Title: Key Contenders to Watch as Badminton Horse Trials Dressage Unfolds
We’re halfway through the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage after an exciting, if chilly, first day. Half the field have done their tests and half are still to take their place between the white boards – there are certainly some on tomorrow’s start list who can muscle their way into the top group or even into pole position.
Read on for a quick rundown of who to keep an eye on as the second part of the action unfolds.
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The favourites. Badminton’s winners from two years ago, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, take to the arena at 9.28am and all eyes will be on the Olympic gold medallists, European champions and Burghley winners. Data analytics company EquiRatings give them a huge 36% win chance.
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Three greys in the final session. Oliver Townend kicks off the last session of Badminton Horse Trials dressage with last year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event winner Cooley Rosalent, who is a potential contender for the title. Ireland’s Joseph Murphy goes two horses later with Calmaro, who probably won’t excel between the white boards, but is one to keep an eye on as the week progresses. The last grey to go is Dreamliner, seventh here last year with Tom Rowland – and this week’s H&H cover star.
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Rising stars. The last pair before the morning coffee break are Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry, the 2024 Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L runners-up, who went on to be 18th at Burghley Horse Trials with a double jumping clear. Max is only 26 and his ride is 11 years old, so they are a young pair and we’re fascinated to see if they can build on Burghley here.
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Aiming for 10 from 10. Georgie Goss has nine Badminton finishes from nine starts – a record for any rider to be proud of – and will aim to complete round 10 this week as she represents Ireland with the smart mare Feloupe. Riders are given an Armada Dish for five completions, so Georgie will earn her second if she manages it. Competitors really value these awards – US-based New Zealander Joe Meyer admitted today that trying to claim a second Armada Dish was part of his motivation for returning to Badminton after 15 years away (he’ll be at nine completions if he finishes this week).
- The last to go. Tim Price and Vitali were third after dressage here last year – and broke the record score in this phase at Burghley the season before, when he scored 18.7. The first phase certainly won’t be over until the New Zealand pair have their say – could they punch in the only sub-20 mark?
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The Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage has reached its midpoint, with half of the competitors having completed their tests. Notable contenders include Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who are favored to win with a 36% chance, and Oliver Townend, who will ride last year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event winner, Cooley Rosalent. Other noteworthy participants include Joseph Murphy with Calmaro and Tom Rowland with Dreamliner, both of whom are expected to make an impact as the competition progresses.
Rising star Max Warburton, alongside his horse Deerpairc Revelry, is also a pair to watch, having previously performed well at the Bramham Horse Trials and Burghley. Meanwhile, Georgie Goss aims to achieve a remarkable tenth completion at Badminton, which would earn her a second Armada Dish. Tim Price and Vitali, who previously scored impressively in dressage, are expected to deliver a strong performance, potentially achieving a sub-20 mark.
For those interested in watching the remaining events, Badminton TV offers a subscription service, allowing viewers to enjoy the action from home. The platform provides exclusive content, including a documentary series, and is accessible for a fee. Additionally, Horse & Hound offers subscriptions for comprehensive coverage and analysis of the trials.
