Find out why Laura Collett described the cross-country as ‘relentless’, plus 10 other stories you must read from Badminton today

Laura Collett maintained her lead after the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian. Riding her Olympic gold medallist London 52, Laura stormed around inside the optimum time to stay on her 21 dressage.

• Find out what Laura thought of the course and her round with London 52

The first of Oliver Townend’s two rides on the Badminton cross-country was Swallow Springs

• Find out why Oliver was initially eliminated on this horse, but then his position was reinstated

Oliver’s second ride around the Eric Winter-designed track was Ballaghmor Class

• Read why Ballaghmor Class relied on two new friends to help secure his round

Piggy March had a crack at the course with her reigning Badminton champion, Vanir Kamira

• Find out how they got on

Ros Canter and Allstar B tackled the course earlier this morning

• Read what Ros had to say about the course and how her first ride went

Grooms are a key part of every rider’s effort, so we are taking the time to catch up with a few this week.

• Meet Bubby Upton’s groom Katie Dutton

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats got round but it wasn’t all plain sailing on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

• Read Kitty’s explanation of her round

Meanwhile, things didn’t all go to plan for some near the top of the leaderboard following the dressage

• Read about how some of the key contenders battled with the track

Some of the early riders shared their opinions on the course

• Find out what they had to say

A number of French riders had a go at tackling the five-star track

• Find out how they got on

There is even a star from Downton Abbey present this weekend

• Find out what this actor’s connection is with one of the competitors

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue and keep fully up-to-date with all the action during Badminton week via horseandhound.co.uk, where a host of features and reports will be published.

You might also be interested in:

Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2022

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials 2024: what you need to know

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Gemma Redrup

H&H features, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, having been part of the H&H team since 2014, who is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting talents have taken her to numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.