Zara and Toytown challenge the lead

On a chilly morning at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, the reigning World Champions Zara Phillips and Toytown have taken second place after their dressage test. Zara and the 14-year-old chestnut gained a score of 41.2penalties including nines for an impressive extended walk, to move ahead of Jean-Lou Bigot and Icare De Auzay but still six penalties behind Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia who remain in charge of the leaderboard. “The trot work could have been better but considering he hasn’t been out for while that was good,” said Zara. Frank Ostholt and Air Jordan are now also in a position to challenge the leaders. The German combination, team gold medallists at last year’s World Equestrian Games, take fourth place displacing Andrew Nicholson and Henry Tankerville to fifth. Frank however was not as happy as Zara after his test. Air Jordan became very unsettled immediately prior to entering the arena and gave Frank a difficult moment before he was able to settle and enter down the centre line remaining a little tense although correct through the test - waiting until he was outside before he celebrated with a several big bucks. “It was the correct mark for the test but it was a shame – he got worried by the proximity of the spectators at that point – as I know he is capable of a mark of 30 penalties,” said Frank who has no concerns about the cross-country course. “It is a beautiful course the jumps are huge but impressive and you will have to focus from start to finish. As long as you keep concentrated it should work.”