OFFERING £2000 to the winner, the Winter Grand Prix held at the end of four day's jumping at Morris EC, Kilmarnock, looked set to be a good competition with 39 of the country's best horses forward.

After walking the course, a few of the riders thought it was reasonable, joking that the Foxhunters had been just as big, but course designer Neil Theobald knew exactly what he was doing.

Drafted up from Essex, Neil's track didn't appear overly big height wise, but had questions right from the beginning. A straight forward upright as number one preceded a long run to number two where the problems began with a square oxer.

Number 3 was just as square, but at maximum width followed by a related five strides to a tall vertical. An imposing double caused only a few problems before a turn back to the champagne bottle fence on a short five to a maximum height and width oxer made sure they were still concentrating. The final power line of a treble on a related line to the last would test the fitness and stamina to the end.

Neil predicted a dozen clears and was almost spot on when 14 crossed the line with a zero score, with quite a few others just unlucky to hit one pole and not one part of the course causing all the damage.

The fences were raised for the jump off, but Neil decided not to go huge instead hoping that the lay out of the jump off course would sort them all out.

Long runs and turn backs were the order of the day, testing the carefulness, accuracy and scope with seven double clears for eight awards proving the theory to be a good one.

Riding the first of two rides regular visitor to Scotland, Nigel Coupe was to set the standard with his ever reliable Golver's Hill.

There really only was one way around, which included coming inside the original first fence back to the champagne bottles, then it was who could move on and turn back the quickest.

Nigel's time of 46.49 looked handy, but with another 12 to go he wasn't safe.

Aileen Craig was the next to leave the fences standing with a super round on Ayrton UH, although their time was slightly adrift, 47.62.

Alex Barr's Bettilina made the fences look far too easy. This exciting prospect was enjoying her job with Alex doing enough to keep her in contention in 48.41.

Emma Stoker has not had long to get to know her ride, Townhead Campus, with this only about their fifth show together. The big chestnut was not as nippy as some, but easily gave the fences air to record 46.61.

Immediately after Emma came James who had already had a run round with Quattro 27 so knew his way between the fences.

This time, on favourite Cumina, he set off allowing the little mare to run the long distance to the second fence. Angling the third, he found a route inside a flower display back to the champagne fence. Galloping to the penultimate oxer they flew it but still managed to turn almost 360 back to the last, crossing the beam in 44.51.

The next couple of riders recorded times around the 45 second mark, but were forced into mistakes before Nigel Coupe entered on his second ride, Jubilee.

Quicker across the ground than stable mate Golvers Hill, Jubilee won the speed horse of the year class at HOYS so is proven to be a speed specialist.

Setting off in typical Nigel style with his body forward and elbows out, they turned so fast inside the floral display that they kicked the surface out behind them and drew a gasp from those watching.

The clock said 44.39 putting him into the lead but there were still three to go.

The next two faulted then there was a pause while James Smith warmed up his third and final ride Tyson Uno.

Only just returned from Vilamoura and Valencia where he was placed third in the CSI2* and CSI3* Grand Prix, they were definitely on form.

Around the first half of the course they didn't look quick but always moving forward they were deceptive. Their turn inside to the champagne fence saw them present on just one stride then they came to the first two parts of the combination still on the turn.

It was a masterclass of turns and accuracy from start to finish, stopping the clock on an incredible 43.44 leaving James sitting in first and third and some £3000 richer for this class alone.

Nigel and James were to fight it out earlier in the show in one of the 1.40m Open classes on offer, although they were both dropped down a place thanks to a determined effort from Lucy Guild.

Twelve contested this jump off with James drawn first to go on Jim Wilmer's Quattro 27.

A quick round saw them stop the clock on 38.18.

Standing watching in the tunnel, Lucy set off with Titi D'Oase to smash this to 36.65.

Nigel had a go later in the jump off but also had to concede defeat when Jubilee recorded 48.98 leaving Lucy well out in front and £500 better off.

Lucy, who works for her father's Guild Homes and stables at the Lohoar's Drumcarrow yard just outside St Andrews, currently has the two top rides with Titi D'Oase her main contender, but she has also won plenty this year with her own and Fiona Goode's Hugana Vant Heike.

Being brought on by Lucy with the intention of being sold on, Hugana has been a useful travelling companion for Titi, comfortably adding the Winter B+C to their ever growing list of achievements.

This was a fast and furious class with 25 going against the clock.12 returned double clears with Lucy fastest of all from 15th draw.

It was good to see Declan Irvine back out and about again after a short break with Richard Duncan's Keeford Carousel. They weren't far behind Lucy finishing in second place just 7 hundredths of a second in arrears.

This was not the end to Lucy's haul of prizes with Hugana. She also picked up a Blue Chip Dynamic B+C ticket but this time for second place behind the lovely Balou De Rouet mare Ruby VIII, ably piloted by Louise Whitaker.

Laura Hutt settled for third, just tenths of a second adrift of these two on John Harley's Wyona.

Adding a little extra cash, Lucy and Titi D'Oase also sat in second place in an entertaining Accumulator class which saw Matthew Sampson return the fastest round on Eagles Costalot, giving him a healthy £500 first prize.

Douglas Duffin is maintaining his form winning two major classes over the weekend.

The 1.40m Speed class carried a whopping £1000 to the winner starting 33 of the best.

Michael Whitaker had one, Matt Sampson had two, James Smith had three so it was never going to be too easy.

Riding Fiona Burgoyne's Chiquito Z, current reigning gents champion from the week before, Douglas managed to find a route over a second quicker than nearest rival Tim Page on Steady The

Helm, with Julia Andrews long term standard on Canora leaving her in third.

45 came forward for the Winter Grade C qualifier with 15 going against the clock.

Once again, the fences were big and square from start to finish, but this caused no problems for Douglas, this time on board Nicky Morgan's scopey Djoel, which found his thirteenth draw lucky to take the lead.

The biggest challenge came from Michael Whitaker on Casandra, but spending too much time in the air saw them over a second slower.

The World Class Development Under 23 class was one of the best throughout the show, offering a strong first round then allowing six to go against the clock, with four remaining clear all the way.

Finishing on top from last draw was Millie Allen on her impressive Balou Star.

Another by Balou De Rouet, this stallion stands around the 15.2 mark but does not lack scope. He plays with the larger fences whilst proving quick and nippy.

Having finished in the points Arena UK and Aintree in the same class, Millie added a few more valuable points for her win here pushing her up near the top of the leader board assuring an appearance at Olympia in a couple of weeks.

Charlene Baston was delighted with second on her HOYS finalist Newbridge Master Brown, making their long trip from Essex worthwhile, whiet local rider Graham Babes had one of the fastest times but one fence down to pick up points with Boucheron.

A strong 48 contested the Blue Chip Small Grand Prix, with young rider Olivia Poole taking the honours on Chinook BH, from Derek Morton with Zagy.

LEADINGawards:

Newcomers-1, Esunja, G Taylor; 2, Evangelina, J Smith ; 3, Evian, D Duffin. Foxhunter-1, Early Girl, H Miller; 2, Elia, C Bolam ; 3, Indy, A Black. 1.20m Open-1, Gallant Van Het Vijvrhof, C Ash; 2, Toulons Diamond, A Black; 3, Curra Glas, D Irvine. 1.30m Open-1, Hamilton H, M Allen; 2, Van De Bay Girl, J Smith; 3, Jumping Mac Flash, K Aird National 1.40m Open-1, Chiquito Z, D Duffin; 2, Steady The Helm, T Page; 3, Canora, J Andrews.Foxhunter-1, Elrosa, P Allen; 2, Townhead Quindulina, E Stoker; 3, TGF Policeman, S Crosby.1.20m Open-1, Hojmarks Rosetta, D Irvine; 2, Zagy, D Morton; 3, Curra Glas. 1.30m Open-1, Steady The Helm, T Page; 2, Lord Castell, C Pritchard; 3, Naughty By Nature, M Davidson. Winter Grade C-1, Djoel, D Duffin; 2, Casandra, M Whitaker; 3, Elia. 1.40m Open-1, Titi D'Oase; 2, Quattro 27, J Smith; 3, Jubilee, N Coupe.Foxhuter-1, Aramis, R Maguire; 2, Billy Tortilla, M Sampson; 3, Carthagon GZ, p Allen. 1.20m Open-1, Zikro, M Allen; 2, Eagles Costalot, M Sampson; 3, Hojmarks Rosetta. Blue Chip Small Grand Prix-1, Chinook BH, O Poole; 2, Zagy; 3, Galant Van Het Vijverhof. Foxhunter-1, Early Girl; 2, Billy Tortilla; 3, Townhead Quindulina.1.0m Open-1, Challenger, G Babs; 2, Zoneike, R Duff; 3, Belissimo, C Bolam. Winter B+C-1, Hugana Vant Heike; 2, Keeford Carousel, D Ivine; 3, Billy Tortilla, M Sampson. World Class Development Programme-1, Balou Star, M Allen; 2, Newbridge Master Brown, C Bastone; 3, Samayava Ar Park, A Inglis. Accumulator-1, Eagles Costalot, M Sampson; 2, Titi D'Oase, L Guild; 3, Hi Midnight Millie, T Page.Blue Chip Dynamic B+C-1,Ruby VIII; 2, Hugana Vant Heike, L Guild; 3, Wyona, L Hutt. National 1.30m Open-1, Dolanda, M Sampson; 2, Chuquito Z, D Duffin; 3, Hamilton H. Winter Grand Prix-1, Tyson Uno, J Smith; 2, Jubilee III, N Coupe; 3, Cumina, J Smith.