Britain For Bronze-Or Better

Germany and France will pose Britain’s main opposition, says H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome

- Pippa Roome

THIRTEEN nations will contest the team competition at the eventing Europeans in Strzegom, Poland, this week but as usual France, Germany and Britain are expected to be the major medal contenders.

France fields only one survivor of her Rio gold medal-winning team in Thibaut Vallette on Qing Du Briot ENE HN. He and Tom Carlile (Upsilon) will spearhead for France. The withdrawal last week of Maxime Livio’s Opium De Verrieres does lessen their challenge, but they remain a formidable proposition.

The grey stallion Upsilon, who was H&H’s cover star on 27 July, is the most promising young event horse in the world right now and although he is only nine, I tip him as the individual gold medallist.

After silver at the Olympics, Germany will be keen to regain the ascendancy and make it four European team golds in a row. All four of their team riders pose individual medal threats.