POLLY SETS THE COMPETITION ALIGHT

Former British team member Polly Stockton currently heads the leader board at the halfway stage of cross-country day at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Polly and Tom Quigley (no.10) came home clear inside the time to remain on their dressage score. “He has the most incredible gallop on him and I can just let him go. I just had a moment at the houses (fences 23, 24 & 25) over the uneven ground when I felt him trip – I just thought ‘oh no I this is the smallest fence I can’t come off here’ – apart from that he was amazing.”

Polly is just one of two riders to remain on their dressage score – the other to come home with a clean sheet was the British combination of Georgie Davies (GBR) and the French- bred mare Fachoudette who are making their Badminton debut. Their impressive round has pulled them up to third place at this stage.

Former Badminton winner William Fox-Pitt jumped a clear round with his former Burghley winner Ballincoola to currently stand in second place.

So far 11 combinations have posted clear rounds – without jumping penalties – including Phoebe Buckley and the aptly named little grey mare,  Little Tiger, at 15hh the smallest horse in the field.

Thursday’s dressage leader, Clayton Fredericks, retired after being fired out of the saddle when Nullabor took a last minute dislike to the ditch at fence 15 The HSBC Hexagon Hedge, while Ruth Edge and Muschamp Impala, in second place at the end of dressage were eliminated after a fall in the lake – one of several combinations to fall foul of the water this year.