Oliver Townend and his grand five-star campaigner Ballaghmor Class have taken an early lead after the first morning of dressage at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials with one of only two sub-30 marks. Their score of 29.3 is only 0.2 of a penalty ahead of Gemma Stevens with Chilli Knight, son of the 2015 winner, Chilli Morning.

“He’s unreal,” Oliver said of his 18-year-old mount, already winner of four five-star events. “He’s fit and well and feels better than ever.”

The scores from the ground jury Xavier Le Source (president), Nick Burton and Robert Stephenson have so far been on the conservative side, and anticipation is building around whether one of this afternoon’s competitors can break free of the pack.

Leading prospects include Olympic team bronze medallist Ryuzo Kitajima from Japan, 2024 Luhmuhlen winner Lara de Liedekerke-Meier from Belgium, and Britain’s Emily King (Valmy Biats), Olympic gold medallist Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) and world champion Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ).

“As long as the judging remains as consistent as it has been, I am happy,” said Oliver, who has two great chances at Badminton this year, with the lovely mare Cooley Rosalent to come tomorrow. “There is enough to sort us out on the cross-country at 11 minutes 40 seconds.”

Kylie Roddy, lying third on SRS Kan Do (30.1 penalties), pronounced herself “beyond thrilled” and was full of praise for the ground work done by the cross-country team. “They must have been working so hard on the footing – it’s amazing,” she said.

Bubby Upton, who last year made such a triumphant return from a spinal injury to finish 10th on Cola, is currently in fourth place on 30.2. She has spent the winter regaining fitness after a back operation.

“It has been harder than I expected and I found it quite demoralising having to rebuild again,” she admitted. “It wasn’t until February that I felt strong again, but I am forever grateful to my surgeon. I am back to riding nine horses and the pain is much less. I feel really lucky.”