South Gloucestershire, England—May 4

Oliver Townend is poised to win his second five-star in two weeks having maintained pole position after the cross-country phase at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

When Oliver’s first ride, dressage leader Cillnabradden Evo, clocked up time penalties in double figures, it was left to his stablemate, Ballaghmor Class, to deliver the goods. The aptly-named grey gelding did so in exemplary style, adding just 0.4 of a time penalty to his dressage score of 21.5.

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class moved into first after cross-country. Mitisubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2019/Kit Houghton Photo

“This was his best round to date for me,” said Townend of his 2017 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials winner. “I wanted to give him a clear run and show the world what he’s capable of. We were 14 seconds down coming out of the Lake, and I just had to press go and off he went. He’s a special athlete.

“When I was sitting in the lorry between my two rides I was listening to Ian Stark and Harry Meade talking on the live stream, and Ian said that anyone who doesn’t get nervous before they go cross-country at Badminton either has no brain or is no good, and I thought, ‘oh shit!’” he added.

Townend will have one fence in hand over second-placed Piggy French and Vanir Kamira, who rose one place despite finishing a shade over the optimum time.

Piggy French and Vanir Kamira moved up to second despite a few time penalties. Mitisubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2019/Kit Houghton Photo

“She’s so game and gutsy,” said an elated French. “She’s not flashy like some, but give her a Badminton or a Burghley, and she comes into her own. I’m a bit annoyed about being two seconds over as I thought I’d got the time, but I’m not going to let that take away from what she’s done.”

There were five rounds inside the time, and two of these came from Australian Chris Burton, who steered Graf Liberty and Cooley Lands effortlessly home and clear at opposite ends of the day.

“My rides were very different, but I was thrilled with them both,” said Burton. “Graf Liberty doesn’t pull, is snaffle-mouthed, and we know each other very well, whereas Cooley Lands can get keen and strong but is incredibly fast; I was slowing down on my way home.”

Chris Burton rode both of his horses clear and inside the time. (Pictured on Graf Liberty). Mitisubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2019/Kit Houghton Photo

Burton lies in third and fifth going into tomorrow’s final show jumping phase.

Sandwiched in between Burton’s two rides is the 2017 winner Andrew Nicholson, who enjoyed a storming, and completely penalty-free round, with the super-classy Swallow Springs.

Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy, another pair to make the optimum, occupy sixth place.

Forty-seven of the 78 combinations who left the start box came home with clear jumping rounds under their belts. There were 15 retirements, four eliminations and only one horse fall for Becky Woolven and Charlton Down Riverdance, who tipped up over fence 6, the Worcester Avenue Table.

Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser, who were lying in second place at the beginning of the day, dropped to 16th after they triggered the frangible pin at the huge triple bar coming out of the Wadworth Lower Lake (fence 26) and incurred 11 penalties.

Watch Townend’s round via the Badminton live stream. 

Neither Pippa Funnell (fifth after dressage on Billy Walk On) nor Kitty King (Vendredi Biats, sixth) completed, although Funnell enjoyed a brilliant pathfinding round on her first horse, Majas Hope, who lies in 24th.

The U.S. had two riders on course today, Jenny Caras on Fernhill Fortitude and Savannah Fulton on Captain Jack. Caras picked up two stops before retiring, while Fulton jumped clear and added 43.2 time penalties to lie 55th.

Course designer Eric Winter, commented, “It’s not often I say at the end of the day that I’d not change anything about the course, but it was the case today. It showed off the best to be the best and showed everyone else what they had to work on.”

Tomorrow’s final horse inspection will take place in front of Badminton House at 8.30 a.m. BST. The final show jumping phase will begin at 11 a.m. BST for the lower placed riders, while the top 20 will jump at 2 p.m. BST.

“What a truly awe-inspiring day of cross-country action,” said managing director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, Rob Lindley. “We have seen some brave partnerships taking on the course with some wonderful displays of athleticism and skill. It will be a totally deserving winner who takes home the prestigious Mitsubishi Motors trophy at the end of the final showjumping phase tomorrow afternoon.”

For the full results, click here.