Montgomery leads after dressage

The USA’s Clark Montgomery is in the lead in the principal CCI3* class at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials after dressage.

Riding Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen, a 12-year-old by Limerick, he scored an impressive 33.8.

“He’s put these scores in before and this is what we were aiming for, but you never know on the day,” said Clark. “The atmosphere seems to help him.”

It is the third time Clark and Loughan Glen have competed at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, and they were third in 2013.

“Each time he has been here the cross-country course has been in this direction, so we know he likes it. I think the double of corners [the Kent & Masters Brush Corners, fence 12ab] will be influential,” said Clark.

Germany’s Sandra Auffarth, the current World Champion, is in second with 37.2 riding Ispo, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Sybille Winter and the DOKR.

“That was the best test we have done,” said Sandra, who was part of Germany’s gold medal-winning team and also took individual silver at last week’s European Championships. “He’s getting better and better on the flat as he gets stronger. He’s really sweet, and is [her top horse] Opgun Louvo’s best friend.”

The best-placed British rider is Pippa Funnell, third with Carol Toliver’s Billy The Biz. Pippa is a four-time winner here at Blenheim.

Pippa said: “He’s one who show jumped through his younger career. He’s come through the [eventing] grades pretty quickly as he has the mileage with the jumping but I’ve had a couple of little blips where has been eager and over-jumped into water and we’ve had a dunking, so I’m going to  have to sit back and tight tomorrow.

Last year’s winner of the CIC3* for eight-and-nine-year-old horses, New Zealand’s Jonelle Price, leads the class again. This year she is riding The Marley and Me Syndicate’s Cloud Dancer II.

“He’s smart – he moves very well, especially for an event horse, so I feel a bit of a responsibility to produce something a bit special,” said Jonelle. “He’s no Ferrari across country but he gives it his best – a few seconds in hand would be handy!”

France’s Astier Nicolas’s is in second place. He scored 39.4 riding Helen and Paul Fearn’s Spes Addit Or.

Cross-country starts at 9am tomorrow (Saturday 19th September) morning.