A former racehorse forging a second career in the sport of eventing was the star of the final day of Cornbury House Horse Trials 2026.
Enhanced, ridden by Bubby Upton and owned by his breeders, Phoebe and Jeffrey Hobby of Brightwalton Stud, won the £45,000 first prize in the Arena Racing Company Racehorse To Eventer Challenge Cup, just tipping one showjump to add four faults to his dressage mark of 25.8.
This was the second running of this innovative class, the brainchild of Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud and Cornbury’s founder and president David Howden, which aims to encourage former racehorses to be retrained for eventing – a discipline which is perfectly suited to the thoroughbred attributes of stamina, speed, trainability and athletic ability.
Bubby said: “Enhanced has been amazing all week. He’s a really, really sensitive horse – his sire is New Approach, and his offspring are renowned for you needing to get on the right side of their brains. I’ve had him for two years and we’ve really built an incredible partnership and developed the trust. Cross-country he’s an absolute Ferrari – the feeling of galloping up these Cornbury hills on a racehorse is unbelievable; so effortlessly fast and powerful.
“I’m so grateful to David, Jayne and Arena Racing Company for staging this class – it’s amazing for the racehorses to be able to shine.”
Jeffrey Hobby explained that Enhanced – who is out of a Hurricane Run mare called Complexion – won on the Flat when trained by Hughie Morrison, then was retrained by Phoebe and their son, before going to Bubby with the aim of winning this class at Corbury.
“ It was mad, wasn’t it? To think we could do it. You know, as a British breeder, I think we bring a lot of horses into the world and it’s really important that we create another life for them [after racing]. We take that very seriously. This is a great showcase of what thoroughbreds can do in the right home.”
World number one Tim Price gathered most of the rest of the prizes at Cornbury on Sunday, taking Pragnell CCI3*-S section I with the Pau CCI5* winner Jarillo on a dressage score of 27.8. So successful was Tim in today’s classes that he also was awarded the Oxfordshire event’s Leading Rider award of £2,500 and a magnificent silver trophy from Pragnell.
He said: “Cornbury comes at a good time in the season for the horses and for me, and the ground is prepared beautifully so it gives us the opportunity if we want to to go a bit faster. It’s like a boutique ‘big event’ here and I just love it.”
The USA’s Hallie Coon fought off a tough field to win CCI3*-S section J riding her own Tykillen Tango. A quality dressage performance of 26.7 put her strongly in contention, sitting second behind Emily King and her CCI5* horse Valmy Biats’ score of 24.9. Both showjumped clear, but Hallie was offered an opening when Emily conceded time-penalties Hallie and Tykillen Tango rose to the occasion, jumping a faultless round inside the time finishing on their dressage score.
Hallie said: “The horse really surprised me this weekend. We came here for a nice run, to prepare for the seven-year-old world championships in Le Lion, so to come and win the open class is really special. He gives me all the feelings that you would want from a top horse.”
This was the seventh running of Cornbury House Horse Trials, and David Howden declared it another resounding success.
“It’s been a brilliant week. Looking ahead to hosting the FEI World Championships for U25s next year, we held an Advanced class for under-25s with a new cross-country track, which provided just the right sort of challenge. Reversing the cross-country courses has worked really well; it was wonderful to see a huge crowd here today to watch the final of the Arena Racing Company Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup, the new layout and expanded retail offering worked well and I love seeing so many happy faces round the site.
“We take feedback very seriously, and we always want to keep improving – our ethos is to provide the best possible conditions for horses and riders, and to entertain owners and visitors to the best of our ability.”