Despite a gruelling cross-country day on soggy going, 30 horses came forward for the Badminton Horse Trials final trot-up, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian. The field was already diminished by six withdrawals, 17 eliminations and 11 retirements but all 30 who completed the cross-country were presented to the ground jury – and passed. The original field was 64.
Remarkably, no horses were sent to the holding box. Typically during a three-day event, a proportion of the finishers are feeling the effects of their cross-country exertions and are withdrawn before the inspection. For others, the ground jury will want to take a second look and send them to the holding box for another trot. It is rare for all the cross-country finishers to present and to be accepted.
But all the horses look to have recovered well from the challenge of Eric Winter’s cross-country track on sticky going. Soft ground may be detrimental for fast rounds inside the time, but it is not jarring and this may well have contributed to the horses feeling strong after an overnight rest.
Ros Canter and Dan Jocelyn are the only riders left in the field with two horses in contention. Ros is the leader on Lordships Graffalo, with two fences in hand, and she is also seventh with Pencos Crown Jewel. Dan runs Cooley One Too Many and Blackthorn Cruise, currently placed 21st and 22nd.
Tim Price’s fourth-placed ride Vitali was again on his toes down the runway, cantering the first time, but was accepted. Lauren Innes’ Global Fision M (23rd) and Francis Whittington’s DHI Purple Rain (19th) also looked full of running after impressive clear rounds yesterday.
The showjumping runs in reverse order. The final three will be Oliver Townend on Ballaghmor Class, Austin O’Connor on Colorado Blue and Ros on Lordships Graffalo. Ros has two fences in hand over Austin, who is only 2.2pen ahead of Oliver.
How to watch Badminton Horse Trials
If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.
You may also like to read…
‘He was unreal’: Tom McEwen keeps Badminton dream alive, but leading contender falls early on course
What a sport! Watch Badminton faller entertain the crowd after a ducking in The Lake
‘She’s a fighter, and she fought all the way’: Gemma Stevens blitzes into top Badminton placing, plus two dressage top-10s withdrawn
‘He’s my good mate and I’m so proud’: Oliver Townend’s five-star warrior delivers yet again at Badminton
Irish rider speeds into the lead with fastest Badminton cross-country clear so far, while title contender withdraws
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).
