Townend chasing £255,000 Grand Slam

Oliver Townend’s pursuit of the richest prize in eventing is set for a thrilling conclusion at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials today.

Shropshire-based Townend lies second after a pulsating day of crosscountry action, tied on 28.0 penalties with Wiltshire-based New Zealander Jonelle Price.

Price holds top spot because she was closer to the optimum cross-country time, collecting just 0.4 time penalties, compared with Townend’s 7.2 aboard Ballaghmor Class, with Townend’s British colleague Ros Canter holding third on Allstar B.

Olympic champion Michael Jung is fourth on La Biosthetique Sam FBW, with less than a show-jumping fence down separating the top four riders. If Townend wins, he will land the £255,000 Rolex Grand Slam, which is awarded to any rider who wins consecutive Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton crowns. It has been done only twice before – by Jung in 2016 and Britain’s Pippa Funnell 15 years ago.

When Kentucky prize money from last weekend is added, Townend could leave for home today with an eight-day windfall approaching £500,000, given that his second ride, Cooley SRS, is fifth overnight at Badminton.

“Two in the top five at Badminton is not too bad!” he said. “I am very proud of the horses. It [cross-country going] was fairly horrible to ride. It was like riding in a plough. Tomorrow will be like going show jumping after the Grand National – it’s a tough job.”

Price, who gave birth to a son last summer and is bidding to become Badminton’s first female winner since Australian Lucinda Fredericks in 2007, added: “The one time fault was my fault. She is some mare, and makes me look good. When I first got her, I didn’t think she had enough jumping ability, but now she is like my best friend.”