Equestrianism: Funnell's fluency earns jump-off win

William Funnell's partnership with Cortaflex Machiavelli took a step forward yesterday, on the second day of the Golden Jubilee International Tour at the Royal Show, when they won the 1.40 metres class with two fluent, clear rounds. "He's a very good horse to turn back to an oxer," Funnell said, having made use of this attribute with a tight turn to the second jump-off fence.

Having decided to make a serious victory bid if all went well over the first four fences, Funnell sped round the rest of the course to defeat a fast round from Robert Smith on Marius Claudius by 0.82 seconds. Both riders were on the team in Lisbon, where Britain won their first Nations Cup for almost two years over a course that was considered the most technically demanding so far this season.

Funnell, who started riding Machiavelli in mid-May, is finding the 10-year-old a definite asset to his string, which will soon be strengthened by the return to action of the black stallion, Vechta, who was injured last August.

But his present star is the mare, Amber du Montois, with whom he won a car for his victory in the Barcelona Grand Prix last month. He plans to take both of them to the Belgian Nations Cup Show in Lummen next week.