Wills Oakden delivered a fitting fairytale finish to the final Defender Blair Castle Horse Trials when he claimed the CCI4*-L title to complete a historic hat-trick of back-to-back wins with Keep It Cooley.

The pair won the CCI2*-L title in 2022 and the CCI3*-L in 2023, and they held their nerve to deliver their biggest victory to date.

“He’s king of the castle now, king of Blair Castle,” an emotional Wills told H&H.

“This was my late stepfather’s favourite event, and this horse, Michael, is named after him. To come and do this, three in a row, is very special.”

Wills and the nine-year-old Ramiro B gelding, who were runners-up in the Burgham CCI4*-S last month, were lying in fifth after posting a 34.8 dressage, a mark Wills described as “pretty ouch”.

But it was a heart-filled performance across country in which they produced the fastest jumping clear to add just 10.8 time-penalties and top the leaderboard going into the final phase. Seven of the 13 starters jumped clear across country, and although Alec Lochore’s track did not cause any particular problems, the less than ideal ground conditions thanks to continued rain added their own challenges.

“He was a warrior. I was just so proud of him to dig that deep,” said Wills, who took last year’s Blair Castle Horse Trials CCI4*-L title with A Class Cooley.

Dressage leaders Tom McEwen and MHS Brown Jack added 17.2 time-penalties to their 28.7 score to sit in provisional second ahead of the showjumping, with just 0.3 of a penalty separating Tom and Wills. With even more rain adding to the mix, Tom’s round began to unravel, and he had four poles and 0.8 of a time-penalty with Fred and Penny Barker’s 10-year-old gelding. This created a healthy margin for Wills and Keep It Cooley, but they only needed one of those lifelines, knocking the middle part of the triple combination, to finish with four faults and 0.4 of a time-penalty.

“We’ve been saying all week that fairytales don’t happen… we’ve been trying to keep level-headed. To go out as the last person to jump at Blair, to be a local winner, this is huge, not just for me but my whole team. I don’t think we’ll ever hear a cheer like that again, it chokes me up,” said Wills.

“Geoff and Elspeth Adam bought this horse at the beginning of this year with this dream. He’s delivered for them, and I’ve delivered, and I’m just exceptionally grateful, and hugely proud to have done it for them. They’ve been fantastic support and brilliant to have on side, they’ve been patient, they’ve trusted me, they’ve worked with me, it’s been a fantastic relationship and I’m just delighted to give them this success.”

Wills also landed the Blair Castle Horse Trials CCI2*-L title with the impressive Mile Beach, owned by Wills’ wife Stephanie and Daniel Ockenden. Wills winning the final Blair CCI2*-L provides a poignant conclusion, as Wills’ aunt Frances Hay-Smith won the first two-star long-format at Blair in 1989 with Jabba The Hutt.

Wills and Mile Beach completed the 97-strong class on their 27.6 dressage score.

“He’s a horse that we think has a massive future, and we hope that he’s a horse that’s going to progress up through levels,” said Wills of the impressive seven-year-old.

LOOKING AHEAD

As the Blair Castle story concludes, Wills said it was time to look ahead to the future at Scone Palace.

“It is the last Blair, and what a way to go out, but now I think it’s about looking forward. Blair was created by these memories and special things happening, and now it’s about the membership body getting behind Scone,” he said.

“It’s incredibly exciting, but what makes it is the atmosphere and the number of people that show up and love the place and go for it. That is the biggest part of our sport and I hope everyone gets behind it. I met the team this week and they’re super keen, they want to do it, and it’s up to us now as members.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

Flying Scotsman’s final fling: Ian Stark jumps clear round Blair Castle three-star and provides career update

Delight as ‘world-class’ international event secured to replace Blair

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There has already been drama today during the Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country phase. Oliver Townend’s first ride, Tregilder, who is owned by the Hazeldines and the Mitchell Fox Group, had been going well until Oliver’s rein snapped after jumping through fence 17ab, the Irish Horse Board Bank, meaning he was forced to retire.

Oliver, who has three rides in this year’s competition, was in 13th after the first phase.

Wills Oakden, who was third out on course aboard Debbie Whalley and Liz Magennis’ Oughterard Cooley, put in an incredibly impressive round, finishing two seconds within the 11min6sec optimum time.

“Last year I was out of control for six minutes and this year I was out of control for 11min6sec,” joked Wills. “I knew everywhere he was running on the bridle but I told myself not to use him until I was coming home. I gave him a squeeze after the Lion Bridge [fence 27] and he went off like a rocket.”

Wills credited his horse’s supreme fitness to dual Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell.

“Lucinda has helped us this summer with advice for improving my horses’ fitness,” he explained. “We changed his work based on her help and it has transformed him.”

Tom McEwen gave Luna Mist, a mare owned by Martin Belsham, a lovely first five-star ride. She was enthusiastic in her jumping and looked green at times, but ultimately came home clear with 18.8 time-faults having opted to take the long route at the Dairy Mound at fence 20abc.

“I found out a lot about the course and the ground with her,” said Tom. “This mare did a super job. She is amazing and a true mare – she was game for it going over any fence, anywhere, at any point.”

David Doel was the second rider on the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course to come home within the optimum time. He stopped the clock with nine seconds to spare aboard Gillian Jonas’ Galileo Nieuwmoed.

“He was lovely and flowing all the way round, if a little bit sapped of energy at the end,” said David, who is at the top of the leaderboard at this early stage of the day. “I had one or two little moments, like when he stood on top of the Irish Bank and I saw a bit of a flyer to the Pardubice and we went through the back of that, but he was still pulling me all the way.

“I’m dead chuffed with him. It was a little bit twisty and fiddly, which sapped it out of him a little bit and I had some extra strides where I didn’t want to, but overall he was great.”

Harry Meade looked to have to nurse the first of his three rides, Away Cruising, who is 16 and owned by Charlotte Opperman and Jane Dear, around the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country. They picked up 20 penalties when opting for the direct route at fence 22, a corner at Capabilities Cutting. They then took the long route and completed with 24 time-faults.

“He’s a trooper, I’ve had him since he was four and I don’t think he’s ever had a cross-country jumping fault at five-star,” said Harry. “There‘s plenty to do out there and it’s an interesting course with questions throughout.

“The Irish Bank was uncomfortable to jump,” said Harry, whose horse banked it. “Where we incurred our 20 penalties, he went down and up the crossing, pricked his ears at the decoration part of the log and went the wrong side of the flag.”

End of day update: David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed end the cross-country phase in third, while Wills Oakden and Oughterard Cooley are just behind in fourth. Tom McEwen and Luna Mist are in 19th, and Harry Meade and Away Cruising are in 31st.

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

You might also be interested in:

How to watch Burghley Horse Trials 2025 live streams and on TV wherever you are

Hold on tight! Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

Find out when your favourite riders will head out on Burghley’s cross-country course

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Wills Oakden did a superb job as pathfinder on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian. With such soft going after the previous day’s deluges, stamina was always going to be a major concern. Although Wills’ ride Oughterard Cooley visibly tired towards the end on the sapping ground, he kept galloping and jumping to complete with 28 time-faults.

Wills helped his horse out after he slipped into the first element at the first water, the Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay, when he reacted quickly.

Watch Wills reflect on his round

“Today it’s about using your skills and horsemanship and thinking about the horses and getting them home as well as you can,” he says. “Using them when you think you possibly can and giving them a breather when you need to, and if you treat the day like that, you know there’s success to be had out there. My horse dug deeper than he’s ever had to before and I’m so proud of him.”

Badminton final scores

Pippa Funnell was held midway round and Majas Hope looked to have plenty of spring in his step as he set off again. She tackled the direct route at The Lake, and finished with 24.8 time-faults despite losing a shoe.

“I enjoyed it!” said Pippa. “He’s the best horse in the world to sit on in this phase and I’ve got so much confidence in him, he knows his job. I was down on the clock right at three minutes because I know when it’s wet like this, if you stick to your minute markers early on you get tired horses, so I thought I’d let him get into a rhythm early on and not worry about the clock and ride what I feel.

“You have to ride a bit differently because of the pins [frangible devices]; a few places you definitely have to take one more pull.”

Watch Pippa talk after her round

Vitali looked full of running to finish with the fastest time so far of 24 time-faults for Tim Price, which has moved him up from 11th to the top of the leaderboard at this early stage.

“It’s very testing conditions, more so than I envisaged – you can see the hoofprints and it’s deeper than I imagined,” he said. “He’s a weird wily chap, but out on course his athleticism comes into play. In this day and age it’s not just jumping massive fences, there’s the technical element, so it’s nice to have something quick-witted. But it will be a different ball game later on in the day.”

Leading contender pulled up

Two of the first three horses did not get round, after Fiona Kashel fell off WSF Carthago four fences from home at the Jubilee Clump Brush (fence 26) when the horse ran-out, looking tired, and went into the ditch. There was a hold on course after this.

Oliver Townend was pulled up by the ground jury after his third-placed ride Swallow Springs straddled a couple of fences.

Other non-completions at this early stage include Izzy Taylor on Happy Days, who skewed after trying to run out at an element of the KBIS Brush Boxes (fence 13abcd), broke her martingale and was then eliminated for jumping the b element twice. Kirsty Chabert retired Opposition Loire after a couple of run-outs. Anna-Katharina Vogel’s DPS Quintana P had a tired fall over the Pedigree Dog Kennel, but was able to walk the horse off the course.

Dan Jocelyn was the first rider to go the direct route at The Lake, and the frangible did its job when Cooley One Too Many dragged his legs through the fence. He was held on course, and had to restart just before Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close at 25, where he took the long route. He admitted the hold was a help as he has been considering pulling up his horse due to fatigue.

“The hold gave me a window [to recover] and I nursed him over two long routes,” Dan said. “What a cheer when I came in.”

Smart rounds over Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

Ros Canter’s mare Pencos Crown Jewel looked full of running all the way round. They took a stride out in the first water but stayed in good balance and made light work of their mistake, finishing with 26 time-faults to add to their 17th-placed dressage of 29.2.

“The conditions are tough and she gave it her all, she’s an absolute weapon,” said Ros. “The ground is deep, but the horses are jumping well, it’s weighing up how much you give at the beginning and save for the end. I came home thinking I should have pushed a little harder.”

Watch Ros talk about this special mare

Harry Meade used all his experience to hunt Away Cruising round clear for 37.2 time-faults.

“He has a very good heart,” said Harry. “My philosophy was that I would take my watch off, and my plan was to treat it like a long endurance day. I just thought I’d hack him at pace, and try not to set him up more than I needed to, try not to twist him about. He has little feet and has always found soft going quite hard. I thought I would try not to be greedy, and I had to draw on all those years of confidence in the bank.”

Harry found the large oxers towards the end of the course, the Beaufort Brush Box (fence 24) and Wiltshire Brewers Drays (fence 28ab), were too demanding for that stage on the track.

“I didn’t like to ride some of those last fences,” he said. “They don’t brush through a 5ft oxer. When they get tired their brain goes, so I took some wide turns, as I could see a horse giving up and not locking on. I didn’t like the big oxers at the end, those big showjumping questions just empty horses. But I tried to ride sensibly from the start, and the main thing is I got home and he’s a happy horse.”

Tom Jackson also resorted to plan B in respect of the ground on Capels Hollow Drift, 14th after dressage. They jumped clear with 30.4 time-faults.

“He really did dig deep today in the ground conditions,” he said. “The feedback was that the horses were tired from The Lake, but he kicked on. He just felt tired after Huntsman’s [fence 25ab]. I was walking the course this morning with laser focus [on the minute markers], but you had to forget plan A and ride the horse, see what happens.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You may also like to read…

Course-designer responds to William Fox-Pitt saying riders should boycott Badminton fence

Ros Canter leads, fences altered and one rider’s disappointment: unmissable stories as Badminton dressage finishes

Oliver Townend pulled up by ground jury early on Badminton cross-country day, but pathfinder proves course is jumpable

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Badminton cross-country course

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Badminton Horse Trials cross-country has got underway at the event, presented by Mars Equestrian, and the first few riders have had their chance to ride around Eric Winter’s course, which has attracted some controversy.

Oliver Townend took an early dressage lead from third draw on Friday with Swallow Springs, finishing in third at the end of the first phase behind Ros Canter and Kitty King. Setting off across country, Swallow Springs looked full of running early in the course, but straddled fence 19b, breaking a frangible device, and started getting visibly tired. At The Lake Oliver opted to take the long route, but scrambled again at the large corner in the water.

The pair were then pulled up by ground jury before fence 25, the Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close, meaning the combination are eliminated.

“I thought he would get the trip,” said Oliver of his round on Swallow Springs later in the day.

Badminton final scores

“The vets were happy and he recovered very quickly. It was tough today with the ground. He’s not the biggest horse; he’s not got the scope of Ballaghmor Class, but he looks happy with himself in the stable.”

Wills Oakden was first out on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course with Oughterard Cooley, riding well as pathfinder to finish clear with 28 time-penalties for being 1min 10sec over the optimum time of 11min 35sec.

“Today was about using skills and horsemanship, thinking about the horse and getting them home as well as you can,” said Wills.

Fiona Kashel and WSF Carthago suffered a rider fall at fence 26, the Jubilee Clump Brush. The 13-year-old gelding was transported off the course, causing holds for Dan Jocelyn (Cooley One To Many) and Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope).

Pippa Funnell produced a fantastic clear round with Majas Hope – the first combination to successfully jump the straight route at The Lake. The 16-year-old gelding coped well with the challenge and still appeared full of running by the end, adding 24.8 time penalties.

Dan Jocelyn and Cooley One To Many added 51 – 11pen for breaking a frangible device and 40 time-penalties. Dan was thrilled with the horse’s performance, but revealed that he had considered “pulling up before being held on course.”

“The little horse tried his heart out. I was thrilled with how he was travelling. He was jumping, doing what I wanted, doing the lines, everything was working well. We jumped the Lightsource bp Pond and coming up that hill the horse changed underneath me and that’s when I realised it was proper endurance.

“I realised I had a tired horse. I was going to go straight at the water, and we had the [frangible device] but for me it was better to have that, and get it all over and done with, then I tried to nurse him round. I was almost ready to pull him up and then I saw the flag [to be held] and thought, ‘Oh this could be useful’ and it was and then he finished well.”

Update: Oliver was given an eventing recorded warning by the FEI in relation to his ride on Swallow Springs at Badminton, for “Dangerous riding/series of dangerous jumps”.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You may also be interested in…

Course-designer responds to William Fox-Pitt saying riders should boycott Badminton fence

Ros Canter leads after Badminton dressage – but ‘who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow?’

Laura Collett and Oliver Townend shake up the leaderboard at tail end of Badminton dressage

‘There are so many pins that you could make a dress’: riders’ reactions to the Badminton cross-country course

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Badminton Horse Trials draw, for the event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May), has taken place.

Wills Oakden will be the pathfinder on Oughterard Cooley, with whom he finished 14th at Burghley Horse Trials last autumn.

The last rider on course will be Tim Price on the Maryland 5 Star winner Coup De Coeur Dudevin.

The draw was carried out in Badminton House by presenter Rupert Bell, assisted by five-star rider Daisy Berkeley (who is part of the Radio Badminton team at the event alongside Rupert), the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and two of this year’s competitors, Laura Collett and Alex Bragg.

Badminton final scores

Laura has her defending champion London 52 at the start of the draw, at number 10, so it’s likely the dressage standard will be set early on the first day.

Oliver Townend, Harry Meade and Izzy Taylor all currently have more than two horses still on the entry list. They will all have to choose which two horses they start on nearer the time, but for now, all their horses have been given numbers and some have been given two numbers, so that whichever two horses a rider picks, they will always have one at the start and one at the end of the draw.

Full Badminton Horse Trials draw

1 Wills Oakden on Oughterard Cooley

2 Fiona Kashel on WSF Carthago

3, 4, 5 and 6 Oliver Townend on Ballaghmor Class, Tregilder, Swallow Springs or Cooley Rosalent

7 Luc Chateau on Troubadour Camphoux

8 Dan Jocelyn on Cooley One To Many

9 Pippa Funnell on Majas Hope

10 Laura Collett on London 52

11 Tim Price on Vitali

12 Ros Canter on Pencos Crown Jewel

13 and 14 Harry Meade on Away Cruising or Cavalier Crystal

15 and 16 Izzy Taylor on Happy Days or Monkeying Around

17 Kirsty Chabert on Opposition Loire

18 Tom Jackson on Capels Hollow Drift

19 James Rushbrooke on Milchem Eclipse

20 Anna-Katharina Vogel on DSP Quintana P

21 Rose Nesbitt on EG Michealangelo

22 Aistis Vitkauskas on Commander VG

23 Austin O’Connor on Colorado Blue

24 Padraig McCarthy on HHS Noble Call

25 Andrew James on Celtic Morning Star

26 Hector Payne on Dynasty

27 Francis Whittington on DHI Purple Rain

28 Lauren Nicholson on Vermiculus

29 Alice Casburn on Topspin

30 Gemma Stevens on Jalapeno

31 Tom Rowland on Possible Mission

32 Felicity Collins on RSH Contend Or

33 Felix Vogg on Cartania

34 Caroline Clarke on Touch Too Much

35 Susie Berry on Ringwood LB

36 Amanda Pottinger on Just Kidding

37 Richard Jones on Alfies Clover

38 Hollie Swain on Solo

39 Kylie Roddy on Carden Earl Grey

40 Greta Mason on Cooley For Sure

41 Caroline Powell on Greenacres Special Cavalier

42 Katherine Coleman on Monbeg Senna

43 Gireg Le Coz on Aisprit De La Loge

44 Alexander Whewall on Ellfield Voyager

45 Aaron Millar on KEC Deakon

46 Lillian Heard Wood on LCC Barnaby

47 Arthur Marx on Church’Ile

48 Tom McEwen on Toledo De Kerser

49 Kitty King on Vendredi Biats

50 Alex Bragg on Quindiva

51 Bill Levett on Huberthus AC

52 Michael Ryan on TR Kaygraff

53 Kristina Hall-Jackson on CMS Google

54 Tom Crisp on Liberty And Glory

55 Harry Mutch on HD Bronze

56 Arthur Duffort on Toronto D’Aurois

57 David Doel on Galileo Nieuwmoed

58 Selina Milnes and Iron

59 Regis Prud’hon on Tarastro

60 Lauren Innes on Global Fision M

61 William Fox-Pitt on Grafennacht

62 Michael Winter on El Mundo

63 Emily King on Valmy Biats

64 Georgia Bartlett on Spano De Nazca

65 Bubby Upton on Cola

66 Helen Martin on Andreas

67 Emilie Chandler on Gortfadda Diamond

68 Sarah Clark on LV Balou Jeanz

69 Wills Oakden on Arklow Puissance

70 Luc Chateau on Viens Du Mont

71 Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo

72 or 73 Harry Meade on Away Cruising or Tenareze

74, 75, 76 or 77 Oliver Townend on Ballaghmor Class, Tregilder, Swallow Springs or As Is

78 Laura Collett on Dacapo

79 or 80 Izzy Taylor on Monkeying Around or Graf Cavalier

81 Fiona Kashel on Creevagh Silver De Haar

82 Dan Jocelyn on Blackthorn Cruise

83 Kirsty Chabert on Classic VI

84 Pippa Funnell on Billy Walk On

85 Tim Price on Coup De Coeur Dudevin

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, then you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You might also be interested in:

‘It would have been a fairytale ending’: disappointment as injury forces Badminton withdrawal

Badminton favourite alters build-up plans owing to small setback

Find out what numbers Yasmin Ingham and Zara Tindall will wear at Kentucky – plus latest British withdrawals

Defending champion heads up Badminton entries – plus what’s unusual this time

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May). 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Wills Oakden delivered a textbook clear showjumping round on Keep It Cooley for a home soil win in the Land Rover Blair Castle Horse Trials CCI2*-L.

The final phase of today’s (28 August) competition caused a major shakeup to the leaderboard – and a clear round was crucial. Wills kept the pressure on overnight leader Lucinda Atkinson when he and his wife Stephanie’s seven-year-old Ramiro B gelding “Michael” cruised round the track within the time, to finish on their 28.3 dressage.

“He’s always been a careful jumper and the plan was to go in there and put the pressure on, and he did. He is a horse we have a lot of belief in and a horse that we absolutely love,” Wills told H&H after his brilliant round.

“We came here wanting to be super competitive – without saying we were going to come and win because you never know – but we wanted to be as close as we possibly could and he’s proven what a good talent he is. Hopefully it will continue to shine through as he goes up through the grades.”

Will – who was also third in the CCI3*-L with Cooley Pot Of Gold – said Michael had learned plenty during his first ever two-star long.

“It’s been a brilliant experience, that’s why he’s here. He came here to gallop up and down the hills and to learn all about that kind of thing,” he said.

“The crowds here, you can’t replicate the atmosphere anywhere else in Scotland so it’s been a valuable experience for him, and the win was a bonus. There’s no backdrop like it here, it feels like the end of season festival. The event means a lot to a lot of people; not just riders, but volunteers, spectators, everyone. To win on home soil is very special.”

Pippa Reynold’s Twice Proved looked a little on the exuberant side as they navigated the course and took down the wavy planks at fence eight, which dropped them into fifth place on 32.2. Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon, who was in third with Dido Darling’s Irish Jig III, also had a pole to drop them into seventh on 33.2.

The Netherlands’ Nina De Haas finished on her 29.9 dressage score for second place with Martin and Kerry Richard’s seven-year-old JVK Mr Maguire. Harrison Colling jumped clear for third on his own seven-year-old gelding Trevi Fountain. Blair Castle Horse Trials marked both combination’s first two-star long.

Blair Castle Horse Trials CCI1*-Intro

The CCI1*-Intro classes were once again popular among competitors, drawing in riders from across the country. Section E featured 86 combinations and section F had 98. Both sections ran the showjumping phase on Saturday (27 August). Section E’s cross-country took place on the same day, and section F’s took place today (28 August).

Amelia England was crowned winner of section E with her own 13-year-old mare Eluna. The pair produced a 29 dressage and added just 1.6 time-penalties across country. Hannah Pearce and her own Valdoctro was second on 31.2. Louisa Milne Home was third with Angela Hamtilon’s Carneyhaugh Harmony on 33.2.

Eluna is a relatively new ride for 18-year-old Amelia and was formerly campaigned by Wills Oakden to two-star.

“The win has not sunk in yet,” she told H&H.

“I got her during my A levels and got on with her straight away. She loves what she does which makes my life a lot easier. She likes to sparkle!”

Amelia, who has ridden a couple of novice tracks with Eluna, said the cross-country rode “really nicely”.

“Everything I asked her to do she did perfectly. Her ears were pricked the whole way, looking for the next jump. I was looking for the clear and I was over the moon with her,” she said.

Maia Fleming won section F with her own Candyman Leanorth at the pair’s first ever one-star.

Maia told H&H it had not been a smooth run up to Blair after she had a fall from the striking 18hh gelding at the water fence at the Bishop Burton International Youth Championships earlier this month – but this weekend could not have gone better for the pair.

“It was a really good and massive experience,” an over the moon Maia told H&H.

“The water here is very familiar to what it was when I had the fall and he gave me so much confidence going over it today. I couldn’t ask for a better horse. He came out of that box flying.”

Elizabeth Jelfs and her own Stonehavens Cloud finished on their 31.5 dressage for second. Emma Wake finished on her 32.2 dressage for third with her own Chrissi.

You might also be interested in:

‘He was phenomenal’: Tom McEwen tops Blair Castle Horse Trials CCI3*-L dressage with untouchable score

‘He was pretty outstanding’: Caroline Powell’s exciting six-year-old heads Blair Castle CCI2*-L after dressage

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Forty two combinations will go forward to the final showjumping phase of the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle this afternoon.

Britain’s Wills Oakden did not bring Greystone Midnight Melody forward to the ground jury, while Oliver Townend’s ride Fenyas Elegance (pictured top) was sent to the holding box. She was then accepted on representation.

The rest of the British riders were all accepted on their first trot to the delight of the crowd. Arctic Soul looked particularly fresh and Gemma Tattersall had her hands full when he reacted to the crowd’s appreciation. Sarah Bullimore’s Lilly Corinne was sufficiently bright to spook at the decorative flowers, while other eye-catchers included Kitty King’s Persimmon.

Germany is the only country to have their full complement of six riders (four team and two individuals) to reach the final phase of the competition. They are clear favourites for both team and individual honours.

Russian rider Boris Vasilev decided to withdraw Nabludatel after being sent to the holding box, as did Spain’s Albert Hermoso Farrass with Mirla CP 27 58.

In the race for team qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, France looks set to head to South America, while Sweden and Spain will be battling it out for the final place that is available.

The first showjumping is expected to get underway at 11.30am with the top riders starting shortly after 2pm. Follow the action as it happens with H&H Live.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Find out how all the British riders fared today (Saturday 12 September) at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle.

Kitty King, 32, with Jane and Frank Inns’ Persimmon (team rider) — 8.4 time-faults, fifth after cross-country

“He’s really feisty and he can make my life difficult — he likes to stay long and open, especially at the end of the course, and I have to make sure he comes back to me,” said Kitty. “Although he became quite feisty, he always wanted to jump and was looking for his flags so I couldn’t have asked for more.

“I was on my minute markers until the last water [where she took the long route], then I was about half a minute down. We made up some time and he didn’t feel tired.

“I’ve never even noticed the crowds at Badminton, but I noticed them here for the first time throughout my round.”

Gemma Tattersall, 30, with The Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul (individual rider) — clear inside the time, seventh after cross-country

“I’m so chuffed, he was just fantastic,” said Gemma. “He loves the mud and hills, he just puts his head down and gets into it. I was kind of pleased it was raining today for him — he’s even better in tough conditions.

“He was so careful and was like a cat in the combinations. For such a massive thoroughbred horse he was like pop, pop, pop in the coffin [Irish Horse Gateway complex at 23/24ab].”

Sarah Bullimore, 42, with her husband Brett’s and her own Lilly Corinne (individual rider) — 20 penalties at fence 4c (House of Bruar Shepherds Bothies), 10.4 time-faults, 21st after cross-country

“She locked onto the log basket [between elements b and c] and jumped that, which then put me off my line for the third part so she couldn’t jump that,” said Sarah.

“After I’d turned her there she realised she had made a mistake and she doesn’t like to make a mistake, so she was a bit looky for the next few fences. Then she got going and gave me a fantastic ride.

“I’ve had so many lovely well-wishers and I feel I’ve let everyone down. It was a stupid stop to have at something that was really a schooling exercise like you’d jump at home and play through — it’s not like there’s a problem like having a stop at a coffin or water.”

Holly Woodhead, 21, her father Ian and stepmother Heidi Woodhead’s DHI Lupison (individual rider) — 20 penalties at fence 4b (House of Bruar Shepherds Bothies), 18 time-faults, 22nd after cross-country

“I held him a bit too much coming to the first part [at fence 4] and turned a bit too tight — I should have given him a bit more time to see the second part,” said Holly

“He gave me an amazing ride the rest of the way and I’ve learned a lot. I’d tell the rest of the British riders to keep hold of their horses’ heads at the combinations, but they’re all very experienced and will be fine.

“The rain hasn’t really sunk in so the ground is quite greasy on top.”

Laura Collett, 25, with Diana Chappell’s Grand Manoeuvre (individual rider) — 10.8 time-faults, ninth after cross-country

“I’m over the moon with how he jumped round,” said Laura. “He’s not the easiest horse to ride inside the time as he jumps high and gets strong.

“It’s really slippy out there. I was aware of that before I went out. The ground has actually been quite hard the last few days and now it’s greasy. The course rode tougher than it walked.”

Nicola Wilson, 38, with Mary and Gerry Kemp and Janine Shewan’s One Two Many (team rider) — 20 penalties at fence 16b (UK Sport corners), 18.8 time-faults, 28th after cross-country

“I’m devastated, so, so disappointed,” said Nicola. “He was giving me a super ride and he jumped the first corner beautifully. I made the turn and everything appeared to be lined up for the second — I don’t know if he just didn’t see it. He jumped it beautifully the second time.

“You have to regroup after that and just get home as quickly as possible.”

Izzy Taylor, 32, with Guy Avis’ KBIS Briarlands Matilda (individual rider) — clear inside the time, third after cross-country

Izzy was held at the start for quite a lengthy time in very wet weather while the haggis fence at 21b was taken out of the course after it had caused three falls and the ground had deteriorated significantly.

“It wasn’t pleasant but I felt sorry for the people held on course as at least I could shelter,” said Izzy. “It was quite cold for us and especially for a mare you don’t want the muscles to get cold so they can’t run and jump.

“She’s a very good cross-country horse and very honest. She tripped going into the second last [the Strzegom brushes at 27 and 28], chipped in an extra stride and was very honest to go on two strides.

“The crowd were amazing — even at the highest point of the course there were people up there cheering us on.”

Oliver Townend, 32, with PJ Hegarty’s Fenyas Elegance (individual rider) — 20 penalties at 19b (Malcolm Group corner), six time-faults, 19th after cross-country

“She has a good record, but has lost her way a little bit,” said Oliver. “I had her a bit strong to make sure she was going and when I needed control, I didn’t have enough of it. There are no excuses.”

Pippa Funnell, 46, with her mother Jenny Nolan, Ruth McMullen and her own Sandman 7 (team rider) — 9.6 time-faults, 10th after cross-country

“I was so frightened, I just kept thinking I didn’t want to wreck this lovely young horse,” said Pippa. “I’ll kick myself over the time-faults later, but he was class and showed the sort of horse he could develop into.

“I was frightened to ruin this potentially very good horse by asking him a big question, but he really delivered. If he was two years older he’d have been quicker — at this stage he couldn’t have been quicker.”

“I really am delighted.”

Wills Oakden 25, with David Kenwright and Sylvia Douglas’ Greystone Midnight Melody (individual rider) — 26.4 time-faults, 26th after cross-country

“It was hard work out there — the ground had really deteriorated,” said Wills. “They’ve done an amazing job with it, but the weather hasn’t played ball.

“We all had to use our heads and she answered every question. I’m thrilled to have got round my first senior championship clear. The crowd were incredible all the way and gave us a good boost. They made my championship debut extra special.”

Francis Whittington, 37, with Catherine Witt’s Easy Target (individual rider) — retired at fence 21a (Albert Bartlett Haggis, Neaps and Tatties)

“Bless his heart, he was tiring and struggling in the conditions,” said Francis. “He got to the top of that hill and came to that upright fence and I just felt him die and completely drop off the leg. I pulled on the reins, there was no point even trying to jump it.

“He’s fine now, he just got tired and leg weary in this going. It wasn’t worth the risk of trying to go on.”

William Fox-Pitt, 46, with Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero (team rider) — retired at fence 17 (Joules Brush Arrowhead)

“He just didn’t enjoy it,” said William. “He was going into the ground and found the conditions tough. He tried his best, but he just lost the will. He’s never had a run-out in his life.

“I feel I’ve let the team down and hope we’re still in the hunt with the other three scores. It wasn’t my day.”

Re-live today’s action with H&H Live

Read about the British team position and how the other nations performed

Full report from the European Championships at Blair in H&H next week, out Thursday, 17 September — 19 pages of analysis and photographs, plus columns from Anna Ross, Harry Meade and Mike Etherington-Smith.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Find out how Britain’s riders performed on the second day of dressage (Friday, 11 September) at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle.

Izzy Taylor, 32, with Guy Avis’ KBIS Briarlands Matilda (individual rider) — 44, 26th after dressage

“It’s frustrating as I was hoping for a better score, but she was very good, so I was pleased with her,” said Izzy. “She didn’t do a lot wrong and I’ll need to watch the test [to see why the mark wasn’t higher]. She’s not a big front-moving horse and it seems like this ground jury like that.”

Oliver Townend, 32, with PJ Hegarty’s Fenyas Elegance (individual rider) — 38.7, 12th after dressage

“She’s a new ride for me [taken over earlier this year from Ireland’s Aoife Clark] and a lot has been written in the press about how she can’t handle the pressure, but she relaxed and did a good job,” said Oliver. “I think it’s the first time she’s been in the 30s. She went in there and coped well, so I couldn’t be more pleased with her performance.

“Obviously I didn’t get the ride because everything was going swimmingly before, and you can’t change the world that quickly. There’s still things I need to get to grips with and room for improvement.”

Pippa Funnell, 46, with her mother Jenny Nolan, Ruth McMullen and her own Sandman 7 (team rider) — 41, 19th after dressage

“It’s his first test with grandstands like that and I could feel he was a bit nervous,” said Pippa. “He was trying hard. For a young horse and where he is in his career, I’ve got to be really pleased.

“The first time the horses really feel this atmosphere is just before the test as they don’t work near here the rest of the time. Another time maybe I would get him out more, but he had had plenty of work and it’s a balancing act as if you do too much they get sore.

“He definitely went a bit shy in there, but it wasn’t a bad experience for him and that’s the sort of experience they’ve got to have if they’re going to go to an Olympics. Some of his work was really good and that shows what a good horse he is for the future — hopefully he’ll go well here and then we’ll polish the work up over the winter.

“It’s always a huge honour and such a thrill to be chosen for the team. I possibly was a bit surprised because of Sandman’s inexperience, but what he’s done he’s done well. It’s rather the same as what the Germans have done with putting Michael Jung on the team [on an eight-year-old horse], but I’m not Michael Jung!”

Wills Oakden 25, with David Kenwright and Sylvia Douglas’ Greystone Midnight Melody (individual rider) — 46.4, 30th after dressage

“I was pleased with her — she was more tense than outside and lit up a bit, but I expected that as it was her first time in an atmosphere of this sort,” said Wills. “But she kept a lid on it and stayed consistent.

“I expected to be a lot more nervous, but I trusted her. I put myself in a bubble so it was just me and her in the arena. But it’s brilliant to have so much local support [Wills lives in Fife] and I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.

“I’ve always wanted to ride for Team GBR, but I didn’t quite think I was ready yet. But the selectors have showed faith in me.”

Francis Whittington, 37, with Catherine Witt’s Easy Target (individual rider) — 37.5, seventh after dressage

“I’m over the moon with ‘Smokey’,” said Francis. “He’s been working really nicely, so to go in there and do a test I can be really proud of is great. He was trying to spook at the boards round the arena, but he held it together and Catherine Witt and I are thrilled.

“I’ve had criticism for the length of his neck and I’ll probably still get it today, but it won’t go much longer! I was trying to show I wasn’t holding it in and the last extension felt really good.”

William Fox-Pitt, 46, with Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero (team rider) — 43, 23rd after dressage

Although Bay My Hero scored steadily at 7 and above in the canter, in the trot he seemed to be showing some irregularity in the rhythm, with the marks as low as 5 and 5.5 at times.

William went back to the stables with the horse afterwards and did not come over to talk to the press.

Full report from the European Championships at Blair in H&H next week, out Thursday, 17 September — 19 pages of analysis and photographs, plus columns from Harry Meade and Mike Etherington-Smith.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tom Jackson has been ruled out of the British squad for the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (10-13 September) after a setback to his horse Waltham Fiddlers Find.

The partnership has been replaced by Wills Oakden and Greystone Midnight Melody.

It was revealed today (Thursday, 27 August) that Waltham Fiddlers Find, owned by Tom and his parents Ian and Sara Jackson, has had a “slight setback” that prevents him competing.

“As always we have ups and downs in the sport,” said Team GBR eventing performance manager Yogi Breisner.

“It’s very sad that Tom’s horse has been found not fit enough to be going.

“He is a young and very talented rider with a horse we’re very excited about for the future, which is another reason we didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”

Tom had been a late call-up from reserve, replacing Flora Harris and Bayano.

Flora and Bayano, owned by her mother Caroline and Rebecca Salt, were selected for the championship following their win in the CCI3* at Bramham in June. However, the pair had three run-outs across country in the Nations Cup in Aachen earlier this month.

“All selected athlete/horse combinations are required to maintain their performance and fitness ahead of a championship,” read a statement at the time.

Following the withdrawal of Waltham Fiddlers Find, the eventing senior selectors have therefore called up the next named reserve — 25-year-old Wills Oakden.

He will compete his 12-year-old British-bred mare, Greystone Midnight Melody, owned by David Kenwright and Sylvia Douglas.

Wills joins the existing British eventing squad of Laura Collect (Grand Manoeuvre), Dani Evans (Smart Time), WIlliam Fox-Pitt (Bay My Hero), Pippa Funnell (Sandman 7), Kitty King (Persimmon), Gemma Tattersall (Arctic Soul), Izzy Taylor (Briarlands Matilda), Oliver Townend (Fenyas Elegance), Francis Whittington (Easy Target) and Nicola Wilson (One Two Many) and Holly Woodhead (DHI Lupison) at the competition at Blair Castle.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now