Michael Jung and Leopin FST had one stop on course at Savills' Staircase.
We’re approaching the halfway mark here on cross-country day at Badminton, and I’m popping in to bring you a quick update and some videos of the course. So far, the course has ridden very well, with 10 riders coming home double clear thus far. I imagine we’ll see that number grow much higher throughout the day, as the going is very good and the footing is fantastic. Much to everyone’s surprise, Michael Jung has not been one of those double clear rides thus far, as he was caught out at Savills’ Staircase with Leopin FST as one of the first rides of the morning. I caught him for an interview after the ride, which you can see below. We now know that Ze Terminator isn’t invincible, but you can bet he won’t make the same mistake twice with his ride on La Biosthetique Sam FBW this afternoon.
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier gallop away from The Lake.
Savill’s Staircase, which is fence 22 of 30 on course, also caught out Michael Ryan and Ballylynch Skyport. The other tricky fence on course thus far is right before Savill’s Staircase at fence 21, the HSBC Market Square, which has caught out both Kristina Cook and De Novo News and William Fox-Pitt and Oslo. Ben Hobday has taken the only tumble of the day thus far when he parted ways with Gun A Be Good at the Farmyard. There have been three retirements on course, with Izzy Taylor and KBIS Briarlands Matilda retiring at the Footbridge, Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois retiring at fence nine, and Emily Galbraith and Timing retiring at the Huntsman’s Close. Lucy Jackson and Willy Do withdrew before cross country. It’s about to get very exciting with Clark Montgomery set to kick things off for the Americans at 2:48 local time. I’ll be bringing you post-ride interviews with Clark, Colleen Rutledge, Tiana Coudray and Rebecca Howard. Stay tuned!
[Ride Times] [Fence Analysis] [Live Scores]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvCEQgXHGjg
Chatting with Ze Terminator himselfÂ
Videos of XC:
