting one, because she has obviously taken them out to five-star a couple of times. She took her to Le Moulin, and she learned a lot. And I think she's just kind of dropping her back down and saying, "Let's go and have some fun. "Let's go and consolidate." And I think she'll be very competitive. You know that she'll be riding for the win. There is one in here, actually, that I think we absolutely can't not talk about, because I think she is aiming for a win. Jamma Stevens, how do you know? - Yeah, yeah. - And actually, that's a horse that, being honest, like has been to Blenham, I think four times previously, completed on three of those occasions, had a really late fall. I think it was last year, cross-country, which was really unfortunate. I think almost at the last fence, like it was right at the second last fence, maybe, right at the end of the course. But she's a really competitive horse. And I think in all three phases, she knows Blenham, she loves Blenham. She's been top ten at five-star. You know, she'll be well on track for a good result here this weekend. - And actually, they come in with the lowest six RA of 26.9, so you're right. They are coming in to mean business. - Okay, anybody else? I've got one more that I'm gonna throw into the mix before we go to podiums Rosie. - Go on then. - Okay, it is actually a horse courtesy of Emily King. Jackpot has had some really competitive runs nationally, has been a good winner nationally and has some good placings at advanced level. Second at Kornbury, in the three-star section there, and has a couple of four-star short runs I'm glad about this year. It's their first four-star long. They went to the eight nine-year-old class last year and unfortunately had a four-cross country. But actually, very competitive in all three phases can score a low 20s or mid-20s dressage, but you pardon. And then can jump double clear. So I think that's a really interesting one for her. I know it's one she thinks has, you know, the legs to go to the very, very top. So Emily King, Jackpot for me. - Right, podiums Rosie. - Okay, are we doing eight nine-year-old podiums? - You've eight nine-year-old first. - Yeah. - Right. - And then do the four long. - Okay, so for my eight nine-year-olds, I'm going to say, I'm going to say it's a win for Bobby Upton and it's coolie time. I'm going to say second is Izzy Taylor, SPH Big War. And rounding out my top three, it's going to be Piggy March and Dassett Arthurland. - Okay, nice. I am going to go, I've just found another one. Listen as I do like this, I've failed to mention in the four long, but I might come back to them. I might put them on my podium, just go a bit wild. - Okay, my four short podium is going to be, I think it is going to be a win for, hmm. - It's hard when you've actually got to pick one and pin them down, it's really difficult. - No, I'm getting the nerves now. Do you know what? I actually think Bobby will be on the podium. I think Bobby will finish second. I think Piggy March will win. I'm going to say Dassett Arthurland and Piggy March will win. - Yeah. - Bobby, it's coolie time, we'll finish second. And I'm actually going to put Sam Lissington and Qantas on the podium for that. - Very good, I like it. - Okay, I'll go straight on to my four long podium because I'm actually going to say that I don't think you can look much past Halo for the win, if I'm honest. I think Halo and Piggy March will take the top spot. I'm going to say that in second is Gemma Stevens, Jalapino, and in third, I'm going to say Brookfield Future News, Piggy March again. I think Piggy's going to have a very good weekend. I hope she does, I really, really hope she does. And the author that I hadn't mentioned that I feel like we should, I just don't think he's necessarily going to get the competition play out as he would have, I mean, I could be totally wrong. Happy Boy is in the field, Tim Price. So a horse that's won Bookolo, a horse that has been lily on seven year old world champion, and we've totally kind of glossed over him because he hasn't been as prolific this season. So happy boy Tim Price, just keep an eye out because he's only a 12 year old and been a little bit more off the radar in the last 12, 18 months or so. Went to Poe last year and then withdrew after dressage and things didn't, they went to LaMoulin last year, but then didn't present. So it hadn't quite had the run of form that they would have liked, but yeah, want to keep an eye on the field. But that's my podium. I can't add four on the podium, Rosie. - Oh, your friend is firing the works there 'cause I glossed over Happy Boy as well, and they're a great shout. I'm going to agree with you of Halo and P March. I think that they're going to come on to win here. I'm also going to agree with you, Gemma Stevens and Jalapino for second, but I think that Laurel Colle and Hester will round out the podium in third place. - Okay, there we go. Watch this space listeners. Blenheim is here. You can watch it live on a horse and country. If you haven't decided whether you're going, then maybe just think about your plans for this weekend. You can get your tickets online. We'll pop a link in the show notes as well. If you want to go in shopping any day after Hot Bus 3, I think it is. You can get a £5 shopping ticket. And I understand that there's some good shopping this year. So just keep that in mind as well. If you haven't started your Christmas shopping, good opportunity. If you do get your new notebook, please take a picture. Tag is on Instagram. We'd love to see. Especially let us know who you put in your notebook. Because what I think we might do is actually kind of sit down and say, right, okay, who did catch our eye as a Blenheim after this weekend? Rosie, it has been a pleasure. It's been a while since we've done one of these shows together. Missed you. Yeah, I've missed you too. It's great fun. And I'm chuckling here, because if anybody doesn't know Nicole, she starts her Christmas shopping, okay, on January the 1st for that year. Throughout the year, she'll pick up bits and pieces that she thinks people were like. And it makes me laugh. But he said, well, if you haven't started your Christmas shopping, it's time to have us. You're totally normal. You are totally normal. I'll be honest. I will be honest. My Christmas shopping plans, which I did used to be really good. There'll be people listening to this going, what the hell are you saying the C word for? But honestly listeners, we're less than a hundred days to Christmas now. That's scary. That's scary. I know it's terrifying. I used to be really, really good and basically started in January. So it started in the sales post Christmas. But I'll be totally honest. I still do that. I just don't do it as efficiently. Now I have two children and like no free time whatsoever. And I definitely don't take two children shopping with me because there's nothing fun about that. So online shopping is my friend. And yeah, I'm not bad, but I'm not done by any stretch of the imagination. So don't worry about it. - And if you can go and... - Continue it up, Blenham. - Yeah, do a Blenham. And if you go on Christmas Eve, that's okay. It's fine. No judgment here. - Right. - Listeners, there you go. Blenham this weekend. Watch this base. Who will be the future stars that are unveiled at this year's Blenham Palace International Hall of Trials. And as we said at the start of the show, just absolutely delighted that Argria, who've been master supporters of the eventing podcast this year, are on board as title sponsor, Blenham, moving forward for the next three years at least because actually that's huge for the sport. I don't think we can underestimate it. And I would just say again, actually, to anybody that is a fan of eventing, if there's ever anything that you need, whether it be insurance for your horses, whether it be equipment, whatever it is, it's worth looking at actually what those companies do. It's part of your process to give back to the sport because actually that in terms of sustainability, it makes a massive difference. Put it into your list of considerations if it's not already there because they certainly it does make a difference. And I'm sure Argria would be happy to talk to anybody about any insurance questions that they've got in terms of the lifetime insurance. I know we've done a Q&A about it before. In fact, on the first show we did with Ross County, we did a much more in depth kind of discussion on actually lifetime insurance. Does it really mean lifetime? And the answer to that listeners is yes, it does. But we'll pop the Ross County show in the show notes as well. So you can go and listen to that. It's well worth it if you kind of thinking about making any changes or it might be of interest to you in the future. Right, listeners, we'll be back soon with more Rosie. Thank you and enjoy Blenheim.
