France’s former European champion Jean-Lou Bigot leads at the end of the first day of dressage in the senior CCI*** at Bramham Horse Trials.
Jean-Lou, 44, scored 46.4 on Lotus De Gobaude to head Britain’s Ewart Woolley on Keep Your Options Open by 1.5pen. Lotus De Gobaude is an 11-year-old who has good form at this level, having completed both Saumur and Boekelo CCI***s in 2008, finishing ninth at the latter. He was 11th in the CIC** at Saumur in April this year.
Another French combination — Eric Vigeanel on Maranello — lie third. If Jean-Lou or Eric won the event, they would be the first French rider to take top honours at Bramham since Didier Seguret on Lotoise in 1989.
William Fox-Pitt has made a good start in his attempt to notch up a record sixth win at Bramham — he lies fourth on Neuf Des Coeurs and the jumping phases are always influential at this Yorkshire event.
Todd heads CIC***
Mark Todd (pictured) is on course to score his first British three-star win since making his comeback in January 2008. He currently heads the CIC*** on a score of 41.3, riding NZB Regent Lad, Carly Reid’s former ride who joined him at the start of this year.
Young rider European champion Laura Collett is second on Rayef, with last year’s Blenheim runners-up Emily Baldwin and Drivetime third, despite both these riders making errors of course.
There is another day of dressage tomorrow, with the under-25 CCI*** competitors performing their tests as well as the final riders in the other two sections. On Saturday, riders will tackle the cross-country course Ian Stark has set in his first year designing at Bramham.
More updates from Bramham on www.horseandhound.co.uk tomorrow and over the weekend and full report in H&H next Thursday, 10 June.
SENIOR CCI*** RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE
1.Jean-Lou Bigot on Lotus De Gobaude (FRA) 46.4
2.Ewart Woolley on Keep Your Options Open (GB) 47.9
3.Eric Vigeanel on Maranello (FRA) 49.4
4.William Fox-Pitt on Neuf Des Cours (GB) 50
5.Pippa Funnell on Blue Horizon (GB) 51.7
6.Louisa Lockwood on The Diva (GB) 53.3
CIC*** RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE
1.Mark Todd on NZB Regent Lad (NZL) 41.3
2.Laura Collett on Rayef (GB) 42.3
3.Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GB) 44.6
4.Donatien Schauly on Ocarina Du Chanois (FRA) 46.9
5.Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town (GB) 47.7
6.Jeanette Brakewell on Take It 2 The Limit (GB) 49.4