Friday afternoon

“I was very pleased. I’ve done better, he’s done better work, but obviously it’s hard to reproduce it in there. But to get that score, at my first Badminton, yeah, I’m delighted. Ikoon Lan is a character. I had a few rears in the warm up but if he didn’t do that I’d think he was sick. When on his back he’s quite spicy, but a child could handle him on the ground.”

Patrick Whelan/Ikoon Lan (34.4 )

“That was the best test he has ever done. We got all four flying changes for the first time ever, so I’m delighted, he really tried. Ian Woodhead has been helping me, he’s the only person who can polish marks off your test like that.”

Sarah Ennis/Grantstown Jackson (35.6)

 “I was mostly pleased. He hasn’t seen an arena like that before and was quite nervous outside the ring, but he came back to me, though there were a couple of costly mistakes.”

Tayla Mason/Centennial (40.2 – pictured)

“The second half of the test didn’t go to plan, but it’s his first time here. Look, you are here to train and develop an athlete – he was mentally OK, but probably just withdrew a bit. He actually got a little bit tired and was struggling to do the changes, but he’s still young.”

Sam Watson/Ballyneety Rocketman (40.5)

“It was a busy test for him and he’s not the most strong in that phase. I did my first flying change and knew I was not supposed to half pass but I had a blank so had to do something. I let him down a bit there. It’s a journey and he needs to learn that there is a new expectation for him – he’ll go in to other arenas now and cope much better.”

Alexander Bragg/Ardeo Premier (35.2):

“He really concentrated. My riding of the flying change was not the best but it’s amazing to be here. It’s an amazing atmosphere, I can’t wait to be out on the cross-country tomorrow.”

Nicolai Aldinger/Timo (33.9)

“I am happy with her work. She is not a ‘wow’ in this phase, although great in the others. She can do beautiful flying changes so it was super-frustrating that she missed the first one.

“It’s a good cross-country course. I will probably fall off at the second or third fence for saying this, but I don’t know if it is as technical as usual. I like the Lake – it’s a good old-fashioned fence and should be fun to watch.

“Superstition (31.8) [first ride] hasn’t done an event this spring, which is a deliberate plan as he gets stressed out. I am not at all worried about him being unprepared.”

Harry Meade/Cavalier Crystal (33.8)

 

Friday morning

“Well, it was better than last year – we got through it. One of the pirouettes and the [flying] changes were OK; he’s getting better. He sees the cross-country fences and gets a bit anxious.”

Emma Thomas/Icarus (46.9 )

“It’s amazing to be here. Master Point is not the most extravagant and can be a bit downhill but he tried his hardest and allowed me to ride him.”

Ian Cassells/Master Point (30.7 )

“It was good. The course is quite big.”

Christoph Wahler/D’Accord 70 (32.2)

 

Ros scored the first 10 of the event: “He’s getting stronger all the time. He’s always struggled a bit with the [flying] changes, but the mistakes were my fault. He loves the atmosphere.”

Ros Canter/Lordships Graffalo (25.3)

“I’d have taken that score yesterday. The trot work was beautiful. There will be plenty to jump tomorrow.”

Susie Berry/Clever Trick (36.5)

“That was good for where he’s at, it’s a brilliant mark for him. He’s naturally a hot horse and took a deep breath as he went up the centre line, which is progress.”

Kate Rocher-Smith/Dassett Select (33.1)

“We made an error in the third change, which is very frustrating, but I’m really proud of her, especially given she has been quite ‘hot’ since she’s been here.”

Georgie Goss/Feloupe (29.6)

“I’m pleased overall, he was pretty rideable but he does anticipate movements if I’m not careful. I’m glad I wasn’t trotting him up, he was a real handful – thank you to Tom Rowland for doing that for me!”

Selina Milnes/Gelmer (37.6)

“He is a difficult horse to ride in a big arena, but he kept his cool and we had a good preparation. I last did Badminton 18 years ago and this is another similarly good horse. My plan is to get to the European championships at Blenheim again, having ridden there 20 years ago.”

Harald Ambros/Vitorio de Montet (34.9)

“We knew the flying changes were a work in progress – and they are expensive – but I am pleased with the rest of the test. He is a cool horse, and if I can get him there, he should jump round the cross-country tomorrow. It’s all up to me.”

Jack Pinkney/Rehy Revelation (39.9)

“I am 43, so it has taken me longer than most people to get to my first Badminton – I have been watching for years and this feels like a real box ticked. The cross-country looks as big as I expected it to be, but I have a good old-fashioned cross-country horse. He is big – over 17.2hh – and three-quarter thoroughbred so I am hoping it will suit him.”

Katie Magee/Trewarra (31.8)

“We made a few costly mistakes in the flying changes, but otherwise I am happy. I like the look of the cross-country course – it’s big and bold. It’s a long way home [at 11 minutes 40 seconds] but my horse jumps well and we have gone well at some European competitions so I am hopeful we will too, here.”

Daragh Byrne/Kilcannon Ramiro (41.8)

“He hasn’t grasped being relaxed in the dressage yet, so I take what I can get – but I trust him with my life across country.”

Lauren Innes/Global Fision M (48.6)

“He’s a tricky one in there, but he held it together. It’s been a big work in progress and he’s not the easiest – there is quite an atmosphere. Fortunately there wasn’t too much clapping for Lauren [Innes]. I can’t wait for tomorrow – he’s a Saturday horse and the ground is going to be fast.”

Harry Mutch/Shanbeg Cooley (40.1)