Kentucky Three-Day Occasion entries: 5 sturdy British entries

Two former Kentucky runners-up are among the many 5 British Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion entries for this 12 months’s occasion (25-28 April).

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, have been second at Kentucky final 12 months and return this 12 months with an eye fixed on an Olympic place. The pair received their latest prep run within the CCI4*-S at Kronenberg within the Netherlands.

Tom instructed H&H: “As traditional with the British crew there are plenty of us working in direction of the Olympics. We’ve all obtained our personal ideas on the place we lie, however actually it’s ranging from scratch this 12 months and you need to show your value. Oliver Townend did that by successful Kentucky earlier than Tokyo with Ballaghmor Class, so I had that in thoughts when making the choice the place to go. JL Dublin may be very match and properly. I believed Kentucky would swimsuit him once more – we simply want to return out and show how good he’s.”

World champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir additionally head again to Kentucky hoping to catch the selectors’ eye. The chestnut, who belongs to Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund, have been second at Kentucky in 2022 and led the dressage final 12 months earlier than 20 leaping penalties throughout nation put paid to a win.

Ros Canter and her personal and Alex Moody’s Izilot DHI have an entry for Kentucky in addition to Badminton Horse Trials, so choices stay open this spring. Final 12 months’s Badminton winner Lordships Graffalo is more likely to be Ros’s first selection for Paris, however the thrilling Pau Horse Trials winner “Isaac” might be a helpful back-up horse. This will probably be Ros’s Kentucky debut if she heads there.

Oliver Townend has received Kentucky thrice and returns this 12 months with Cooley Rosalent, who proved she likes the US with third at Maryland 5 Star final 12 months. Oliver additionally has Cooley Rosalent amongst his Badminton entries and each she and fellow Badminton entrant Ballaghmor Class will probably be on the selectors’ radar for Paris.

Kirsty Chabert and Traditional VI, owned by Carol Somers, Kate Ward and Kirsty’s father John Johnston, accomplished Kentucky final 12 months, but in addition had 20 leaping penalties throughout nation, so they may goal to enhance on that this time. Kirsty wouldn’t be fairly among the many entrance runners of riders for British Olympic choice however shouldn’t be dominated out and has been a championship reserve beforehand.

One Irish pair amongst Kentucky Three-Day Occasion entries

Others crossing the Atlantic for a tilt at Kentucky embody Eire’s Susie Berry with Intelligent Trick (owned by her rider, Anne Marling and Sue Wilkinson) and 2022 Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L winners and European crew silver medallists Marlin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s Carlitos Quidditch Ok, from Germany.

Unsurprisingly, final 12 months’s winners, Tamie Smith and Mai Baum aren’t among the many Kentucky Three-Day Occasion entries for the five-star – Mai Baum is eighteen and Tamie will wish to save him for Paris 2024 as a lot as potential. He’s amongst her three entries within the accompanying CCI4*-S. Tamie is entered on the five-star debutant Elliot V.

The US problem is headed up by the likes of Phillip Dutton, who has three rides, Doug Payne, whose two entrants embody earlier Kentucky podium finisher Quantum Leap, and Liz Halliday with the rising star Cooley Nutcracker, who’s owned by a syndicate. Many will probably be excited to see Arial Grald return with Annie Eldridge’s constant performer Leamore Grasp Plan, who sat out final 12 months.

4 US combos are entered at each Badminton and Kentucky – Boyd Martin’s pair of stars On Cue and Tsetserleg TSF, Meghan O’Donoghue with Palm Crescent and Northamptonshire-based Grace Taylor along with her mom Ann’s Sport Changer. It will likely be Grace’s debut at Kentucky or Badminton, although she has accomplished the cross-country at Burghley Horse Trials with this horse.

Monica Spencer, the New Zealand rider who’s now primarily based within the US, may also be one to look at along with her world crew bronze medallist Artist.

There are three British entries within the CCI4*-S – Leslie Regulation, the 2004 Olympic champion who has lengthy lived within the US, is within the line-up on Jackie and Steve Brown’s Woman Chatterley, whereas Lucienne Bellissimo is entered on Dyri and Tremanton, who run within the title of her equestrian community firm Horse Scout Eventing, LLC. Lucienne (née Elms) is married to Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions, the corporate behind plenty of giant scale US equestrian venues and occasions, together with the Winter Equestrian Pageant in Florida.

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L degree, and has labored within the business on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest degree, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.