Ros Canter, the defending Badminton champion, was at the top of the leaderboard at lunchtime today (Friday) with a mark of 25.3 on Izilot DHI. It is a first visit here for her own and Alex Moody’s 11-year-old, a winner of Blenheim and Pau last year.

The impressive bay gelding had a good look at a camera, but came back into full concentration for his rider. ‘That’s him – we all know he is a quality horse, but he can spook and knowing that he will come back now to me is great,’ said a delighted Ros. ‘I am now learning to ride him and am learning not to react and to drop the reins.’

The European champion is riding the form horse and is favourite to win a second Badminton title, but she said she was keeping ‘an open mind’ about tomorrow’s cross-country.

‘I know that I am the favourite on statistics, but I also know that my horse is unproven on stamina and endurance on a course like this. I will set off meaning business, but the distance and the going will be a new experience for him.’

Bubby Upton (Cola), the first-day leader, is now second and New Zealander Tim Price has slotted into third on Vitali with a mark of 27.7.

‘We all know he is very capable so on one hand I’m a bit disappointed, but you never really know what is going to happen in an arena like that,’ said Tim. ‘I had a different warm up routine to Burghley, where he really mucked about resulting in me riding very forward in the test. Here, he seemed focussed and happy, but then missed a change – which he never misses. I’m happy enough.’

Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg TSF) is in fourth place ahead of Emily King, who scored 29.2 on Valmy Biats.

Two horses have been withdrawn: Harry Meade’s Cavalier Crystal and French rider Arthur Duffort’s Torono d’Aurois.

The final section of dressage starts again at 2.15pm.