The favourites
Keep an eye out for these top contenders
PHILLIP DUTTON
(USA), 57
PHILLIP is the US’s most recent Kentucky winner, back in 2008 on Connaught. His top ride Z (pictured) has been fourth and seventh here, as well as 13th at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and good recent four-star form suggests he can be in the top five again, although he wouldn’t expect to head the first phase. His second ride Fernhill Singapore makes his five-star debut and could also be in the money.
LAUREN
(USA) NICHOLSON,
33
VERMICULUS (pictured) spearheads Lauren’s campaign, having been fifth and ninth here. Kept to relatively quiet runs since finishing ninth at Burghley in 2019, he could provide the allround winner’s package. Lauren also brings forward Paramount Importance – a European team silver medallist for Ludwig Svennerstål – and the pair were eighth here in 2019.
LIZ HALLIDAYSHARP
(USA), 42
DENIRO Z’S (pictured) only previous Kentucky ended in a fall at fence three, but he’s been eighth at Luhmühlen and 15th at Burghley. He missed one of his prep runs due to an abscess, but if he can show the form that led to two CCI4*-S wins last season, he should be competitive. He finds flying changes tricky, but is otherwise smart in the first phase. Liz is also entered on Cooley Quicksilver.
JONELLE PRICE
(NZL), 40
JONELLE’S only previous Kentucky start was in 2013. Her three rides this time are headed by the 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet (pictured), while Grovine De Reve should build on 12th at Pau last year and Grappa Nera makes her five-star debut. They are all likely to be playing catch-up after dressage, but Classic Moet should rule on cross-country day and all three could be in the ribbons.
MARILYN LITTLE
(USA), 39
THIRD here in 2018 and fourth at Luhmühlen the year before, Marilyn and RF Scandalous (pictured) are certainly in it to win it. They’ve triumphed 13 times internationally, helped by brilliant dressage scores. Their cross-country form is a touch uneven and they retired across country on their four-star long run last autumn, but bounced back with four-star short wins at Red Hills and Stable View this spring.
TIM PRICE
(NZL), 42
XAVIER FAER (pictured) can be overshadowed by flashier stablemates, but he’s been third here in 2019 and at Badminton 2017. His record isn’t flawless, but on his best form, he’s very competitive. Tim also brings forward Bango, another experienced campaigner who has been fifth and 10th at Burghley, though Tim fell from him here in 2016. Neither will lead the dressage, but don’t discount either.
BOYD MARTIN
(USA), 41
BOYD has three horses entered, but the undoubted star is Tsetserleg TSF (pictured), who was second here the last time the event ran, in 2019, and who has won Pan Am Games double gold since. He also took the four-star long at Tryon in the autumn last year. This pair are probably the US’s greatest hope for a home-side win and a good result would confirm their selection for Tokyo too.
OLIVER TOWNEND
(GBR), 38
BRITAIN’S world number one has a strong winning chance with both Angela Hislop’s double Kentucky winner and European team silver medallist Cooley Master Class and Ballaghmor Class (pictured), who won Burghley 2017 and has been in the top five on all his five five-star runs. The younger Tregilder makes his five-star debut and could be well placed, but is unlikely to win this time.