William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson remain the favorites to win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this weekend (7-11 May) after the wait list closed yesterday (Sunday 4 May).
There have been several high-profile withdrawals since entries closed on 20 March, including 2006 winner Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen) and France’s Donatien Schauly (Pivoine Des Touches), who was 6th at Pau last autumn.
British rider Georgie Spence has also been forced to withdraw her ride Wii Limbo because of a strangles scare at her yard in Wiltshire.
Irish fans will be disappointed as both Aoife Clark (Fenyas Elegance) and Sam Watson (Horseware Bushman) have pulled out.
Sam was forced to withdraw after he dislocated his shoulder. He tweeted that although the horse was fine he was not “4-star fit”.
Only 19 horses from the original wait list have made it in. Since the wait list system was introduced in 2008, between 15 (in 2013) and 43 horses (in 2009) have been accepted.
William, who won Rolex Kentucky on Bay My Hero last month (27 April), has 2 rides —Chilli Morning and Cool Mountain.
If William wins this weekend it will mean that he has secured the 2nd leg of eventing’s most lucrative prize the Rolex Grand Slam. The $350,000 (£208,600) bonus is given by to any rider who can win Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton consecutively.
William’s eventing rival Andrew, who has never won Badminton despite completing it 33 times, also has 2 rides — Quimbo and Nereo.
H&H has teamed up with Paddy Power to enable fans to bet on the Badminton winner. Betting is now open and will close shortly before the trot-up on Wednesday 7 May.
For a full list of all the runners and riders at this weekend’s event don’t miss our Badminton preview —out this Thursday (8 May).
