JUMP!
JILLY COOPER
Contents
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Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781409044505
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First published in Great Britain
in 2010 by Bantam Press
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Copyright Jilly Cooper 2010
Jilly Cooper has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBNs 9780593061534 (cased)
9780593061541 (tpb)
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To my daughter-in-law Edwina Cooper and my son-in-law Adam Tarrant with love and gratitude for the immense kindness and encouragement they gave me while writing this book.
Also by Jilly Cooper
FICTION | Riders Rivals Polo The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous Appassionata Score! Pandora Wicked! |
NON-FICTION | Animals in War Class How to Survive Christmas Hotfoot to Zabriskie Point (with Patrick Lichfield) Intelligent and Loyal Jolly Marsupial Jolly Super Jolly Superlative Jolly Super Too Super Cooper Super Jilly Super Men and Super Women The Common Years Turn Right at the Spotted Dog Work and Wedlock Angels Rush In Aramintas Wedding |
CHILDRENS BOOKS | Little Mabel Little Mabels Great Escape Little Mabel Saves the Day Little Mabel Wins |
ROMANCE | Bella Emily Harriet Imogen Lisa & Co Octavia Prudence |
ANTHOLOGIES | The British in Love Violets and Vinegar |
CAST OF CHARACTERS
W OODY A DAMS | A delectable Willowwood tree surgeon. |
E DWARD A LDERTON | Rupert Campbell-Blacks nineteen-year-old American grandson, a gilded brat and former flat jockey whos spending a year at his grandfathers yard in England to try his luck at National Hunt racing. |
P ARIS A LVASTON | Dora Belvedons boyfriend and ice-cool Adonis, now in Upper Sixth at Bagley Hall and dickering between Cambridge and RADA. |
A NGEL | The youngest stable lass at Marius Oakridges yard, Throstledown. |
A RIELLA | The new young mistress of Bluebell Hill. |
C HRISTOPHER AND C HRISTINE A SHBY | Known as Chris and Chrissie. Landlord and lady of the Fox, Willowwoods pub. |
S ETH B AINTON | Drop-dead gorgeous actor, known as Mr Bulging Crotchester, who with his considerably older and more famous mistress, actress Corinna Waters, lives part of the year in Willowwood in a house inappropriately called the Old Rectory. Seth and Corinna have an open partnership. |
S AMPSON B ANCROFT | A hugely successful field marshal of industry specializing in property and engineering. A charismatic shit, whose failing health in no way diminishes his ability to bully and control. |
E TTA B ANCROFT | Sampsons delightful but dreadfully downtrodden wife. |
M ARTIN B ANCROFT | Sampson and Ettas self-regarding son, who gives up the City in favour of fundraising with a celebrity-tapping bias. Has houses in Chiswick and Willowwood. |
R OMY B ANCROFT | Martins even smugger wife, who makes a fetish about being a stay- at-home mum. Despite enchanting looks, an egomaniac. |
D RUMMOND B ANCROFT | Martin and Romys fiendish five-year-old son. |
P OPPY B ANCROFT | Martin and Romys four-year-old applause junkie. |
C ARRIE B ANCROFT | Martins sister. Workaholic hugely successful in the City, a failure as a wife and mother. Prefers to be known by her maiden name but in reality is Mrs Alan Macbeth. Houses in Knightsbridge and Willowwood. |
B ERTIE AND R UBY B ARACLOUGH | Bedding billionaire and his jolly wife. A devoted couple and very new racehorse owners. |
D ORA B ELVEDON | Fifteen-year-old smart cookie. Besotted with horses, dogs and Paris Alvaston. Has a somewhat dubious ability to flog stories to the national press, redeemed by an extremely kind heart. |
L ESTER B OLTON | As short in inches as he is on charm. Internet tycoon specializing in porn. Has recently acquired romantic Primrose Cottage in Willowwood. |
C INDY B OLTON | Lesters child bride, an extremely successful porn star. |
B RUNHILDA | An Animal Rights activist. JOHNNIE BRUTUS A narcissistic Irish jockey. |
R UPERT C AMPBELL -B LACK | Owner/trainer who bestrides the racing world like a colossus. Despite being in his mid-fifties, still Mecca for most women. |
T AGGIE C AMPBELL -B LACK | His enchanting second wife, an angel. |
X AVIER C AMPBELL -B LACK | Rupert and Taggies adopted Colombian son a point-to-point rider. |
B IANCA C AMPBELL -B LACK | Rupert and Taggies ravishing adopted Colombian daughter, best friend of Dora Belvedon. |
A BERDARE D ARE C ATSWOOD | A complacent, handsome amateur jockey with a very rich father. |