'Badminton is still the one to win'

Mark Phillips gives his insight on the five-stars at Badminton and Kentucky

HARKING back to Kentucky, some of our British Paris hopefuls decided that a Derek di Grazia course there would be a better preparation for the Games than Eric Winter’s Badminton track.

The final result, with Oliver Townend, Tom McEwen and Yasmin Ingham first, second and third was a great achievement. But remember, the US A-team pairs were in the CCI4*-S and not the five-star!

All were disappointed with their dressage for different reasons. Oliver rode like the world number one he is across country and over the coloured poles. I suspect Tom and Yasmin both know they could have won if they had ridden a little more positively.

The Badminton cross-country was bigger than Kentucky, but less technical, as in many combinations Eric had allowed five, six or occasionally more strides between elements. Once riders have the option of more than four strides, the level of technical difficulty diminishes as they have more time to get organised between fences.