After a classic day of thrills and spills at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, it’s GB’s Oliver Townend who narrowly retains his lead after a contentious 15 point flag penalty was removed. Amy Powell reports on the day’s action and another British 1-2-3.
Eric Winter’s 2025 cross country course caused it’s customary level of carnage today, with only 60 completions recorded out of the 80 riders who left the start box, but the good ones certainly made it look easy. An uncustomary proportion of 6 combinations made the time, partly down to the fast but excellent ground which was a tribute to the monumental effort the Badminton grounds team put into making the going perfect after the dry spring we’ve had.
The fastest round of the day also goes to the rider who currently sits in second place overnight, Badminton 2023 winner, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo who remains on her dressage score of 25.3. “I’m so lucky to have him, it’s such a privilege to have a horse that stays composed and loves it at the same time. He just knows his job so well, yet he’s also so rideable.” She said of her absolutely text book round that stopped the clock 11 seconds inside the time and clear after a flag penalty was removed for her, also.
Just four penalties behind Ros is Gemma Stevens on her first ride, Chilli Knight, who climbed from 10th place after dressage after a clear round inside the time today, and also remain on their dressage score of 29.5, giving Ros one show jump in hand ahead of Gemma tomorrow. “What a round! I’m not going to lie, that was cool. He was just unbelievable”, she said of the 15-year-old son of 2015 winner here, Chilli Morning. Unfortunately, Gemma had an early run out at Fence 7b with her other ride, Jalapeno, who was sitting in third place going into today, and decided to retire the 17-year-old mare, saving her for another day.
But the day goes to Oliver Townend and the phenomenal mare that is Cooley Roaslent. The pair gave an absolute cross country masterclass this afternoon and after a last-minute decision to take the longer route into the Huntsman’s Close at 26a, came home just three seconds over the 11 minutes 40 seconds optimum time. “I had a phone call off my dad just before I got on telling me that it was better to gallop into the oxer as it had gone very dark in there,” he said of the decision.
The 11-year-old mare ate up the toughest course of her career and made it look easy, oozing class in the process, and is certainly going to only ever improve as her years progress. “I couldn’t be happier with her, it’s her first proper test since Kentucky and she’s done it again,” Oliver said of the Irish Sports Horse. He also sits in 8th place overnight with his 5* stalwart and Tokyo 2020 Olympics team gold medalist, Ballaghmor Class and let’s make no bones about it, sitting with two horses inside the top 10 after such a challenging day is no mean feat.
A rider that can certainly attest to that was overnight second placed rider Tom McEwen who sadly broke a frangible pin at the first corner of Huntsman’s close, adding 11 penalties, plus 10.8 time penalties to his overnight score, leaving him on 44.2 and dropping him out of contention, down to 16th place ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping. “it’s one of those things, do you go long, do you go short? I made the decision to go direct and the pin came down for us, which is exactly why the safety fences are there.”
Climbing up from 20th place after dressage is Ireland’s Austin O’Conner and Colorado Blue – last year’s third placed combination who produced their usual clear round inside the time to remain on their dressage score of 30.8, sitting some way off the top spot but its not outside the realms of possibility that the pair could find themselves on the podium once again.
Rounding off the top five is Harry Meade, who is responsible for the remaining two clears inside the time today – four for four from his last two 5* starts in just two weeks. Harry sits on 31.8 on Superstition for fifth, and seventh on Cavalier Crystal with 33.8.
With just once fence separating the top three going into the final day, it’s certainly all to play for, particularly as Cooley Rosalent isn’t unaccustomed to having one or two fences down in the show jumping phase and equally, Lordships Graffalo isn’t always allergic to knocking the odd pole either so will we have our 2009 or 2023 champion crowned once more, or will a new contender for the title, Gemma Stevens take the top spot? The final 20 start jumping in reverse order at 14:45 tomorrow, so we won’t have long to wait to find out who will take the Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025 crown.
