Love Island star Chris Hughes is taking on a royal challenge this summer by trying his hand at polo for the very first time.

The Cotswold heart-throb is renowned for his love of all things equestrian but has somehow managed to make it this far without playing the sport of kings.

And in the build-up to Chestertons Polo in the Park, which takes place from Friday 7 June until Sunday 9 June in Fulham’s Hurlingham Park, Chris has decided to get up in the saddle to give it a go.

The 26-year-old spent the afternoon at Fifield Polo Club in Windsor receiving expert tips from Duncan Qiu, a top Chinese polo player who is leading the Shanghai team competing at the event.

And after almost 20 years of riding experience under his belt, it is no surprise that Chris took to the sport like a duck to water.

“I have learned so much about polo in one afternoon and if you love sport then it doesn’t need to be a niche activity, it can be an enjoyable spectacle to watch for everyone,” said Chris.

“I have never played polo before so I came into this completely blind but there is so much to this sport and so many different aspects to it.

“The barging side-by-side reminds me of ice hockey and when you jump off the horse and swap horses that is kind of like a pit-stop in Formula 1 - so it is just amazing and takes so much fitness to play it.

“I was comfortable up on the horse, but it is getting used to the mallet that you using to hit the ball – it is all about timing.

“At times you are almost completely oblivious to the fact that there is even a horse under you because you are so focussed on hitting the ball.

“It is a fierce and competitive sport and I would love to give it another go – I don’t think it would take that long to get used to the rules.”

Chestertons Polo in the Park is one of the largest and most popular polo tournaments in Europe, combining world-class sport in the perfect setting of sunny champagne gardens with fantastic food and music.

And the equine festivities kick-off with the pinnacle of professional polo as International Friday will see the Frasers England polo team compete against ICM.com Team Australia to win the historic Olympic Trophy.

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It is exactly the type of event that appeals to Chris, who once rode out on Grand National winner Earth Summit, and despite never playing the royal sport until now, he has always had a Hollywood-inspired motive to get involved.

“One of my favourite film is Pretty Woman and obviously Richard Gere takes Julia Roberts to the polo and I always thought that was the best part of the film – so I have liked polo ever since I saw that,” revealed Chris.

“I can’t wait to go down there and watch it with my friends and support England when they take on Australia.

“To have this going on in west London gives it so much more exposure - which is what this sport needs.”