Equestrianism: Smith survives slip to win Trial

Robert Smith had a second chance in the Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial at the Britsh Jumping Derby meeting yesterday, after Mr Springfield had a single error in the first round. No clear rounds were achieved over a difficult course – so Smith returned to win the two-horse jump-off, defeating Sweden's Jens Fredricson on Greve Molke by a convincing margin of almost six seconds.

Mr Springfield's only mistake occurred when he came down the bank (by an easier slope than the precipitous descent that horses will take tomorrow) and lowered the pole that was placed near the base. "He's never been up and down a bank before," Smith said of the nine-year-old, "that's why he had the pole down." He will ride the same horse when he targets his first win in tomorrow's British Jumping Derby.

The dry ditch at fence five proved the most influential obstacle on the course, with 12 horses faulting there – among them Steps Helsinki, who made a last minute stop there and sent John Whitaker over his head onto the Hickstead turf. The horse is still qualified for tomorrow's big contest, having finished third in the King George V Gold Cup here last month, so Whitaker is still hoping for his fourth Derby victory despite the inauspicious trial.

Tim Stockdale, who was among the Derby favourites with Fresh Direct Wiston Bridget, may have to miss the big class. The mare injured her off-hind leg when jumping the practice fence yesterday and she had to be withdrawn from the trial. Although he has missed the normal qualifying procedure, Stockdale has been told that Bridget will be allowed to jump tomorrow "if the vets agree".

Next year's British Jumping Derby will coincide with the European Dressage Championships that are taking place here in the attractive Dressage at Hickstead showground from 13 to 17 August. The timetable will be arranged so that spectators can watch the major classes in both disciplines.

BRITISH JUMPING DERBY MEETING (Hickstead, Sussex): Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial: 1 Mr Springfield (R Smith, GB) clear, 56.66sec; 2 Greve Molke (J Fredricson, Swe) clear, 61.65; 3 Idle Dice (J Fisher, GB) 8 faults in 1st round, 105.86. CDI Dressage Grand Prix: 1 Rascher Hopes (E Faurie, GB) 68.56 per cent; 2 Napoleon (M Henschke, Ger) 65.80; 3 Afrikka (F Bigwood, GB) 65.56.