MOST INFLUENTIAL FENCE
TWELVE PAIRS FAULT AT THE LEAF PIT
FOR the second year, the most influential fence on Mark Phillips’ cross-country track was the Leaf Pit. In 2017 it came late in the course; this time it was fences 7abc and eight. Competitors could choose to avoid the plunging direct drop by jumping a house to the right and cantering down a slope to the two offset sets of ascending skinny rails, and plenty did, including pathfinder Oliver Townend on MHS King Joules.
The challenge was to maintain controlled impulsion and correctly curve the line between the two skinnies, and plenty couldn’t. Twelve horses faulted there, the majority at fence eight, the second skinny. The most notable casualty was Improvise, equal 10th after dressage under Bill Levett. Both Gubby Leech (Xavier) and Nick Lucey (Proud Courage) tipped out of the side door, and first-timers Sam Ecroyd (Master Douglas) and Emily Prangnell (DHI Beaunesse) accrued refusals and went no further.