Defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo head into cross-country day at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials in a commanding position after producing the standout dressage performance of the week.

Just months after giving birth to her second child, Seneh, Canter delivered a polished and assured test aboard the hugely popular “Walter” to finish on an impressive 23.7 penalties, the only sub-24 score of the competition, opening up a valuable 4.4-penalty advantage ahead of Saturday’s influential cross-country phase.

The pair head a high-quality international leaderboard, with American rider Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl sitting second after leading overnight following the opening day of dressage.

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier lies third aboard Hooney d’Arville, ahead of Swiss rider Felix Vogg and Cartania in fourth. New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and 2024 Badminton winner Greenacres Special Cavalier occupy fifth, while Brazilian Olympian Marcio Carvalho Jorge rounds out the top six with Royal Encounter.

Archie and Michelle Saul’s 14-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo is already one of the most decorated horses in modern eventing. Known universally as “Walter”, he has won Badminton twice (2023 and 2025) and Burghley twice (2024 and 2025), alongside claiming European team gold and individual silver in 2023 and Olympic team gold in Paris in 2024.

Now, Canter and Lordships Graffalo stand on the brink of eventing history. Victory this weekend would secure an unprecedented third Badminton title for the horse.

“He is an amazing character,” said Canter. “I have never met a horse that enjoys people and atmosphere like he does. Most horses that have had the international mileage he has would become nervous, but he just loves it.

“He is a busy chap in the stables at an event and likes to be the ‘big I am’. You’re lucky if you come out of the stable without him treading on you or covering you with slobber. At events, I literally just get on him and leave everything else to Sarah [Charnley, groom].”

Coudray admitted she was surprised to remain on the podium at the end of the second day of dressage.

“It is beyond my wildest dreams,” she said, while describing Saturday’s cross-country course as “beautiful and very jumpable”.

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, currently ranked eighth in the world, continued her strong run of international form with Hooney d’Arville, the mare with whom she claimed Belgium’s first five-star victory at Luhmühlen in 2024.

“Hooney is getting better and better with age,” she said. “She owes me nothing and has now given me the privilege of sitting on a podium next to Ros.”

Saturday’s cross-country phase begins at 11.30am and is expected to prove decisive in shaping the final standings, with Badminton’s demanding track traditionally causing major changes to the leaderboard before Sunday’s showjumping finale.