BRITISH Olympic medallist Oliver Townend stormed into the lead at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials on Friday afternoon with the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cooley Rosalent after a stunning dressage test saw them finish on a score of 21.1.

The mare by Valent, who was bred in Co Armagh by Woods Rosbotham out of the Roselier mare Bellaney Jewel, smashed her six-run average (24.9) to score a personal best at the level. Townend was delighted with his mare but was not getting too excited. “I’ve led the dressage at Badminton a few times and I’ve only won it once; I’ve been second four times, third twice… it’s been a painful place really. She’s a young horse and there’s still a long way to go.”

He pushed his teammate and three-time Olympic medallist Tom McEwen and JL Dublin into second place. They had held the lead since Thursday afternoon when scoring 22.4 in an almost flawless test, the only mistake coming in the first extended trot. “He pulled together a super, super test, and got a mark he deserved. It was a shame that our highlight piece was broken but he was awesome,” said McEwen.

Britain’s Gemma Stevens was also late to go on Friday and she snuck into third place on a score of 24.7 on Jalapeno, ahead of Ros Canter with her former Badminton and Burghley winner Lordships Graffalo on 25.3. Canter said she was “really pleased” and added that today’s cross-country jumping was “big and bold”.

Best of the Irish riders in 11th is Georgie Goss, on her ninth Badminton appearance, with Feloupe on a decent score of 29.6, while Badminton first-time Ian Cassells and Master Point are in equal 18th place on 30.7, just a fraction ahead of Austin O’Connor with his Maryland five-star winner Colorado Blue in 20th place on their best ever five-star dressage score of 30.8.

Georgie Goss and Feloupe during their dressage test at the 2025 MARS Badminton Horse Trials \ Nigel Goddard

Cassells looked like he might break the 30 barrier but for a mistake in his final flying change with Brian and Bridget McGing’s 12-year-old gelding. “He wouldn’t be the most extravagant mover; he’d be a little bit downhill, but he’s really blood, really sits and tries his hardest,” Cassells commented.

Goss said: “I’m absolutely delighted. She was amazing. We made an error in the third change, which is very frustrating, but I’m really proud of her, especially given she has been quite ‘hot’ since she’s been here.”

Cross-country begins at 11.30am today (Saturday). The Badminton team have put just shy of 3 million litres of water on the course starting on March 28th due to the dry conditions. You can watch Badminton live on Badminton TV, via Clipmyhorse.tv (subscription), and BBC2 will show a highlights programme from 1.45pm on Sunday, May 11th.

Lesley Hunter-Nolan is onsite at Badminton this week. Read her extensive report in next week’s paper.