William Fox-Pitt is on course for a fourth CCI win at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials after a magnificent cross-country save on Lindy Best and Jane Kier’s Freddie Mac. The long-striding chestnut slithered sideways over the big corner at fence 11 and landed on his knees but the world number one rider didn’t even shift in the saddle, picked Freddie Mac up as if nothing had happened and continued faultlessly to finish the course with no jumping or time penalties. “He was very good to stay on his feet,” said William, who had been fifth after dressage on this horse. “I seemed to have no contact and no reins, so I’m very lucky. What an amazing horse to pick up like that. He’s a lovely galloper and a horse that I feel has got a bright future.” However, William has no margin for error in what promises to be a nailbiting showjumping finale tomorrow because the cost of one rail covers the top four riders. Francis Whittington added just 1.6 time penalties on Catherine Witt’s appealing grey Easy Target, to move up from fourth to second. “We started conservatively and we got a bit close to a couple of fences which is where we lost the odd second, but I’m really pleased with the horse,” said Francis, who will be hoping that this is his big chance to win a first three-star CCI. New Zealander Tim Price was a relieved man after his good round on Ringwood Sky Boy, on whom he is lying third. He brought the Irish-bred gelding to Blenheim at the last minute after an unfortunate unseating at the fourth fence at Burghley last weekend. The week before that, he had had to pull up his team horse Wesko at the end of cross-country at the World Equestrian Games in France. “I’m rapt with him,” said Tim. “That was definitely redemption. It’s nice to come to a beautiful competition like this and be right up at the sharp end. There’s no denying that the WEG was devastating but you have to learn to take the knocks.” Looking ahead, Tim added: “Show jumping would be his weakest phase, but he’s been improving since Badminton [where they dropped from second to ninth] and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve, though I haven’t been able to try them out in a three-day situation yet.” Jodie Amos completes the quartet within a hairsbreadth of victory. She is fourth on the half Arab gelding Wise Crack after a superb cross-country round, one of eight within the optimum time of 10 minutes 35 seconds. “He’s not your classically straightforward event horse,” explained Jodie, who is based at Aston-le-Walls with Nigel Taylor. “He was very flighty and for the first 18 months I had him he would just bolt with me, so he’s a bit of a late starter. But he has so much talent and, as he’s relatively young (10), he’s got lots to come. He was brilliant today. Francis Whittington was the only rider to get two horses round clear and inside the time and he has a second chance of victory with the fifth-placed Fernhill Highlight. Italian rider Vittoria Panizzon (Merlots Magic), Kitty King (Persimmon), Pippa Funnell (Second Supreme), American Phillip Dutton (Fernhill Cubalawn) and Kiwi Jock Paget (Shady Grey) complete an international top 10. Pippa currently holds the record of four Blenheim CCI wins, compared to William's three, although he has also won the CIC 8 and 9 year old Championship class twice in recent years. Wills Oakden, 16th on Greystone Midnight Melody, is currently the highest placed British rider under 25 to win the Horse Trials Support Group’s £500 prize. Fifty-five of the 74 cross-country starters completed with 37 clear rounds on a day when the beautiful park at Blenheim looked at its best and the footing, prepared by course-builder David Evans, was perfect. Course-designer Eric Winter declared: “I’m really pleased – we had 50% clear which would be my ideal statistic and is slightly more than last year, and I predicted nine inside the time, so eight would be about right. “Faults were well spread and there weren’t any bogey fences. The fences I thought would be difficult were – the rail-ditch-rail at 20 [Hope Valley Wooded Hollow] and the Abingdon & Witney College Bar and Corner at 11, which David Evans reckons that fence is past its sell-by date, so we’re going to invite William to the burning process!” This was a reference to William Fox-Pitt not only nearly falling at fence 11 on Freddie Mac but also having run-outs there on his other rides, Seacookie, the 2012 winner, and last year’s CIC winner Fernhill Pimms, both of which he retired. The dressage leaders, Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo, had an unfortunate run-out near the end of the course at the Brightwells Elite Event Horse Auction Corners (fence 23ab) while poor Emily King, who was lying second after dressage on Brookleigh, only got as far as the second fence where she had a fall but remained unscathed. Tomorrow, spectators can enjoy both the final show jumping phase of the CCI3* and the final cross country phase of the CIC3*. E-tickets can still be booked up until midnight tonight and admission tickets will also be available at the gate. Gate prices start from £10 depending on the day; with accompanied under 12s admitted free. For further information and to book tickets visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk
