William Codd Trophy on offer for budding three-day eventers

As Jamie Codd set his sights on further success at the Cheltenham Festival, the Codd families announced last week that they would again offer the William Codd Perpetual Trophy for the winner of the thoroughbred class at this year's Stepping Stones to Success at the Wexford Equestrian Centre.

The competition is a league for young horses with the potential to become a high-class three-day eventer. The aim is to identify an athletic, loose-moving horse with a promising jumping technique.

The thoroughbred class, sponsored by Nutriscience and with a trophy named in honour of Jamie's late brother William, has a €3,000 prize fund. Last year's winner was former point-to-pointer Destination Street, a six-year-old gelding prepared by Patrick Byrne.

Qualifiers are due to be held on the first three Wednesdays in April (1, 8, 15) and the final will be on Tuesday, April 28.

Trainers who have pledged support for the prize fund are Denis Hickey, Henry de Bromhead, Colin Bowe, Paul Nolan, David Marnane and Pierce Power.

The Racing Post is among the competition's further supporters along with the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Caoimhe Doherty, Tom Howley Equine, Labstock MicroServices Ltd, Willie McCreery, Godolphin and Irish Horse Welfare Trust.

The details of the format for all classes can be found at steppingstonestosuccess.ie.

Members can read the latest on the Irish point-to-point scene every week from Tuesday at 6pm