BEST SAVED 'TIL LAST

A determined ride from Oliver Townend gave him the result he wanted, a clear round inside the time, to take him and Flint Curtis to the top of the leader board at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. “He was fantastic all the way round,” said Oli. “He just travelled exceptionally well – we were 10 seconds up on the clock all the way and I just had to sit quietly and let him get on with it. It was definitely one of the most thrilling rides I’ve had – possibly due to the build up during the day.”

The pair, the ultimate combination on the course, goes ahead of Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak who, despite ending the day on the same score (40.5) had to take second place due to collecting 0.8 time penalties for 2 seconds over the optimum time of 11minutes and 34 seconds. “He’s been a bit wild all week and took a bit of time to settle today so I had to bide my time a bit, but that is what riding cross-country is all about – riding the horse under you, over the course in front of you,” commented Lucy.

Italian Roberto Rotatori was bemused to find himself in the top three at his first Badminton. Roberto and the French-bred Irham de Viages, acquired from last year’s winner Nicolas Touzaint, impressed with his jumping ability and gallop that brought Roberto home inside the time. “It is so exciting to be here in this position at the most important competition in the world,” said Roberto who is rather more nervous about the show jumping. “I am quite scared now and have my fingers crossed,” he said.

William Fox-Pitt has two horses in the top ten – Idalgo in fourth and Macchiato, another to complete inside the time, in seventh. “Both of them were foot-perfect and at their first Badminton, which is really exciting for the future,” said William.

Overnight leaders Karin Donkers (BEL) and Gazelle de la Brasserie put in a competitive round but just lost out on the clock and 6.4 time-penalties dropped the Belgian veteran and Jacques Pellaux’s homebred mare to fifth place. “I am delighted – it is sort of disappointing not to have made the time but riding two clear