Day two round-up from the Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International Horse Trials

Dressage here at the 2021 Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International Horse Trials is almost complete, with just the FEI Nations Cup Teams left to perform their tests first thing tomorrow.

Emily King and Imposant are our CCI2*L leaders after dressage, with a score of 23.9. They nipped just ahead of Kitty King and MHS Monbeg Junior, who had been lying first overnight. The top three in this competition are all within half a penalty point of each other, with the third placed combination of Tom McEwen and Brookfield Braveheart just 0.4 behind Emily and Imposant.

In the CCI3*L Ros Canter couldn’t be in a better position, holding the lead in both sections as we head into the cross country. Her striking test with Shannondale Nadia yesterday has left them at the top of the leaderboard in Section B, ahead of Oliver Jackson and Viktor Krum in second and James Avery and Goldfinger, third.

Oliver’s performance was enough to give him an early lead in the British Eventing National U21 Championships taking place this weekend. He currently carries a 2.5-point lead over the second placed combination, Jemima Stratton and Global H, in this prestigious competition for young riders.

In CCI3*L Section C it was the turn of Izilot DHI to partner Ros to the top of the standings. They are currently in the lead, ahead of Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent in second – Oliver will be hoping to build on this combination’s CCI-S 3* win at the Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials last month – and James Avery with Gorgeous DHI in third.