Ros Canter’s defence of her MARS Badminton Horse Trials title has got off to a brilliant start. The world number four and her charismatic horse Lordships Graffalo are in the lead after the dressage phase on a mark of 23.7, with a 4.4-penalty lead over the first day leader, the USA’s Tiana Coudray on Cancaras Girl.
They head a stellar international line-up: leading Belgian rider Lara de Liedekerke-Meier is in third place on the home-bred mare Hooney d’Arville; Swiss star Felix Vogg is fourth on Cartania; New Zealander Caroline Powell, is lying fifth on the 2024 winner Greenacres Special Cavalier; and Brazilian doctor Marcio Carvalho Jorge, a three-time Olympian, is in sixth on Royal Encounter.
Archie and Michele Saul’s 14-year-old bay gelding Lordships Graffalo – known universally as ‘Walter’ – is the only horse to have won two Badmintons (2023 and 2025) and two Burghleys (2024 and 2025). Now there is the tantalising prospect of him making history by adding a third Badminton victory to his extraordinary CV, which includes a European title (2023) and an Olympic team gold medal (2024).
‘He is an amazing character,’ said Ros, who gave birth to her second daughter, Seneh, only in January. ‘I have never met a horse that enjoys people and atmosphere like he does. Most horses that have had the international mileage he has would become nervous, but he just loves it.
‘He is a busy chap in the stables at an event and likes to be the “big I am”. You’re lucky if you come out of the stable without him treading on you or covering you with slobber. At events, I literally just get on him and leave everything else to Sarah [Charnley, groom].’
Tiana Coudray admitted to surprise at still being on the podium at the end of the second day of dressage: ‘It is beyond my wildest dreams,’ she said, describing tomorrow’s cross-country course as ‘beautiful and very jumpable’.
Lara, who is ranked eighth in the world, is the first Belgian rider to have won a five-star, Luhmuhlen (Germany) in 2024 on the 13-year-old grey mare, Hooney d’Arville, whose dam Nooney d’Arville she also competed.
‘Hooney is getting better and better with age,’ said Lara. ‘She owes me nothing and has now given me the privilege of sitting on a podium next to Ros.’
Tomorrow’s cross-country day is a sell-out, but all the action, which starts at 11.30am, will be shown on Badminton TV and can also be followed on Badminton Radio.