Need to know who the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion riders to observe are at subsequent week’s occasion (25-28 April)?
We’ve picked out 13 pairs with an awesome likelihood of a win or a podium spot, so ensure you maintain a pointy eye out for these entries, whether or not you’re on web site on the occasion or watching from residence.
Kentucky Three-Day Occasion riders and horses to observe
Quantity 11: Arial Grald (USA) and Leamore Grasp Plan
15-year-old bay gelding, by Grasp Imp out of a Cavalier Royale mare, owned by Annie Eldridge
Leamore Grasp Plan sat out most of final yr, however earlier than that he was establishing himself as a super-consistent top-level performer: tenth at Burghley Horse Trials in 2019, fifth at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2021, fifteenth at Badminton Horse Trials 2022 and eleventh (as people, although they did higher than a lot of the silver medal-winning staff) at that yr’s World Championships. They gained’t lead the dressage and are unlikely to win, however have a extremely good likelihood of ending on their first-phase rating for a robust putting.
Quantity 16: Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg TSF
17-year-old black gelding, by Windfall 2 out of a Buddenbrock mare, owned by Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner
It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not Boyd plans to run his pair of stars, Tsetserleg TSF and the British-bred On Cue, at Kentucky or Badminton, as they’re entered in each locations. Tsetserleg has been an enormous servant to the game within the USA – second at Kentucky in 2019, Pan American Video games champion that yr, twentieth on the Tokyo Olympics and a world staff silver medallist in 2022. He was ninth at Burghley final yr, defying anybody who stated he’s previous his finest, however would wish to enhance on his three showjumps down there to intention for a prime putting right here. His Kentucky file is a bit combined – he’s been eleventh and fourth in addition to second, but in addition failed to complete twice.
Quantity 17: Kirsty Chabert (GBR) and Traditional VI
15-year-old bay mare, by Calvaro FC, owned by Carole Somers, rider’s father John Johnston and Kate Ward
Kirsty and Traditional have a barely inconsistent file, the downsides together with 20 leaping penalties throughout nation right here final yr. However they’re definitely aggressive when on their finest kind, having been second at Luhmühlen in 2022 and sixth at Pau final yr, in addition to successful at four-star 3 times. Able to a sub-30 dressage check and out of doors probabilities to bid for a Paris place in the event that they go very nicely right here.
Quantity 18: Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir
13-year-old chestnut gelding, by Nouma D’Auzay out of a Livarot mare, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund
This pair begin as favourites, with information analytics firm EquiRatings giving them a 26% win likelihood (JL Dublin is second at 18%). They had been second right here in 2022, occurring to be world champions that yr, and led the dressage right here final April earlier than having a run-out throughout nation. The redeemed themselves with a win at Aachen and went to the Europeans, the place they had been discard rating within the gold medal-winning staff after one other run-out. They’ve received some floor to make up within the robust British choice race for the Olympics, however a win right here would make it tough for selectors to disregard them.
Quantity 20: Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist
13-year-old bay gelding, by Guillotine out of a Volksraad mare, owned by Monica Spencer and her husband Andre
This pair made an actual splash after they travelled from the southern hemisphere to the 2022 World Championships and contributed to staff bronze. They led the dressage however fell throughout nation at Adelaide five-star the next spring, and Monica was nonetheless rebuilding confidence from that after they had been seventh at Maryland 5 Star within the autumn. She left the ex-racehorse Artist within the US after Maryland, rejoining him early this yr with a few different horses, with the intention of basing herself within the US for her Paris marketing campaign. They do a wise dressage check and might be proper up there all through, securing an Olympic place in addition.
Quantity 23: Phillip Dutton (USA) and Quasi Cool
13-year-old bay gelding, by Quo Vados out of a Lord mare, owned by Caroline Moran
This horse got here from Germany and has a foot-perfect worldwide cross-country leaping file since becoming a member of Phillip in 2021. He’s gained twice at four-star and was second within the CCI4*-S right here final yr. Phillip gained Kentucky in 2008; this horse might be too inexperienced – and can to be too far off the tempo after dressage – to offer him a second victory, however the multi-medalled Olympian ought to by no means be dominated out.
Quantity 24: Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch Ok
12-year-old gray gelding, by Quiwi Dream out of a San Patrignano Cassini mare, owned by Bodil Ipsen
The 2022 Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L winners, whose outcomes since have been very stable, together with twelfth at Aachen and nineteenth and staff silver on their championship debut ultimately yr’s Europeans. They would wish to recapture their Blenheim kind within the dressage significantly to hassle the leaders right here. Malin has began at five-star as soon as earlier than on one other horse, however not completed, and so they make their Kentucky debut collectively.
Quantity 29: Mia Farley (USA) and Phelps
11-year-old bay gelding, owned by David O’Connor
This pair leapt into the highlight with the one cross-country spherical contained in the time at Maryland final yr, the place they completed fifth on their five-star debut. Phelps additionally starred on the quilt of Horse & Hound this spring, accompanying a function about his backstory. A thoroughbred who was in coaching however by no means raced, he was offered to 2000 Olympic champion David O’Connor for a greenback by Joanie Morris, with the thought being she would get a minimize when he was offered – however he by no means discovered that new residence. Mia and Phelps gained’t lead the dressage, however can climb the ranks if they’ll repeat their Maryland efficiency.
Quantity 35: Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Way of life
14-year-old chestnut gelding, by Leo Von Faelz out of a Brandenburger mare, owned by Nina and Tim Gardner
Jennie and FEI Way of life have made regular impr0vement every time they’ve come to Kentucky, touchdown twenty fourth in 2021, sixteenth in 2022 and twelfth final yr. They’ve additionally been fifth at Maryland and twelfth at Burghley final yr, regardless of “Cunning” not being on his finest kind after the journey over. Jennie expects to be a reserve for Paris moderately than making the minimize and he or she’s most likely proper, however a top-10 end right here is feasible and will enhance her up that checklist.
Quantity 38: Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent
10-year-old gray mare, by Valent out of a Roselier mare, owned by Diana and Paul Ridgeon
“Rosie” involves her third five-star, regardless of her tender years, having had an experience-building journey spherical Luhmühlen final June after which been third at Maryland within the autumn, the place she solely misplaced the win along with her second showjump down. She gained the Blenheim younger horse class final yr too, and has been second in three different four-stars, together with earlier this month when she had the right prep run at Burnham Market. A podium end right here is real looking and would push her proper up the doable British batting order for Paris. Oliver has gained Kentucky 3 times.
Quantity 40: Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus
17-year-old bay gelding, by Sarazim out of an Unpredictable mare, owned by Jacqueline Badger Mars
A much-loved five-star stalwart, who has been fifth, ninth and sixteenth right here, in addition to placing in a beneath par dressage check in 2022, when he was recovering from a minor harm and solely ever anticipated to contest that section. He re-routed to Luhmühlen, the place he was fourth and earned World Championship choice. They went on to contribute to staff silver there. He was additionally ninth at Burghley 2019. Even on his finest kind “Bug” will likely be a bit of off the tempo within the first section, however one other top-10 is real looking and could be widespread. Vermiculus is a full brother to Snooze Alarm, Lauren’s first Kentucky experience in 2010. Each are Anglo Arabs by the Arab stallion Serazim out of thoroughbred mare Wake Me Gently.
Quantity 42: Liz Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker
10-year-old black gelding, by Tolan R out of a Cobra mare, owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate
EquiRatings fee this pair better of the house facet (behind Yasmin, Tom McEwen and Oliver). Liz, who’s at all times out to be aggressive, scored her first podium place at five-star final yr right here when she was third on Miks Grasp C. This horse, who got here from France’s Astier Nicolas, is making his debut on the stage however gained each his CCI4*-L runs final yr, so don’t rule them out.
Quantity 44: Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin
13-year-old darkish brown gelding, by Diarado out of a Canto 16 mare, owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston
Like Yasmin and Banzai, this pair have to show themselves to the selectors after inconsistent kind final yr – they had been second right here at Kentucky and third at Pau, however had a run-out when main at Aachen and Tom was unseated on the European Championships. JL Dublin was produced by Nicola Wilson, who gained particular person and staff gold on the 2021 Europeans on him earlier than her life-changing accidents in a fall at Badminton 2022, and stays in the identical possession so a win could be an emotional story for all concerned.
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Credit score: Amy Katherine Dragoo
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