And it seems only fair to mention the cats too. In, we have the return of Grand National winner, Mrs Wilkinson and the introduction of Master Quickly, New Year’s Dave, Safety Car and about a hundred other stallions and fillies all with excellent and engaging personalities, except one psychopathic brute called Titus Andronicus.Ĩ. As a proud Staffie owner, I was also delighted to see Gropius in Mount representing for this much maligned breed.ħ. With particular props going to Sevenoaks in Harriet and Getrude, Taggie Campbell-Black’s beloved and devoted dog, killed by the aforementioned Ranaldini. In fact, the loveliest people in Jilly’s novels are the animals. Rapists, murderers, and in the case of Rannaldini, a rapist dog murderer.Ħ. Anyway, it’s just as well then that the villains are even worse. Then remember that Rupert Campbell-Black was allegedly based on Briagdier Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla’s ex-husband, and shudder.ĥ. Or in the case of Rupert Campbell-Black, star of Riders, Rivals and Mount, an absolute cad who makes our third wave feminist hearts sink in our chests and says such offensive things that he makes Nigel Farage look like a member of the Socialist Worker party.Ĥ. While far less posh people are called things like Sauvignon, Woody, Kylie, Chantal and er, Feral.ģ. Poshest name of the lot though has to be Hengist Brett Taylor. Dame Hermione Harefield or Ione Travis-Lock.

The Campbell-Black clan of course, be they Rupert, Tabitha or Xavier. A classic bestseller, Riders takes the lid off international show jumping, a sport where the brave horses are almost human, but the humans behave like animals.To celebrate the release of her new novel, Mount, and the return of Rupert Campbell-Black, Sarra Manning lists the things that every Jilly Cooper fan girl can’t help but notice…ġ. Having pinched each other's horses and drunk their way around the capitals of Europe, the feud between the two men finally erupts with devastating consequences at the Los Angeles Olympics. Brooding hero Jake Lovell, under whose magic hands even the most difficult horse or woman is charmed, is driven by his loathing of the dashing darling of the show ring, Rupert Campbell-Black. 'Fun, sexy and unputdownable - a classic' Marian Keyes'Flawlessly entertaining' Helen Fielding'Joyful and mischievous' Jojo MoyesSet against the glorious Cotswold countryside, Riders offers an intoxicating blend of swooning romance, adventure and hilarious high jinks.

Riders by jilly cooper