Harry Meade and Tenareze. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
After a couple of minor technical hitches, the Badminton Horse Trials draw was conducted live via Facebook this morning, helmed by presenter Rupert Bell and pulled by the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort. As always, all entered horses and riders – including the 23 still on the waitlist — were given a spot in the drawn order, which comprises 118 total allocated numbers at this stage.
This year’s trailblazer will be local entrant Harry Meade, who has three horses entered and will be allowed to come forward with two of them. That gives him the luxury of some choice: he drew number 1 with Tenareze and numbers 2 and 102 with Cavalier Crystal, both of whom are five-star first-timers, while his experienced campaigner Away Cruising will be among the last out of the box as number 101. British rider Kirsty Chabert will be second in the ring — and out of the start box — with her first ride Classic VI, followed by an Irish double-hander in Padraig McCarthy and Fallulah (4) and Joseph Murphy and Cesar V (5).
The man with the most entered horses will be relieved to have a bit of a breather before his turn: World Number One Oliver Townend has frequently drawn the number 1 position on this list, too, but this year, he’s all the way down in 11 with Kentucky victor Cooley Master Class, 12 with Tregilder, 13 with Burghley and Kentucky winner Ballaghmor Class, and 14 with the former Andrew Nicholson mount Swallow Springs. At the other end of the list, he holds number 107 with Ridire Dorcha, 108 with Tregilder, 109 with Ballaghmor Class, and 110 with Swallow Springs. He’ll be able to pick one of those early draws and one of the late ones for his final selection, which looks likely to be Ballaghmor Class and Swallow Springs.
Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby at Burghley. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
118 numbers have been allocated in total for a final starting list of 85 horses and riders, and with such an enormous spread, predicting when horses and riders will perform their dressage tests is more of a guessing game than an exact science. But the USA’s hot list of entered riders look largely set to dominate Thursday, with Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby leading the way as number 20. Following closely behind them is Phillip Dutton with Tokyo partner Z, who have been allocated number 22, while Tamie Smith and Mai Baum will make a bid for the dressage lead as number 26, which should see them sit in the first session after the lunch break. British-based US pair Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl are currently ninth on the waitlist but, if accepted, will follow Tamie and Mai Baum as number 27. Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan hold number 30, which also currently looks like a Thursday afternoon slot, while Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way have drawn 48, which puts them on the cusp between the end of the day Thursday and first thing Friday morning.
Matt Flynn and Wizzerd. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Further down the field, and looking much more like a Friday competitor, is Matt Flynn and Wizzerd, who have been based in England since January and will tackle their first Badminton wearing the number 55. They’ll have good company that day: Emily Hamel and Corvett are currently first on the waitlist and will wear number 95, while US-based Aussie Dom Schramm and Bolytair B have drawn number 64. Canada’s Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes will follow them as number 65, and Mike Winter and El Mundo, currently seventh on the waitlist, have been allocated the enormously covetable (?) 69. Grow up, you lot.
Piggy French and Vanir Kamira win Badminton 2019. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Reigning champions Piggy March and Vanir Kamira have drawn number 19 and will certainly be one of the combinations to watch, as will Piggy’s second ride, the excellent Brookfield Inocent, who has drawn number 114. World Champions Ros Canter and Allstar B come forward as number 10, preceded by European Champions Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin in 9. The entirety of Britain’s Tokyo front is out in force: 2020 Pau winners Laura Collett and London 52 have drawn number 70, while 2019 Pau winners and Olympic individual silver medallists Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser have an early draw of 7. Could it be a lucky number for the hot favourites in the field?
Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Last to go will be Badminton first-timers Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do, who impressed on their five-star debut at Pau last year for eleventh place. Kylie has also drawn number 17 with waitlisted entry Carden Earl Grey. The final start list will be confirmed on Sunday, May 1, after the final substitutions window from the waitlist closes at 2pm local time.
Here’s the full draw list, with waitlisted combinations italicised:
1, 2: Harry Meade and Tenareze or Cavalier Crystal (GBR)
3: Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI (GBR)
4: Padraig McCarthy and Fallulah (IRE)
5: Joseph Murphy and Cesar V (IRE)
6: David Doel and Ferro Point (GBR)
7: Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser (GBR)
8: William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II (GBR)
9: Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin (GBR)
10: Ros Canter and Allstar B (GBR)
11, 12, 13, 14: Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class, Tregilder, Ballaghmor Class, or Swallow Springs (GBR)
15, 16: Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On or MGH Grafton Street (GBR)
17: Kylie Roddie and Carden Earl Grey (GBR)
18: Bill Levett and Lassban Diamond Lift (AUS)
19: Piggy March and Vanir Kamira (GBR)
20: Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby (USA)
21: Caroline Powell and Up Up and Away (NZL)
22: Phillip Dutton and Z (USA)
23: Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG (LIT)
24: Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain (GBR)
25: Bundy Philpott and Tresca NZPH (NZL)
26: Tamie Smith and Mai Baum (USA)
27: Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl (USA)
28: Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue (IRE)
29: Rose Nesbitt and EG Michaelangelo (GBR)
30: Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan (USA)
31: Elizabeth Power and Soladoun (IRE)
32: Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding (NZL)
33: Cathal Daniels and Barrichello (IRE)
34: Sarah Ennis and Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (IRE)
35: Arianna Schivo and Quefiro de l’Ormeau (ITA)
36: James Sommerville and Talent (GBR)
37: Ben Hobday and Shadow Man (GBR)
38: Helen Wilson and My Ernie (GBR)
39: Tom Rowland and Possible Mission (GBR)
40: Christoph Wähler and Carjatan S (GER)
41: Zara Tindall and Class Affair (GBR)
42: Sofia Sjoborg and DHI Mighty Dwight (SWE)
43: Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden (GBR)
44: Kitty King and Vendredi Biats (GBR)
45: Izzy Taylor and Artful Trinity (GBR)
46: Caroline Clarke and Touch Too Much (GBR)
47: Hector Payne and Dynasty (GBR)
48: Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way (USA)
49: Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver de Haar (GBR)
50: Felicity Collins and RSH Contend OR (GBR)
51: Emily King and Valmy Biats (GBR)
52: Jonelle Price and Classic Moet (NZL)
53: Alice Casburn and Topspin II (GBR)
54: James Rushbrooke and Milchem Eclipse (GBR)
55: Matt Flynn and Wizzerd (USA)
56: Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet (GBR)
57: Sharon Polding and Findonfirecracker (GBR)
58: Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Rui (NZL)
59: Harry Mutch and HD Bronze (GBR)
60: Emma Hyslop Webb and Waldo III (GBR)
61: Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford (AUS)
62: Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and DSP Cosma (AUT)
63: Luc Chateau and Troubadour Camphoux (FRA)
64: Dom Schramm and Bolytair B (AUS)
65: Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes (CAN)
66: Susie Berry and John the Bull (IRE)
67: Maxime Livio and Vitorio du Montet (FRA)
68: Sarah Way and Dassett Cooley Dun (GBR)
69: Mike Winter and El Mundo (CAN)
70: Laura Collett and London 52 (GBR)
71: Rosie Fry and True Blue Too II (GBR)
72: Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality (GBR)
73: Bubby Upton and Cola (GBR)
74: Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge (FRA)
75: Clare Abbott and Jewelent (IRE)
76: Jo Rimmer and Isaac Newton (GBR)
77: Arthur Duffort and Toronto d’Aurois (FRA)
78: Tom Carlile and Zanzibar Villa Rose Z (FRA)
79: Tina Cook and Billy the Red (GBR)
80: Cedric Lyard and Unum de’Or (FRA)
81: Joris Vanspringel and Creator GS (BEL)
82: Cyrielle Lefevre and Armanjo Serosah (FRA)
83: Sam Watson and Ballybolger Talisman (IRE)
84: Becky Heappey and DHI Babette K (GBR)
85: Nicky Hill and MGH Bingo Boy (GBR)
86: Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy (NZL)
87: Arthur Chabert and Goldsmiths Imber (FRA)
88: Richard Jones and Alfies Clover (GBR)
89: Tom Crisp and Liberty and Glory (GBR)
90: Alex Bragg and King of the Mill (GBR)
91: Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB (AUS)
92: Ugo Provasi and Shadd’OCC (FRA)
93: Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley (GBR)
94: Jean Lou Bigot and Utrillo du Halage (FRA)
95: Emily Hamel and Corvett (USA)
96: Simon Grieve and Mr Fahrenheit (GBR)
97: Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift (GBR)
98: Selena Milnes and Iron (GBR)
99: Lauren Innes and Global Fision M (GBR)
100: Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Loire (GBR)
101, 102: Harry Meade and Away Cruising or Cavalier Crystal (GBR)
103: Padraig McCarthy and HHS Noble Call (IRE)
104: Nicola Wilson and Erano M (GBR)
105: William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire (GBR)
106: Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (GBR)
107, 108, 109, 110: Oliver Townend and Ridire Dorcha or Tregilder or Ballaghmor Class or Swallow Springs
111, 112: Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street or Majas Hope
113: David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed (GBR)
114: Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent (GBR)
115: Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser (GBR)
116: Joseph Murphy and Calmaro (IRE)
117: Bill Levett and Lates Quin (AUS)
118: Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do (GBR)
