Oliver Townend’s Badminton Horse Trials and Grand Slam dream is over

The dream of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing is over for Oliver Townend for this 12 months because the British rider has withdrawn his sole journey, Ballaghmor Class, from this week’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials (8-12 Could).

The world primary received Kentucky Three-Day Occasion final month and Burghley Horse Trials final 12 months, so was set to make a critical try and take the big-money bonus on supply to any rider who can win these three five-stars consecutively. Ballaghmor Class – often known as Thomas – has an excellent five-star report and would have began as one of many favourites at Badminton.

In an announcement launched by Badminton Horse Trials and on his personal social media, Oliver Townend stated: “Completely gutted to withdraw Ballaghmor Class from this week’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials. He had an abscess earlier within the season and consequently missed a few runs and gallops. This morning he went for his last gallop and with the 11min 30sec cross-country course mixed with the attainable smooth floor we don’t really feel he’s at his regular five-star health proper now.

“That is the primary time in his profession he’s missed a five-star and with the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing being at stake (for the third time for me!) and Thomas’s report with 10 top-five placings at five-star, 4 of that are from Badminton together with twice second place, and his three wins at Burghley and Kentucky, we actually hoped he would lastly get the Badminton trophy he so badly deserves.

“He’s match and nicely, and figuring out his enormous coronary heart he’d give us his all, nevertheless it’s merely not in his finest curiosity to run this week and his welfare is our high precedence.

“Thomas will probably be rerouted to plan B however for now we’d like to provide an enormous because of his homeowners, our sponsors and our group who’re all equally gutted however help us to make this name to take care of our famous person.”

The 17-year-old Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, was a group gold medallist for Britain on the final Olympics. Oliver will now look to re-route him as he bids for choice for Paris 2024 this summer time, for which Oliver additionally has Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent within the working.

Oliver Townend had beforehand withdrawn his different two entries from Badminton Horse Trials.

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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 stage, and has labored within the business on a high occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.