Entries for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials have been revealed with two Australian combinations and six New Zealand combinations on the current list of 87 acceptances (including two double entries – Oliver Townend has three entered and will ride only two and Kirsty Chabert has two entered and will only ride one) and three wait listed entries.
Australia and New Zealand are among the 11 countries with accepted entries alongside Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Lithuania and the USA.
Sammi Birch riding Finduss PFB and Bill Levett riding Huberthus AC are the two entries from Australia while New Zealand has six entries in Jesse Campbell riding Cooley Lafitte, Lauren Innes riding Global Fision M, Caroline Powell with Greenacres Special Cavalier and CBI Aldo, Jonelle Price with Grappa Nera and Tim Price with Vitali.
Tim Price’s Vitali is the best dressage horse in the field according to the Equiratings summary on the Badminton Horse Trials Entry List page while Britain’s Piggy March riding Brookfield Inocent is the favourite with a 19% chance of winning, followed by Ros Canter riding Izilot DHI with 16%.
The 2023 Pau CCI5* winner Izilot DHI is Ros’ only entry with last year’s Badminton champion Lordships Graffalo sitting this one out. Another past winner, Laura Collett’s London 52 is also not listed with Olympic selection no doubt playing a part in strategic decisions as to where to run in the lead up to Paris 2024, as Chris Bartle told us in this interview late last year.
We will be on the ground at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials from 8th – 12th May. Join our membership today for full coverage of all CCI5* events, Paris 2024 and much more
