
The stage is set
41003214585_fd30c5c369_h

People up early to watch riders walk the course
27033831807_8a7e2e61d7_h

The Lake looking magnificent
41185292994_ac648fa1a0_h

Riders out for a final walk of the course
41185292554_74cabd50f3_h

Final camera checks
41003213885_5b4ad8cfd4_h

Off onto the course early, hoping to catch a glimpse of the riders
40095150030_96263a093c_h

Overnight leader, Oliver Townend out walking the course this morning
27033836727_f138f5124a_h

Georgie Spence having one last walk of the Vicarage Vee
41003213635_c27011c312_h

The KBIS Vicarage Vee being walked on foot for the final time
27033836327_d6623c5d88_h

Sir Mark Todd taking Leonidas II for a leg stretch
41902712261_d611e4ac51_h

Horses out grazing in the sun before cross country kicks off
41185291624_05bfc86dbf_h

Grabbing a bite to eat before the action begins
27033835987_676bca76d0_h

Real buzz in the trade stands
41185291504_77e5a16533_h

This guy is going for a 4* completion next year!
27033835807_717501529b_h

Caroline Powell walking her lines for the last time. She is the first rider out on course
41185291424_78716ecca8_h

Decent drop into The Lake
41003212525_e0be6af89b_h

Team Ireland finalising their intended lines through the lake
40095149740_f5c30dc38a_h

Huge drop into the lake for the first element of fence nine
28032770928_25de5dc404_h

Horses grazing in front of Badminton House ahead of the cross country phase
41003212345_ba50c13807_h

Final walk of the course
41185290824_d64a740e85_h

Mid-morning course walk
28032765698_9341816e0d_h

Yoshiaki Oiwa out walking the course early on Saturday morning
27033834807_e76a6c0da0_h

Georgie Spence and Oliver Townend out on course early this morning, with both having two rides here at Badminton
40095153440_67758642f2_h

World no.1 out walking the course
41003211895_a71893e13e_h

Mark Todd taking one last look at the KBIS Vicarage Vee, before tackling it on Saturday
27033834167_2ab76532ed_h

Consulting the programme before heading out on course
41902714901_3986a81fdf_h

Final run through before the two tackle the track
28032769578_99430eb9da_h

Ashley Edmond taking one final whizz round the course, before heading out on Triple Chance
41902714641_c3b9f972e1_h

Mr Potts enjoying some grass in front of Badminton House
41902714401_f52a500e9c_h

Team France heading back to the stables after a final walk of the course
41902711801_ea76dbd8cf_h

Collien P 2 getting plenty of cuddles from members of the Acorn Syndicate
28032768738_193c97db53_h

The struggle of keeping a grey horse clean, as shown here with Collien P 2
41902714081_0b6f971287_h

Euro Prince basking in the sunshine this morning
41902713981_9a8e7de0b2_h

Will Coleman's, Obos O'Reilly posing for the camera
40095149080_4ae4bf48e9_h

Cult Rewind enjoying a bath before his cross country round
41902713821_66c22eabfb_h

Cult Rewind looking fantastic
41902713641_bcbc944fd4_h

Tea for two
28032765028_57bca8ed07_h

Bath time down at the stables
40095151300_25210cc029_h

Lydia Harrison adding the finishing touches to Hollyfield before taking him for some grass
41902713291_11a4678575_h

Team work makes the dream work!
28032767418_70cdd3fa54_h

Dag Albert and his Wilberry Wonder Pony
41902711611_463056ec3e_h

All stations go for Team Furlong
41902713121_69f9d9f3c8_h

The Duke Of Cavan waiting patiently to go out with Yoshiaki Oiwa
27033832297_b9058f0d9f_h

Padraig McCarthy propping himself up against Mr Chunky
41902713001_31b93852c9_h

Super selfie
27033832127_131bb8ab42_h

Qatar Du Puech Rouget enjoying a graze before cross country kicks off
28032766648_c3174c25bc_h

All smiles from Alan Nolan
40095148650_c60c78aae1_h

Georgie Spence sailing into the Wadsworth Water with Halltown Harley
41861270622_982416311b_h

Super, fast clear from Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser
41861628592_f3468b7487_k

No problem for Nicholson and Nereo
40097206640_274ae227ed_k

Gemma Tattersall giving Pamero 4 a great ride around his first Badminton
40097206380_879b2f703c_k

Leonidas II looking likes he's really enjoying his round with Sir Mark Todd
40097206020_2ce3007bfb_k

Oliver Townend flying round with Cooley SRS to take an early lead
40097205600_a9d72eda58_k

Charles RR and Alicia Hawker on route to completing cross country at their first Badminton
41005429445_db99e74a41_k

Ben Hobday getting a great shot with Mulry's Error
28034947218_d6cc82d13d_k

Alfies Clover getting a clean jump over the HorseQuest Hump
41005429025_3854da850e_k

Padraig McCarthy pops into The Lake with Mr Chunky
27037425457_0e9ee88b4e_k

Crowds flocking to The Lake, as Tom McEwen flies through
41906415631_02a4f96666_k

Taking flight - Alan Nolan and Bronze Flight fly home clear of jumping penalties
41906415191_f4294c31bb_k

Canadian rider, Selena O'Hanlon leaping through The Lake with Foxwood High
27037424467_3034a3205e_k

Gemma Tattersall giving Pamero 4 a fantastic ride around his first Badminton
27037423867_ee6bc0aec9_k

Leonidas II leaping the B element of The Lake
41906414081_ca1cf98423_k

La Biosthetique Sam FBW leaping the KBIS Vicarage Vee with Michael Jung
40099360410_0a2208da20_h

Townend, Price and Canter - The top three take to the media after storming cross country rounds
27041276727_fdbab062e8_h

The ChatZone was packed with people, waiting to hear the top three riders assess their rounds
27041276097_1082ac13fc_h

Ros Canter was absolutely delighted with her round on Allstar B, as were Christopher Bartle and Richard Waygood
41011003295_ec24bff575_h

Perfection from Price - Jonelle and Classic Moet fly into the lead, after the fastest round of the day
41011002705_2e27875691_h

The grandstand go wild as Oliver Townend completes with Ballaghmor Class
41011002485_369788af13_h

2014 winners, Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh leaping the L200s
28041029108_676d331cdc_b

The KBIS Vicarage Vee is not an issue for La Biosthetique Sam FBW
28041028958_d02eb7a400_b

Lauren Kieffer leaping into The Lake on Veronica
41911457641_141d31ca71_b

Mr Chunky sailing over the Devoucoux Quad Bar on route to a fantastic clear round
28041029038_3e3c991204_b

The leader leaping the L200s
40104247250_ea9219fe7c_b

Classic Moet motoring into the lead with Jonelle Price
41193981664_a7594698f4_b

Kiltubrid Rhapsody, ridden by Sir Mark Todd flying into the Wadsworth Water
28041028838_0f5b7a8cb3_b

Here comes Halltown Harley - Georgie Spence sails round on this horses Badminton debut
41868501342_8f872edea0_h

Here goes 2018 - Last year's winner, Nereo flies the first fence
41868501062_bb29e09d97_h

The Mitsubishi Motors Cup fences make great stands to watch the 4* action
41868500702_deb498dd9d_h

Picnic party!
41868500572_dd7dc44140_h

Fun in the sun on cross country day
40104633360_ffb76f669e_h

Mulry's Error making no mistake out on course today. He and Ben Hobday posted a magnificent clear across the country
27042790807_268e39f889_h

Flying the Formulate White Oxers
41868500372_ffab66ad3f_h

Mr Chunky making the Formulate White Oxers look easy
27042790497_d602046212_h

Fernhill Now Or Never flying the Formulate White Oxers with Kate Honey
41868499982_0ea3b788aa_h

Bronze Flight showing his scope
41868499782_1ef0d8ffb1_h

Giovanni Ugolotti dropping into The Lake
41868499372_0d912afbac_h

Catching a couple of rays in front of Badminton House
41194317874_1ae1d7ce58_h

The two best type of bubbles
41868499262_1419b2f0ef_h

Chris Lewis Media team hard at work
27042789817_28ab4826a7_h

Dream set-up for cross country lovers!
41868498942_131a8c0d54_h

Riders and connections gather to watch the cross country action
27042789487_b2bf149e5b_h

Team USA very pleased with Veronica after her super round with Lauren Kieffer
40104632820_829b13622d_h

So close to completion - Sarah Bullimore flies the Fischer Brush on her way to a fantastic clear round with Reve Du Rouet
41868498442_aed3c0925c_h

Ivar Gooden going strong
27042789047_62398c66a6_h

Walking the course with friends
41868498032_4dafea3002_h

Harry Meade cruising over the National Star Trakehner
27042788907_435f6b789a_h

Perfect pair - Ballaghmor Class and Wii Limbo being cooled off after completing the final cross country rounds of the day
41868497532_168c3d27ed_h

Harry Meade chatting with rugby coach, Eddie Jones and veterinarian, Graham Potts after his inspiring round on Away Cruising
41868497272_c21081413d_h

Caroline Powell kicking off cross country day on Up Up And Away
27042788567_ff866def4d_h

2018, here we go!
41194317534_7ab986d57d_h