Whatever happens this weekend, Oliver Townend and the multiple five-star winner Ballaghmor Class, who is now 18, will go down in history as one of great combinations in eventing history. The combination was second to go in the dressage at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials this morning, scoring 29.3.

Oliver pronounced himself satisfied, saying: “There’s going to be enough to sort us out on the cross-country at 11 minutes 40 seconds.

“I know everyone says it, but his work at home is amazing – he’s unreal and still improving. He feels better than ever.”

Bred by Noel Hickey in Co Limerick, Ireland, Ballaghmor Class, owned by Angela Hislop, Val and Peter Ryan and Karen Shuter, is by the Holsteiner Courage II out of the ISH mare Kilderry Place. In his youth, Oliver described the grey gelding as sharp – a horse who regularly deposited his riders on the floor. He started his affiliated career at the end of the 2012 season at BE100 level.

‘Thomas’ won his first ever five-star, Burghley, in 2017 at the age of 10, and has won three more (Kentucky in 2022, Burghley in 2023 and Maryland last year); he has yet to finished out of the top five at the top level, including two runner-up slots at Badminton. In 2021, Oliver and Thomas were pathfinders for the victorious British team at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

It’s no wonder this horse is regarded so highly by his rider, who has pronounced him “my hero and a horse of a lifetime”, owners and by commentators across the sport. At the top events, he flourishes and, now 18, looks as good as he ever has done.