Jack Whitaker showcases a masterclass win in the Al Shira’aa four-star Grand Prix at Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International
Monday 06 July 2026
.JPG "Jack Whitaker showcases a masterclass win in the Al Shira’aa four-star Grand Prix at Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International")
Jack Whitaker delivered a masterclass in jump-off riding to take the showpiece Al Shira’aa 4* Grand Prix in front of an enthusiastic Saturday night crowd at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International with D&H Valmy De La Lande.
Forty-two riders were faced with a challenging 13-fence, 16-effort 1.55m track designed by Raf Suarez, with questions coming from every angle, the early ‘Watermelon’ wall proving decisively influential as well as the combination and the final line of double to oxer. Thirteen from six nations found all the answers to advance into the jump-off, including uncle and nephew John and Jack Whitaker.
Ireland’s David Simpson, fresh from his second place in the iconic Hickstead Derby on Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve, set a strong early target. Holly Smith immediately chased with Nike Van Het Singraven but fell short by only 0.13 of a second, but there looks plenty more to come from this exciting eight-year-old.
But Jack cruised round on the big-striding D&H Valmy De La Lande, risking a gallop to the last with whoops of encouragement from his connections to swoop to victory by an incredible 0.91 seconds.
"D&H Valmy has been in our stable for 12 years and he's 17 now," said Jack, on the French-bred Mylord Carthago x Starter stallion. "He's been an absolute trooper for me, kept my career on the road for the last few years and I can't be more grateful to have him. This is his first big show since January, but he just keeps surprising us and pulling it out of the bag.
"I honestly thought I hadn't done enough. Even when I went into the lead, I still couldn't quite believe it, so to win this class is incredibly special."
Reflecting on another successful week for the famous Whitaker family at Bolesworth, he added: "There were six of us here this week, so if we're not keeping it in the family, we're obviously not doing a very good job!"
David Simpson had to settle for second: "Every time I'm about to win something, a Whitaker appears!" he joked.
Holly was thrilled with her third place, praising her exciting string of young horses: "I didn't expect this at all. I've brought a young team here, but they really feel like they're coming of age now and showing everyone just how special they are."
Guy Williams’ fearsome reputation as one of the sport's fastest riders was enhanced as he produced a superb round to win 4* Rolls Royce Sunningdale world ranking 1.50m Speed.
A total of 49 combinations representing seven nations tackled the 15-effort track, all aiming to qualify for the feature Al Shira'aa Grand Prix. Multi-Olympian Laura Kraut claimed an early lead on Carquilara PS. Harry Charles chased and looked set to challenge the leaderboard but was denied by a rail at the final fence with Bandit. The lead changed hands as UAE’s Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, fresh from his 3* Lisbon victory aboard Al Shira'aa Farms Chacco Bay, but none could match the pace of Guy. Riding James Riley’s talented 11-year-old BH Gringos Legacy, Guy made full use of his mare's natural speed to stop the clock with an impressive 2.31 seconds to spare.
Watching early riders shaped his plan.
"I just watched a few go and I had a good draw. Harry was very quick compared to the others, I just saw if I'd done the numbers, my horse moves fast, then I should be alright to catch the leader."
Despite her competitive nature in the ring, Williams revealed BH Gringos Legacy is remarkably straightforward at home.
"She's easy to deal with. My wife hacks her out and she lives out in the field most of the time."
Reflecting on Rafael Suarez's course, Guy remarked it required riders to stay fully committed throughout: "You have to ride the round like you're going to jump clear, and if you're going to win, you're not worried about knocking the jumps down — you're worried about being quick and jumping clear, so you don't want any other thoughts in your head."
Maddie Heath and the super-consistent BP Millionaire, winners of Week 1’s Under 25 Final, repeated the feat in Week 2 to take the D&H Under 25 Championship under enormous pressure as last to go.
“It’s definitely what we’ve been aiming for, but the course was a lot bigger and more technical than last week,” said Maddie, 21, who has partnered the handsome bay for the past two years.
Twenty competitors participated over a 1.40m course, but only four could find the key to advance to the jump-off, with three British riders pitted against one Irish contender.
Cate Kerr set a quick target in the opening round on Petitfour VD Wareslage, while the on-form pairing of Jessica Hewlett and her qualifying round double winner Mosandro Van Perbeemd could only come within 0.18 seconds. But Ireland’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy dared Cava to slip into a 0.22 second lead.
Maddie was not deterred by any pressure, and BP Millionaire matched her fervour, slicing corners at pace to gallop into the top spot by an incredible 0.99 seconds.
“We prepped him right in the qualifiers and didn’t blow his brain for the Grand Prix. I know when we get into a jump-off, he’s so naturally quick we stand a chance, and he’s got all the jump, I knew he could do it,” said Maddie, who finds the feisty Millionaire x Centurion eight-year-old has great self-belief.
“He’s always full of it, very brave in the ring yet so careful – he’s very precious about where he puts his toes. He won't walk through puddles and he's always looking for something to spook at, but I think that's what makes him so careful. He's always paying attention and that's what helps him in the ring."
Maddie also topped the final day’s STX-UK 1* 1.35m with Ivory, the 13-year-old Don VHP Z x Cartogran mare flying into victory by 2.38 seconds in the nine-horse decider.
Chris Smith scored a victory double in the 2* 1.35m classes with Ashdale Allstar, the 10-year-old Big Star x Luidam mare winning an early 12-horse jump-off by 0.71 seconds and outpacing 41 challengers to edge ahead by 0.17 seconds in the final day’s two-phase class,
Rob Bevis and Cicerouna were crowned Six-year-old Final champions. Fifteen of the original 55 starters returned initial clears to access the jump-off over a 1.25m track with Rob guiding the Cicero Z Van Paemel daughter into a 0.38 second win, pushing Week 1’s Final winners Anthony Condon and SFS Dodged’Em into second.
"I was lucky to be drawn towards the end because I honestly didn't think I'd beat Anthony after seeing how quick he was last week," said Rob, who has only partnered this inexperienced mare for one month. "This has been a bit of a surprise."
Jay Halim scored four wins with the 15-year-old Gentle (Libero H x Lord Calando). They headed an early 84-strong 1* 1.30m speed by 1.30 seconds and beat 42 others in a 1* 1.25m two-phase by almost two seconds. In the novelty classes, Jay got the better of all in the Ride and Drive by 2.68 seconds and finally galloped to victory in the entertaining Mini Major with 0.91 seconds to spare.
Amelia Gardiner cut every conceivable turn to the quick to earn the Peel Port Logistics Amateur 1.15m Final title with OCS Double Vision.
“This is so very, very special. I come here every year and have been her the last two weeks, I love this show and this win means so much to me,” said Amelia, on her biggest win.
Forty-two contended this class with 30 going against the clock, Amelia finding the shortest route to edge ahead of Douglas Breen on Hucalinde DV by only 0.06 seconds.
“I watched the first one go and thought she wasn’t as tight as I could be, and I was very close to the wings,” said Amelia, who bought the former working hunter five years ago because, “He’s so sweet-natured and easy to do.”
The 17-year-old has qualified for HOYS and competed at Royal International in his working hunter career and has now switched to showjumping.
"He was never meant to be a showjumper," she smiled. "He used to be quite lazy and would trot between the fences, but we realised that if we saved him for special shows like this he really comes alive. The longer we've had him, the more he's enjoyed these big occasions. He’s so easy; he loves hacking and goes in the field all day. We have actually won here before, but not a Championship and he was off all year last year. It’s so good to have him back and this win makes it extra special,” said Amelia.
Second in Week 1’s Final, Reuben Blackhurst, 17, went one better in Week 2, racing to victory in the Premier Plants Group Amateur 1.05m Final with Soulful.
“He’s one of the fastest horses, so brave, nimble and all heart. I planned to go as fast as I could and it paid off today,” said Reuben.
Nine of the 36 starters jumped clear over the 12-fence, 15-effort track to return for the jump-off with Annie Salthouse – a double winner in the previous day’s 1.05m and 1.15m – taking an early lead aboard Elati. Reuben had other ideas.
Galloping through the start, he negotiated the tightest of turns and pushed for a risky gallop to the final vertical to record a 0.62 second win.
“I went a little slower from the double to the vertical two from home to get the turn into the last but one oxer, but the rest of the way I was gunning it,” said Reuben, who has competed the 11-year-old ‘Solo’ for the past two years. “He’s a hilarious at home, such a character in the stable, but when he’s in the ring, he’s so easy to ride and so competitive.”
Annie Salthouse had to settle for second on Elati and Evie Toombes clinched third with If Evers Boy.
Image: Suzanne Jones
.JPG "Holly Smith and Nike van het Singraven continued their sensational run of form at Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International")
