The rain was blown away by fairly stiff winds this morning and by the time Paul Tapner set out at 11:30 on Kilronan it was almost perfect conditions for the start of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
For the past few days we’ve heard most of the riders say how much softer the course was this year, and as the first few out, Paul Tapner and Kilronan, Joseph Murphy on Sportsfield Othello, Nicola Wilson on One Two Many and Jock Paget on Clifton Promise all romped home clear with negligible time faults it seemed they may be right. However, there were plenty of thrills and spills to come later in the day.
Andrew Nicholson had one sticky moment on Nereo when he landed steeply into the Lake but after that their clear round never really looked in doubt, the only question was whether they would make the time. In true Andrew Nicholson style he finished bang on the Optimum time and from then on he couldn’t be beaten.
The pressure will be on tomorrow though, as William Fox-Pitt gave us a masterclass on Chilli Morning to also go clear inside the time even though they never looked to rush, just jumped out of stride and made some very economical turns.
Armada cruised round with Oliver Townend too, as did Ingrid Klimke on Horseware Hale Bob and Jock Paget on Clifton Lush so the top five remain on their dressage scores from yesterday and are separated by three penalties less than a rail!
Andrew Nicholson definitely thought that the ground improved during the day and even said when he pulled up on Nereo he was hoping for a midday rain shower to help his cause, but as it happened the weather and the footing just got better and better.
His second horse skipped round easily and which could have been the fast ground, or the fact that he’s the only full TB left in his barn, “Calico Joe is the only full TB I’ve got now; he might not jump like my other horses but the ride in between the fences is unbelievable.
It’s a pleasure to sit on one that can glide you turn left, you turn right and you’re still going the same speed as on the straight.”
William Fox-Pitt agreed that later in the afternoon the footing was perfect but couldn’t compare it to any other rides, “The course rode really well, there were some great rounds and great pictures; it’s been a fantastic day for the sport. I couldn’t have been on a better horse and particularly being on a stallion, he’s proven that he can jump round Badminton.
He went very easily, he was up on his minute markers the whole way, the time rode very easily for him. Conditions were perfect, the ground was perfect, it was a very good run for the horses on very good ground.”
Oliver Townend knew he was going to have a good round on Armada from the getgo, “He’s pure class. When he jumped the first fence out of the arena and ran off with me down the hill I thought it was all up to me then to jump between the flags because he felt unbelievably on form. He knows me very well and I know him and we trust each other very well.”
Paul Tapner moved up to 7th by virtue of micromanaging Indian Mill round, and some pretty gritty riding! Andrew Nicholson is back in the top ten on Calico Joe in seventh; all of these combinations having gone clear inside the time.
Bettina Hoy was super on Designer 10, jumping clear with just 1.2 time to finish 8th overnight when he was a little bold she sat still and quiet and held him, when he needed encouragement she was right there and all the time still and stylish.
The kiwis stole the day not only did Andrew Nicholson bring both his horses home inside the time to finish them both in the top ten but Jonelle and Tim Price had one each also, Jonelle’s second horse only had 1.2 time, similarly Jock Paget brought Clifton Lush home clear and fast, picking up just 6.4 on Clifton Promise.
Gemma Tattersall had said in no uncertain terms she had unfinished business here, and she stormed round on Arctic Soul proving her point that they should be strongly considered for the European Championships later this year at Blair.
Pippa Funnell and Izzy Taylor both rode two clear rounds, and probably the class rounds of the day on their second horses Second Supreme and Briarlands Matilda, and special mention to Ben Hobday who rode a mature, thoughtful round on Mulry’s Error who pinged round and looked like he loved every minute, even though he was out there for an extra one or two!
Izzy Taylor and Briarlands Matilda Photo By Nico Morgan
Chris Burton had a sticky moment when TS Jamaimo banked and slithered over the first of the corners at Hunstman’s Close; he recovered quickly and then gave the horse a positive determined ride to bring him home without further penalty.
Paulank Brockagh and Beltane Queen, two lovely mares, both came home with minimal time, one of Nicola’s two such rounds whereas Sam Griffiths was lucky to escape a ducking in the Lake on his second ride Happy Times when he pecked badly on landing and almost unseated Sam out the front door, pushed him back into the saddle as he regained his balance but Sam elected to retire.
Spare a thought for his compatriot Andrew Hoy who wasn’t so lucky he got unceremoniously dumped in the Gatehouse New Pond when Lanfranco jinked at the skinny in it, dropping him out the side door, then almost unbelievably just a few hours laster Rutherglen left a leg at the first Willow Wave into the Lake and they both came down in the water on landing.
The Irish suffered from mixed fortunes Aoife Clark, Elizabeth Power and Camilla Speirs all looked fabulous most of the way round but Portersize Just A Jiff slid to a halt at the silver birch oxers, and September Bliss has now been marked clear after 20 penalties awarded to her for crossing her tracks at the white gates were removed.
Sportsfield Othello looked fabulous with Joseph Murphy and seemed to make the time easily but Electric Cruise stopped at the third element of the Mirage Pond while also going beautifully, and then after two rather halfhearted representations they were eliminated.
Bill Levett revived Aussie spirits with a fantastic round on Shannondale Titan, and special mention to Brazilian rider Gabriel Cury for a great round on the experienced Grass Valley, to Badminton’s first Ecuadorian representative Nicolas Wettstien for getting home and likewise Badminton rookie Ben Way on Galley Light; Ben is an estate agent ‘by day’ who originally competed in the Grassroots Championships here in 2011.
Caroline Powell had a horrible fall with Onwards and Upwards when he left a leg at the rail going into the Gatehouse New Pond but we were glad to see them both get up and walk away, they had looked pretty amazing until then. Similarly Tina Cook took a dunking with De Novo News when he left a leg at the first Willow Wave into the Lake and they had no chance; happily they also both got up and walked away.
Pippa Funnell and Second Supreme- along with William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning, this was the class round of the day. Photo by Nico Morgan
If Niklas Bschorer hadn’t already begun to make his mark after his beautiful dressage and charming manners, he won us over with his valiant attempt to stay on and keep going at the Lake. Several horses tripped up the step coming up just like Tom Tom Go 3 did with mixed fortunes; sadly although he managed to clamber back into the saddle his airvest had exploded and he retired after jumping out the Lake.
Last year there were 35 completions and noone came home inside the time. This year there were 62 completions and fourteen of those were clear rounds with no time penalties.
Course Designer Giuseppe Della Chiesa declared himself pleased with the results today, “It rode as I thought which I’m very pleased about. The conditions were perfect and when they’re perfect it should look like this. These guys are good enough to make it look perfect. The pictures were good, the atmosphere was fantastic. Ours is an outdoor sport and we have seen that conditions can change and it’s a fine line at four star which can move immediately from one side to the other. I actually planned the course thinking of the conditions last year, it could have gone either way, we didn’t know.”
While we’re talking statistics let’s look ahead to tomorrow with Equirating’s help. In the last five years at Badminton Andrew Nicholson has a 50% strike rate jumping clear show-jumping rounds while Nereo has a 67% history of doing the same.
Chilli Morning has never been here before but William FoxPitt has a 20% average. One fence separates the top six riders, none of whom are strangers to pressure so to say it will be a nailbiting afternoon here tomorrow is a massive understatement.
Before that though let’s thank the volunteers, grooms and supporters who made today such a success, and the grooms whose work is just beginning. It’s been a wonderful day of cross country, several stunning rounds close to as good as it gets, but as always there will be some riders nursing bruises and hurt pride, and we feel for them too.
Once again, we’d also like to thank Nico Morgan for allowing us to use his gorgeous photographs this weekend. Be sure to visit his website here to see much more.
Stay tuned to Eventing Nation here, on Twitter and on Facebook for more from Badminton; many thanks for your support and Go Eventing!
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Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace pass the Final Horse Inspection at Bramham CCI3*. Photo by Samantha Clark.
