Team Price lead after dressage in Pau, with Fox-Pitt and Little Fire hot on the chase

It’s a first and second place hold for Tim and Jonelle Price following the dressage at the CSI5* Les 5 étoiles de Pau as competitors head into the cross country phase of the event.

Tim Price and Falco set the leading score of 22.1, with wife Jonelle Price and McClaren only 2.3 penalties behind him on 24.4. For Great Britain, it’s William Fox-Pitt on one of his two 5* entries, Little Fire, in third, less than 0.1 behind the leading NZL female rider.

A not so little, Little Fire, who William Fox-Pitt owns in partnership with Jennifer and Tom Dowling, stands at respectable 17hh. The pair have campaigned at a significant number of 4* level events since their partnership began in 2014, however at 5* level the 2009 Graf Top gelding is relatively unproven. His first attempt at this level was in 2019 when the pairing finished in ninth place at Badminton International Horse Trials.

Tight at the top

The next best placed GB rider in the top 10 is Isabelle Upton riding Cannavaro, a 2007 KWPN bay gelding owned by Rachel Upton. Sitting on a respectable 27.1, in seventh place, there’s no room for error as Sidney Dufresene (FRA) and Carlos Parro (BRA) both sit only 0.1 behind. However, closing the top 10 is fellow Brit Izzy Taylor riding Sarah Van Vegchel’s Fonbherna Lance, proving the top 10 too close to call lying only 0.1 behind the joint 8th and 9th place riders.

Cross Country Statistics

The 6.470m cross country course for Pau CSI5* 2021 is designed by Pierre Michelet. It sets out 31 obstacles/combinations, and has a time allowed of 11.50 minutes.

Oliver Townend and Ridire Dorcha start proceedings at 13:00 local time on Saturday. Tim Price and Falco will ride later in the afternoon at 16:39 local time.

The showjumping phase will take place on Sunday from 15:00.

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