Snakes and ladders

The final phase yields just six clear rounds inside the time and sends riders up and down the leaderboard

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EMMA THOMAS jumped the first clear of the afternoon over Paul Connor’s track, aboard Icarus.

“Showjumping is my best phase so I’m normally quite relaxed, but I was probably more nervous for this than yesterday because I never expected to be in the top 20 and I just didn’t want to let him down,” said the 24-year-old, who moved up to finish 18th and best home-side debutante.

Alice Casburn’s clear on Topspin propelled her from 13th to seventh.

“I was worried about the time so I cut a few corners quite sharp and then I felt like I was just doing a jump-off at a showjumping show and really enjoyed myself,” she said.

Boyd Martin and Wills Oakden jumped their first horses out of order; Boyd’s eight faults with On Cue moved him up from 12th to 10th and Wills’ single fence down on Arklow Puissance also elevated him two places, to eighth.

Mama’s Magic Way had an expensive 12 faults at the treble and the following oxer to slide from 11th to 16th.

“He’s affected by atmosphere, especially at combinations – he tends to stare through them,” said rider Will Faudree.