Australia one, America two, Germany three

Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia maintain their lead at the end of dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Unlike yesterday, however, they are not sitting quite as comfortably at the top of the leaderboard. American Badminton first-timer Kim Severson and her British-bred gelding Winsome Adante are hot on their heels just one penalty in arrears. German Badminton debutant Hinrich Romeike and his World Equestrian Games team gold medallist Marius Voigt-Logistik are just 0.6 penalties behind Kim, who was adamant that this competition will not be won on dressage. “The course out there is the biggest we have done in a long time and this competition is not about dressage,” said Kim. 

Hinrich, who is a dentist by profession, is also impressed by his first visit to Gloucestershire. “It is a very big course, professionally designed, decently built and nice to look at and the surroundings are beautiful – I like it very much.” 

Ruth Edge is the highest placed British rider with her 2004 British Open Champion Two Thyme. Ruth, who is becoming a bit of a pure dressage professional – she recently won the Novice Championship at the British Dressage Winter Championships, also broke the 40 penalty barrier with Phil and Maureen Smith’s Thoroughbred by National Hunt sire Broadsword. 

Last to go, former British team member Polly Stockton, fresh from a trip across the Atlantic to the Rolex Kentucky four-star, also made it into the top five with Anne Henson’s Irish bred Tom Quigley. Zara Phillips and Toytown are lying in sixth place at the end of the first phase. 

Cross country starts at 11am and all eyes will be on the British combination of Daisy Dick and Hope Street who will be the trail blazers this year.