Thursday Dressage...

Dressage day 1, typically the day where those with multiple rides opt to bring forward their secondary horse, acting as their on path finder, also typically a day where we see lower percentage scores than on Day 2.

Tests were not without some level of drama, with Sir Mark Todd and Austin O'Connor, both Olympians and 4* regulars, picking up errors of course for halting in the wrong place on the final centreline.  Sir Mark produced a near personal best score with Leonidas as 4* level, giving them a 42.9 to sit in 5th place over night.  A pair with phenomenal form across the country and in the show jumping, these wouldn't be ones to write off just yet.  For Irish Olympian Austin O'Connor it was a first 4* test for, Wendie Foster's, Kilpatrick Knight and a great performance for them.  A strong test that delivered them a 45.8 to slot into 12th place overnight.  Speaking to us after his test Austin added:

"He’s a lovely horse, he’s a bit quirky and takes a bit of working but its all about getting the balance and also not working too much.  We’re really pleased with his performance today.”

​Further PBs came from Sarah Ennie and Horseware Stellor Rebound with a score of 45.4, Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser produced a new PB of 44.6 leaving them in equal 6th overnight and equal highest placed British rider with Alex Bragg.  Tom and Toledo have only ever had 1 pole down in the show jumping in the whole of their international career - these will be a pair to keep an eye on in the jumping phases.

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As Equiratings predicted it was not Michael Jung in pole position after day one, the Rolex Grand Slam, among many other accolades, winner produced a 40 dressage with La Biosthetique Sam FBW.  Still a very strong performance but not one to push the leaders at the moment.  However let's not forget that he sat on a 40.9 dressage in Rio and was 5th after dressage ...he still went on to win Gold!

As expected Bettina Hoy and Designer 10 produced a stunning and well polished test for 39.2 to sit in overnight second.  Bettina and Designer picked up 12 faults in the final phase at Badminton last year along with a number of time faults.  

To the Day 1 overnight leader - Thibaut Vallette - the one that sent hearts racing with his rather cashing French Military uniform (because who doesn't like a man in uniform), set the pace with a 38.7 in only their second 4* - the first being the Rio Olympics.  Not a unanimous leader from the judges with Anne-Mette Binder from Denmark, our judge at E, only awarding him 72.86% which would have had him in 3rd behind Bettina and Michael.  With very few previous international appearances to take a lead from, it will be interesting to see how this pair in Saturday's cross country phase.

Will Friday's dressage produce us a new leader...we think it will!

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