REIGNING MARS Badminton champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo laid down a commanding lead in their bid to become the first combination to win the five-star event three times. Their score of 23.7 leaves them over four penalties ahead of Thursday’s leaders Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, who scored a personal best of 28.1 to lie second ahead of the cross-country phase. Previous five-star winners Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Felix Vogg like in third and fourth positions, with Hooney D’Arville and Cartania respectively, while the 2024 champions Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier lie sixth on 28.9.

Best of the Irish riders is Georgie Goss, who lies in equal 15th position with America’s Grace Taylor. She scored 30.8 with the sixteen-year-old mare Feloupe, after a mistake in one flying change. “If I’m honest, I’m a little bit disappointed,” said Goss after her test, “but they’ve not been giving the marks away and I did miss that change. Swings and roundabouts! Overall, she’s very consistent on the flat. Everything you put into her, you get out of her. I always try to get into the arena early so I can get the applause from the horse before to just lift her a little bit more, but she’s so consistent and a joy to ride.”

Only three places behind Goss lies Lucy Latta, who scored a five-star personal best with RCA Patron Saint of 31.9, also with a mistake in one flying change. She said: “He really held it together today. This is his third five-star, and he’s getting used to these stadium arenas. He’s really capable and he has lovely changes. It’s about the quality of the canter for him, and towards the end of the test I lost him slightly and that change was behind the aid.” Latta explained that she has a taken a career break from her role in marketing, saying “This guy is 15 now and he won’t last forever, but I hope we can do a few more five-stars together.”

Sarah Ennis and Grantstown Jackson equalled their previous five-star personal best score of 34.5 to lie 32nd. “At least he only had one Jackie Chan moment in a flying change, so yeah, I’m very proud of him” Ennis said afterwards. Only world number one Harry Meade and the third of his three rides, Cavalier Crystal, lie between Ennis and Austin O’Connor, who scored 34.8 with Sixmilewater.

Some mistakes kept Padraig McCarthy and Lady Ophelia on 38.2 in 47th, but the rider commented: “I am pleased, she doesn’t find it easy. She was very settled in her trotwork, she did good flying changes and she was with me for most of the test.” Sam Watson scored 39.6 with Ballyneety Rocketman to lie 53rd ahead of tomorrow’s cross-country phase, of which McCarthy said “It’s a bold track and it looks like the fences are really there in front of you. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”