IRELAND's Austin O'Connor and Colorado Blue stormed home inside the time for Ireland, just one of seven to make the time all day, helping Ireland move up to eighth place.

Speaking after the clear round, Austin said: “I am delighted with my horse’s performance, the horse was great. He seems to have recovered really well. He is a class horse. We will all enjoy the next phase now. We will get the horse recovered and myself recovered and hopefully come out and finish on a good note.”

Thomas Heffernan Ho of Hong Kong rode the oldest horse in the competition, the 20-year-old gelding Tayberry. The pair are in 46th position individually following a slow cross-country round.

Ireland's Sam Watson and Tullabeg Flamenco (ISH) were unlucky to knock a frangible pin, automatically picking up 11 penalties as well as two time penalties. They are in 31st position on a score of 47.30.

“It’s a really tough one to take because he was brilliant,” stated Watson. “The reason he had the 11 penalties was that I let him fall in on that line a little. He ballooned in over the oxer and he got there a fraction close. I should have made more room for him and kept out. We [the team] stay alive, we’re still in the game but I am frustrated.”

A scary moment for Kazuma Tomoto of Japan and Vinci de la Vigne. The pair lie in 5th place overnight after adding just 1.6 time penalties on cross-country.

Individual leader Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class (ISH) were the pathfinders today, coming home five seconds inside the time. Britain also hold the team gold medal position.

"We know he's special. Anyone who watched eventing knows he's special. But he's tough, he digs deep."

Germany's Julia Krajewski holds the individual silver after a brilliant round, just one second over the time, with Amande De b'Neville. The German team slipped to fifth place after mistakes from Sandra Auffarth and defending champion Michael Jung who broke a frangible pin for 11 penalties.

Laura Collett and London 52 for Britain were another home clear and inside the time. They lie in bronze medal position individually. “I always said he’s a superstar and he just went out and proved to everyone just how good he is. I’m so relieved I did my job and to be selected on this team this year, I know everyone at home will understand this, we’ve had to fight for our place and he’s proved to everybody he well and truly deserved it, and I can’t tell you how proud I am of him!” she said.

Sarah Ennis and Woodcourt Garrison had a tough time out of course, finishing with 20 penalties for a run out and 17.6 for time.

“I felt as we came to the drop and down to the skinny, where he ran out, he got really hard on my right rein and he ran down that hill. For love nor money I couldn’t turn him,” Ennis said. “It is really unfortunate. I was very lucky to get him home. He felt very empty and heavy. I say he will bounce back, he is a tough one and will come back fighting tomorrow. He is fairly hardy but the humidity got to him today.”

A fall for Japan's Yoshiaki Oiwa and Calle 44 dashed the home nations hopes of a medal as they drop to 11th place after cross-country.

Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy of Australia, riding Vassily de Lassos, to a clear round to move up seventh place while Australia hold the silver medal position.

Also clear inside the time for Australia was Shane Rose and Virgil, who move up to ninth place individually. "It was amazing, (we) didn't put a foot wrong. Virgil was amazing. It's great to have a healthy horse at a championships. He's in great form."

Phillip Dutton of USA and Z finished with 4.30 time penalties and lie 17th. The American team is in fifth place.

Loss of Jet Set

Tragically, Swiss horse Jet Set, ridden by Robin Godel, had to be euthanised after pulling up extremely lame at fence 20. The 14-year-old gelding received immediate veterinary attention before being transferred by horse ambulance to the onsite Veterinary Clinic.

All Tokyo 2020 coverage here.