2014 Badminton - first horse inspection

Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan step out in style

There’s nothing like the stately and grand environment of Badminton House to put a spring in the step of the riders and horses about to start one of the biggest events of the year.

Sadly, one hot favourite (indeed they were at 7/1 with the betting agency Paddy Power that is running a book on Badminton – can’t believe that didn’t happen first in Australia) had to withdraw before the first horse inspection. Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz, who were 7^th here last year and really looking forward to this year as Vittoria told us in our interview, withdrew due to a bruised foot.

Vittoria says she is ‘gutted’ and that Pennyz is full of beans ‘Who’s going to break it to her she’s staying at home?’ tweeted Vittoria (@VittoPannizon) about the lively grey mare who is prepped to the hilt to bounce around the Badminton track this weekend

Two more lovely ladies with lively greys that did make the trot up for Australia - the pocket rocket Algebra and Nat Blundell (above) and Kelecyn Ice Age with Emma Dougall (below)

The rest of the entries passed the first horse inspection and looked very smart, with the Aussies stepping out in style and Bill Levett in particular looking very dashing. Here’s a few pics with many more to come from Libby later

Run Henny Run! All the way from the USA - Australia's Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton

TS Jamaimo - EA Domestic Horse of the Year with Chris Burton

Past Badminton winners Lucinda Fredericks with Flying Finish (above) and Paul Tapner below (love the socks Paul) with Kilronan

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh looking calm and collected

Wrapped up warm - Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer

We usually see this winter outfit of Seumas Marwood's at Melbourne CCI but it looks good at Badminton too! Seumas and Wild Oats at their first ever Badminton first horse inspection