Harriet Biddick enjoys dream week at Hickstead

The 32-year-old rider has been one of the most consistent Hickstead performers ever, having been runner up in the Al Shira’aa Derby five times and winning the British Speed Derby three times in total.

Harriet (nee Nuttall) married jockey Will Biddick in 2018, and they have a 16-month-old son called Archie.

Since becoming a mother, Harriet has returned to top-level competition and proved she is still a force to be reckoned with in the Longines International Arena.

Hickstead’s Derby Meeting was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, so there was a welcome return for this year’s show with around 40,000 spectators making their way to the West Sussex showground to watch the action.

Harriet’s two Hickstead champions, A Touch Imperious and Silver Lift, are now 18 and 17 years old respectively, but they continued to wow the crowds with their consistency and ability.

Harriet and A Touch Imperious produced yet another brilliant round in Sunday’s Al Shira’aa Derby, with just a foot in the water relegating them to joint second place behind winner Shane Breen and Can Ya Makan. Having had so many second placings in the historic class, Harriet was a tinge disappointed to miss out on the title.

“If you’d told me that he’d win the Derby Trial and be second in the Derby beforehand I’d have taken that – but it is bittersweet, a little bit.

But I’m absolutely chuffed with him – to have two years off and then come back and jump as amazing as he just jumped around the Derby, I couldn’t ask for any more,” she said.

Harriet now hopes to return to Hickstead next year for another crack at the Al Shira’aa Derby. “A Touch Imperious feels as amazing as ever, and we’re just going to keep going.

"He’s 18 years old now, but with the way he jumped today, I feel like he’s definitely got another year,” she added.