Karen Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s 2017 Burghley winner couldn’t quite catch his stablemate, Cillnabradden Evo, who still leads on a score of 19.7, but a mark of 21.1 was still an eye-wateringly impressive achievement under great pressure.
No other rider has been in this position in Badminton’s history and only one rider – Ian Stark – has ever finished first and second. But it would be a brave man to bet against the on-form Oliver to match this feat.
“Everyone expected so much of Ballaghmor Class after he won Burghley, but he was quite a novice when he did that; he was still learning flying changes. Now he feels like a well established horse who is beautiful to ride,” said Oliver.
When asked who trains him on the flat, Oliver replied: “Embarrassingly, I don’t actually have a trainer. I have a good set of mirrors and I watch a lot of Carl Hester dvds – so it’s not actually me you’re watching!”
Tom McEwen has been nudged down into third place with Toledo De Kerser. They lie on a score of 24.7 going into tomorrow’s cross-country phase.
“Toledo is fit, fresh and ready to run. Having spoken to other more experienced riders, the course is always tougher when it runs this way round, but I think the optimum time [11min45sec] should be achievable,” said Tom, when quizzed about his expectations for tomorrow. He added: “This [competing at Badminton] is what we work so hard for every single day and it’s such a privilege to even be here.”
Piggy French and Vanir Kamira slip one place to fourth.
“I have walked the course a couple more times and have a few more plans in my head than I this time yesterday,” she said.
The other notable performance in this afternoon’s session came from Pippa Funnell and five-star first-timer Billy Walk On, who squeezed into the top five with an expressive performance that left them on a score of 26.5.
“I’m really delighted with him. He’s been beautiful all week and so I was worried that I might have underdone the work, but he took it all in his stride.”
Tomorrow’s cross-country action begins at 11.30am when Pippa will set out on her first ride, Majas Hope.
For the full dressage results, click here.