William Fox-Pitt in control at Blair Castle Horse Trials

William Fox-Pitt retains his position at the top of the CCI*** leaderboard on Macchiato with a fault-free cross-country round.

He now has a fence in hand over Lucy Wiegersma (Woodfalls Pure Gold) after his nearest dressage pursuer, Matt Ryan (Slight Of Hand), incurred a run-out at fence 17, steps up to an angled log.

Lucy made the most of Matt’s error to head into show jumping with nothing to spare over Andrew Nicholson (Ginger May Killinghurst).

Oliver Townend was equal-third with Lucy overnight on Golden Hue, but paid the penalty for attempting the risky direct route at the skinny fence 12 and a second run-out dropped him right out of the reckoning.

Jamie Atkinson was concussed after a horror fall from Dontbesobold, but both horse and rider escaped without serious injury.

William has doubled his chances of winning his fifth three-day of the season by also leading the CCI** overnight. Riding Bee Animas, he managed to hold Andrew Nicholson at bay, but has just 0.3pen of an advantage over the coloured poles. Andrew lies in both second and third on Epic and Nereo respectively, less than a fence behind.

William’s day didn’t go entirely to plan when his dressage equal-third, All That Jazz V, ran out approaching the second water, but Bee Animas was foot-perfect and inside the time.

The 115-strong CCI* section was completed today, with Kiwi Neil Spratt securing his overnight lead on Solo Voyage, ahead of Ireland’s Patricia Ryan (Ballylynch Adventure) despite lowering a pole. Scotswoman Sarra Mayberry narrowly failed to land a win on home soil, taking third place on Hownam Law.

www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk

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