Germany’s Bettina Hoy nipped into the lead on the second day of dressage at the Fidelity Investments Blenheim International Horse Trials, beating Piggy French by 0.6pen.
Riding Lanfranco TSF, Bettina scored 42.1 to take the top spot from Piggy and Lemington Lett Dance, who led yesterday on 42.7.
The smart bay 11-year-old looked full of enthusiasm, but was obedient and supple.
“He’s a very sensitive horse and quite smart – he needs to be with a rider who doesn’t have many horses who can give him the reassurance he needs,” said Bettina, who is returning to Blenheim for the first time since the 2005 European Championships.
As well as taking second with Judy Bradwell’s 13-year-old Lemington Lett Dance, who has been very lightly competed this season, Piggy French also lies third with DHI Topper W on a mark of 43.1.
Sarah Cohen and Irish Jester are just behind on 44, 0.8pen ahead of South Africa’s Alexander Peternell and AP Uprising, who lost two marks for forgetting to halt and rein-back.
Sixth is Andrew Nicholson on Quimbo, who scored 45.
Fox-Pitt on top form again
William Fox-Pitt followed up his Burghley triumph last weekend with the top position after dressage in the eight-and-nine-year-old CIC***.
He scored 43.3 on the Lando-sired nine-year-old Oslo to take the lead from Mark Todd and NZB Campino, who topped the board yesterday on 43.1.
William also lies equal third on Lionheart with Sarah Cohen and Treason, both scoring 47.9.
“Both horses are in need of a run because of Highclere’s abandonment and therefore were a little bit buzzy,” said William. “But Oslo did a lovely test. He’s very impressive and did some superb work.”
Lucinda Fredericks is fifth on the Landor S mare Latina 43 with a mark of 49.2, just ahead of Nick Gauntlett and Penguin Ice (49.6).
CCI***
1. Bettina Hoy (GER) Lanfranco TSF 42.1
2. Piggy French (GBR) Lemington Lett Dance 42.7
3. Piggy French (GBR) DHI Topper W 43.1
4. Sarah Cohen (GBR) Irish Jester 44
5. Alexander Peternell (RSA) AP Uprising 44.8
6. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Quimbo 45
7. Clark Montgomery (USA) Loughan Glen 45.4
8. Julian Stiller (USA) Enjoy Me 46.2
9. Rachael Lupton (GBR) The Chenko Artist 46.9
10. =William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Bay My Hero 47.7
=Pippa Funnell (GBR) Billy Landretti 47.7
Results
CIC***
1. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Oslo 43.3
2. Mark Todd (NZL) NZB Campion 43.1
3. =William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Lionheart 47.9
=Sarah Cohen (GBR) Treason 47.9
5. Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) Latina 43 49.2
6. Nick Gauntlett (GBR) Penguin Ice 49.6
7. Ciaran Glynn (IRE) Don’t Tell Punch 50
8. Jonathan Chapman (GBR) West Side 50.6
9. Alex Hua Tian (CHN) Furst Love 50.8
10. Kristina Cook (GBR) De Novo News 51
