Pippa sweeps to the top

Pippa Funnell’s bandwagon rolled on when a flowing test from the former Burghley Young Event Horse winner, Jurassic Rising, earned them a commanding nine-mark lead in the dressage phase at Bramham on Thursday.

Pippa, who won with Jurassic Rising at Saumur last year, said: “I was delighted with the test: it was everything I could have expected. It was even better than the one at Saumur!”

Her test was marked ahead by all three judges, giving her a percentage score of 74.53.

William Fox-Pitt held onto second place with Thursday’s leader, Wallow, and two riders shared third place on equal marks. Dutchman Eddy Stibbe and the veteran Autumn Sky, belying his 16 years of age, produced some super work, as did Cheshire-based Caroline Pratt and Kinsey Control, whose dressage this time was a vast improvement on last year’s Bramham, when he scored in the bottom half of the order.

The 13-year-old Kinsey Control has been placed consistently this spring, including second at Chatsworth and fifth at Rolleston, and he also completed Burghleylast autumn.

“He jumped double clear there, but he wasn’t entirely happy there, so I have taken him back a level,” said Caroline.

Kristina Cook (Faersferre) and David O’Connor (Courting Danger) shared fifth place, only a squeak behind.

Results after second day of dressage

1, Jurassic Rising (Pippa Funnell) 38.2;

2, Wallow (William Fox-Pitt) 47.0;

3=, Autumn Sky (Eddie Stibbe) 50.6;

3=, Kinsey Control (Caroline Pratt) 50.6;

5=, Faersferre (Kristina Cook) 52.6;

5=, Courting Danger (David O’Connor) 52.6;

7, The Wexford Lady (Sarah Cutteridge) 53.6;

8, Sparrow Hall (Mary Sleet) 54.8;

9, Ballincoola (William Fox-Pitt) 55.2;

10, What A Performance (Chris Hunnable) 56.0;

To find out more about the Guardian Collections Bramham International Horse Trials visit: www.bramham-horse.co.uk

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