Zara Phillips has late draw for Badminton Horse Trials

Zara Phillips is likely to have her first ride at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials near the end of the cross-country day, after being drawn as number 96 with Ardfield Magic Star.

Zara is also listed as number 19 with Glenbuck, but another 14 horses need to be withdrawn before he will come off the waiting list and have the chance to compete.

The draw includes all the horses down to 33rd on the original waiting list. So far, 16 of these have come off the waiting list.

Among the high profile withdrawals are Sarah Cohen’s Hide And Seek II, best British horse at Badminton last year, and Francis Whittington’s Burnham Market World Cup qualifier winner Sir Percival III.

Mary King will be the pathfinder on Apache Sauce, the white-faced chestnut who was ninth at Kentucky last year.

William Fox-Pitt will be the last rider on the course with either 2004 winner Tamarillo or four-star debutant Macchiato — the pair are double-entered so one must be withdrawn. William also rides 2005 Burghley winner Ballincoola, number 16.

William has withdrawn last year’s Burghley winner Parkmore Ed, who was only entered in case he did not show good form for the selectors in his spring one-day events. He is being saved for his main aim for the year, the Olympics in Hong Kong.

Badminton draw

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.