MARS Badminton Cross Country – All the Action As It Happens: Live Blog

We’re back with EN’s classic live blog for the second time this season to bring you every scrap of the cross country action as it happens from MARS Badminton. Stay tuned ENers, we’re in for one heck of a ride. I’ll be with you all day long as the story of this year’s immense field duking it out against Eric Winter’s mighty track unfolds.

The line up spans 5* winners to rookies having their first taste of the top and there’s everything to play for as the best day at Badminton dawns.

Here’s a little look at what’s in store.

Wonderful “Walter” and the Legend that is Lordships Graffalo:

There’s history making in the offing with reigning champs Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo going for back-to-back-to-back wins (as a Wrexham AFC local, I’m well versed in this kind of Hollywood-inspired story – IYKYK). Badminton has been running since 1949 and in all that time no horse and rider pair have ever managed the ultimate feat three times – that’s how special this combination is. Not only that, but Ros and “Walter” have already done the double-double, having won both Badminton and Burghley for the past two years; if they win this weekend they’ll be aiming for the triple-double in the fall.

What a privilege it is for eventing fans to witness this kind of stardom, achieved with such quiet grace and seeming effortlessness. They get their bid for further greatness underway at 9:17am ET / 3:17pm CEST and are certainly a combination that you do not want to miss.

Harry’s Ladies are Up For It:

Harry Meade’s at Badminton with his herd once more and has three chances at finally quelling the 5* win door knocking that’s grown more and more insistent over recent seasons. He’s the only World No. 1 not to have won a 5* and will be going for his classic clears inside the time today in a bid to put that right.

He’ll trailblaze with last year’s Kentucky 3rd placer Et Hop du Matz, before the showdown begins between his two talented mares.

Cavalier Crystal’s beaten Annaghmore Valoner to the Burghley podium two years running – which lass will triumph in the battle between Harry’s ladies this week? On the one hand, Annaghmore Valoner’s at Badminton for the first time, but has those two Burghley 4th places under her cinch. And on the other, Cavalier Crystal was 4th at Badminton last year and has two consecutive 3rd place finishes at Burghley on her card.

It’s a scrap between the stablemates you don’t want to miss.

Et Hop du Matz is first on course at 6:30am ET / 12:30pm CEST, Annaghmore Valoner gets the girl power going at 8:53am ET / 2:53pm CEST and Cavalier Crystal will have her say at 10:43am / 4:43pm CEST.

5* Champs are In Da House:

The field is positively oozing with quality (the good kind of ooze). There’s strength and depth throughout the line up which isn’t reserved to those who’ve already proved their class by adding to their bling cabinet, however, for the purpose at hand, I’ll highlight the ones who’ve done just that:

Tim Price has no fewer than six 5* wins to his name, although so far Badminton has eluded him. He’s having a crack at putting that right this week with Pau winner Falco. See them in action at 10:19am / 4:19pm CEST.

Laura Collett’s got three 5* victories on her card, including Badminton in 2022. She comes forward with the interesting mare Bling, who’s been improving year on year and placed 10th at Burghley last fall. They leave the box at 9:35am ET / 3:35pm CEST.

Felix Vogg made history at Maryland last season when he became the first Swiss rider to win two 5*s, having already won Luhmühlen on his birthday back in 2022. His Badminton ride Cartania made it happen for him in Maryland and she’s keen as (Swiss) mustard out on cross country. It’ll be squeaky bum time for Felix (and viewers with a nervous disposition) at 10:15am ET / 4:15pm CEST.

Fellow history maker Lara de Liedekerke-Meier took the Luhmühlen crown in 2022 to secure Belgium’s first ever top-level victory. She’s at Badminton with her 5* queen, homebred Hooney d’Arville and hoping for another taste of glory. See how they fare in their quest at 10:10am ET / 4:10pm CEST.

The 2024 winners are back after missing out on defending their title last year. Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier turned the tables true and proper when they returned after coming last to win the whole dang thing a year later. Caroline’s also a Burghley winner (with the late, great Lenamore) and no doubt wouldn’t mind having a hattrick of 5* wins on her card one bit. They’ll be on track at 10:47am ET / 4:47pm CEST.

It’s a Rollercoaster, Baby, Just Gotta Ride It:

We all know that eventing’s a game of ups and downs, literally and figuratively. All the familiar adages apply about getting back on the horse and not winning is learning and brushing yourself off and keeping on trying, and eventers are some of the toughest stock out there. This all no doubt applies to every single rider in the field, but I’ve picked out a few who’ve had heartbreak, disappointment and nearlys but not quites right in front of our eyes on the world stage at Badminton:

No one is more aware of the big dipper-ness of eventing than Gemma Stevens, who, with Bicton pop-up 5* winner and careful show jumper Chilli Knight, last year went into the final phase in a podium position, only to leave the ring heartbroken. I have to admit, I shed a tear alongside Gemma that day. But redemption is the name of the game so often in eventing and Gemma’ll give it everything she’s got and then some to not let history repeat itself. They were clear inside the time on cross country day last year so you’ll have to be quick if you want to catch them in action at 6:55am ET / 12:55pm CSET.

2024’s runners-up on their debut at the level, Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint were unable to return last year for another crack at the Badminton podium after a disappointing run of bad luck for Lucy and the exciting gelding. But here they are, primed and ready to show the world what they’re made of once more. They’ll be speedy out there – see them at 7:39am ET / 1:39pm CEST.

Alex Hua Tian had the save of the day last year with Chicko, and although his competition didn’t end with him eating dirt, it also didn’t end by crossing the finish line. This pairing have been 4th and 6th at Pau and are tantalizingly close to a first 5* podium. See if they have better luck this year at 8:49am ET / 2:49pm CEST.

Emily King is another podium door knocker who’s had to get used to a few knocks of the not so good kind on her journey with Valmy Biats. They’ve got 11 5* starts on their card and six completions, but when things are good, they’re great. They were 5th at Badminton last year and 4th the year before and surely, surely, one day very soon they’ll get their toe on that podium step and never get down. See if that year might be this year at 9:21am ET / 3:21pm CEST.

Bubby Upton’s another one who’s felt the bitter disappointment of what might have been at Badminton. Her and her best pal Cola had looked unstoppable in 2022 but then the unthinkable happened – Bubby was excited to see the finish flags, Cola was excited to see the finish flags, everything got a bit too exciting and they picked up 20 penalties at the very last fence. They say every day’s a school day but ugh, what a rough way to learn a lesson. To be honest, though, if anyone can deal with a setback and come back more determined than ever, it’s Bubby. She proved that a million times over in 2024 when she battled through rehab for a serious spinal injury and then returned to the sport at Badminton and was dressage leader going into cross country. A frangible device spoiled the party that year, then last year there was further disappointment when two uncharacteristic rails in the final phase dropped them down the order to 8th. It will be Bubby’s time at some point, no doubt about that. Check out this determined gal at 7:15am ET / 1:15pm CEST.

American Girls:

Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl brought Day One home for the US with an elegant performance from both ladies in the dressage phase shooting them right to the top of the leaderboard with a score of 28.1, including a whopping 9 for a flying change. Afterwards Tiana couldn’t believe it – that the horse she planned to sell as a “cute Juniors horse” was in the lead at Badminton. She summed up her journey with the special mare very nicely, saying, “She proves that if you just keep chipping away and you train them well, then they really can keep growing and growing”. We’re here for it, for sure. Catch their round at 8:25am ET / 2:25pm CEST.

New Kids on the Block:

And finally, a couple of interesting notations who are newer to the 5* scene, although piloted by jockeys who know and thing or two about the big time.

Long-time top eventer Sarah Bullimore brings forward her homebred Corimiro, who catapulted himself onto the 5* scene last season as a 9-year-old when he put in the round of the day on his debut at Pau – we’re talking miles inside the time and a smooth and very accomplished round. He ended up in 5th place, but for a rail in the show jumping he’d have won the thing. Watch out for this up-and-comer at 7:19am ET / 1:19pm CEST.

Daisy Berkeley’s back for the first time in 16 years and she’s well up for it with talented newbie Diese du Figuier. Last time she took on Badminton it was 2010 and she was on the podium. This time she comes forward with a rookie horse at the level, but he’s an exciting one who’s shown all the potential and then some. Have a look for yourself at 9:45am ET / 3:45pm CEST.

See the ride times for the full field here.

The above is a mere scratch on the surface of a field that’s so deep with talent you need a submarine to access its depths. For more – so much more – and especially if you’re of the ilk to crave the context for the Badminton form threaded through this live blog, take a deep dive into EN’s awesome Form Guide, where you’ll find the stories behind the numbers as well as a full bio of background for both horses and riders. Eventing geeks, click here and enjoy!

We know that Saturday’s a day when the leaderboard often gets jumbled up like a Boggle cube, but we have a podium following the dressage phase and it looks like this:

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Top of the class between the white boards were Ros Canter and Lordship’s Graffalo who laid it all down and then some in the dressage ring to sit on a score of 23.7, 4.4 penalties ahead of the rest of the field.

2️⃣ 🇺🇲 Chasing the top spot are Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl who made light work of the test for a score of 28.1.

3️⃣ 🇧🇪 Rounding out the podium placings after the first phase are Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney d’Arville who made their mark on the competition with a score of 28.6.

You’ll find the full scoreboard right here.

I’m as ready for the best day to truly begin as you are, however we do have to wait for starter’s orders. The live blog will begin when the first horse and rider combo leave the box, so whilst we anticipate that first countdown of the day, here’s some links for your perusal:

▶️ For absolutely everything about the competition this week, including schedules, reports, how to keep up with what’s going on and allsorts more, be sure to bookmark our Ultimate Guide which is brimming with Badminton deets.

▶️ Take a look at today’s track with Tilly’s Course Preview and see each fence up close and personal, along with explanations from course designer Eric Winter, by clicking here.

▶️ Get an insight into the riders’ reactions to the course right here.

▶️ Short on time but want to catch up on what’s been going on? We’ve got the ticket – for a rapid read of the main points from the dressage phase check out our brand new Rapid Update here.

▶️ And if you’ve got the time on your hands, you’ll find EN’s classic daily reports from the first two days of competition here: [Day One AM] [Day One PM] [Day Two AM] [Day Two PM].

As you know, here at EN we are never happier than when we’re typing our fingers down to bloody stumps, wearing ourselves thin to breaking point, befriending the owls and up with the larks, all to deliver the goods to you, fellow eventing nerds. You’ll find all of our blood, sweat and tears right here.

(Un)official footage from EN HQ:

via GIPHY

And that’s not all because we’re nothing if not generous in sharing our crazy. There’s also super fun shenanigans going on over on our Instagram channel @goeventing – follow along.

With all that said, a little ‘refresher’ on the no. 1 rule of following EN’s classic live blog: refresh, refresh, refresh – and all will be revealed.

If you’re catching up with this later and are the type to like things in order, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️. If going backwards is more your jam, have at it.

Kick off’s at 6:30am ET / 12:30pm CEST.
Stay tuned – and go eventing!

MARS Badminton CCI5*: [Website] [Tickets] [Entries] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [EN’s Coverage]

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6:30am

FIRST COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Harry Meade – Et Hop Du Matz

Dressage Score: 36.5
Place: =40th

🏸 Form: Making his Badminton debut (Et Hop du Matz, not Harry, who’s got multiple Badminton completions on his card) but he’s been 3rd at Kentucky.

“Hoppy” was very hoppy on the jog strip on Wednesday, right up on his toes and ready for it. Sadly World No. 1, Harry wasn’t sporting his trademark fancy pants, going for a scholarly gray look instead. The horse wasn’t as soft as we’ve seen him in the dressage phase and was a little wobbly at times, explained by Harry trying out a new set up in his bridle which didn’t quite work. Back to what he knows and loves today – fast clears across the country. Fun fact: Harry practically lives next door to Badminton.

2026 Badminton cross country is underway to the roar of the crowd!

“Hoppy” is well up for this, he stormed out of the start box looking very keen. They’ve very neat through the Quarry at 4, the first combination on course, and kick on very quickly away from there in a great rhythm. Harry’s such a great trailblazer for the rest of the riders, he sprinkles pressure on his breakfast cereal this guy.

They come under the new Huntsman’s arch and are very quick through the combinations there at 6AB, not a single second wasted. They gallop down the hill and come into the water for the first time to jump the owl hole in the water at 8. They get the big drop over the fish into the MARS Lake at 9a and then the b element comes up nicely for them. They make the tricky turn back to the water for 10a and then kick on over the brush in the water for b. Off he gallops, over the World Horse Waterfall fence at 11 and then the sharp turn towards the Vicarage field.

The Broken Bridge at 13 doesn’t slow them down and then the difficult line through the KBIS Slalom at 14ab is made to look really simple, and it’s not.

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6:25am

While we wait for starter’s orders, enjoy a look at my kitten watching the dressage phase:

This is your 5 minute warning – it’s almost go time!

MARS Badminton CCI5*: [Website] [Tickets] [Entries] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [EN’s Coverage]

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