NEW Zealand's Andrew Nicholson is poised at the top of the leaderboard in The Irish Field CCI*** class heading into tomorrow’s final show jumping phase.

Riding the eight-year-old Nordico gelding Jet Set IV, the Kiwi rider jumped a clean cross-country round today within the time allowed to remain on his dressage score.

Sadly, the early leader in the class, Favorit Z ridden by Australia’s Sam Griffiths, had to be put down today after the horse broke his leg on the cross-country course. The antipodean pair had wowed dressage judges on Thursday to set a new record in the dressage phase of the three-star class with a score of 36.1.

New leader Nicholson is being chased by three British riders - Kitty King (Ceylan LAN), William Fox-Pitt (Luxury FH) and William Oakden (Greystone Midnight Melody) – heading into the final phase tomorrow.

Don’t miss The Irish Field next Saturday for comprehensive coverage of Tattersalls.