Kentucky 3-Day Tournament entries: 5 robust British entries

Two former Kentucky runners-up are some of the 5 British Defender Kentucky 3-Day Tournament entries for this 12 months’s tournament (25-28 April).

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, owned via Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, had been 2d at Kentucky remaining 12 months and go back this 12 months with a watch on an Olympic position. The pair gained their fresh prep run within the CCI4*-S at Kronenberg within the Netherlands.

Tom informed H&H: “As same old with the British workforce there are numerous us running against the Olympics. We’ve all were given our personal ideas on the place we lie, however truly it’s ranging from scratch this 12 months and you’ve got to end up your price. Oliver Townend did that via profitable Kentucky earlier than Tokyo with Ballaghmor Elegance, so I had that during thoughts when making the verdict the place to head. JL Dublin may be very are compatible and smartly. I assumed Kentucky would swimsuit him once more – we simply want to pop out and end up how excellent he’s.”

Global champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir additionally head again to Kentucky hoping to catch the selectors’ eye. The chestnut, who belongs to Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund, had been 2d at Kentucky in 2022 and led the dressage remaining 12 months earlier than 20 leaping consequences throughout nation put paid to a win.

Ros Canter and her personal and Alex Moody’s Izilot DHI have an access for Kentucky in addition to Badminton Horse Trials, so choices stay open this spring. Remaining 12 months’s Badminton winner Lordships Graffalo could be Ros’s first selection for Paris, however the thrilling Pau Horse Trials winner “Isaac” is usually a helpful back-up horse. This shall be Ros’s Kentucky debut if she heads there.

Oliver Townend has gained Kentucky 3 times and returns this 12 months with Cooley Rosalent, who proved she likes the USA with 3rd at Maryland 5 Megastar remaining 12 months. Oliver additionally has Cooley Rosalent amongst his Badminton entries and each she and fellow Badminton entrant Ballaghmor Elegance shall be at the selectors’ radar for Paris.

Kirsty Chabert and Vintage VI, owned via Carol Somers, Kate Ward and Kirsty’s father John Johnston, finished Kentucky remaining 12 months, but in addition had 20 leaping consequences throughout nation, so they are going to intention to make stronger on that this time. Kirsty would now not be slightly some of the entrance runners of riders for British Olympic variety however will have to now not be dominated out and has been a championship reserve up to now.

One Irish pair amongst Kentucky 3-Day Tournament entries

Others crossing the Atlantic for a tilt at Kentucky come with Eire’s Susie Berry with Artful Trick (owned via her rider, Anne Marling and Sue Wilkinson) and 2022 Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L winners and Ecu workforce silver medallists Marlin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s Carlitos Quidditch Ok, from Germany.

Unsurprisingly, remaining 12 months’s winners, Tamie Smith and Mai Baum aren’t some of the Kentucky 3-Day Tournament entries for the five-star – Mai Baum is eighteen and Tamie will need to save him for Paris 2024 up to imaginable. He’s amongst her 3 entries within the accompanying CCI4*-S. Tamie is entered at the five-star debutant Elliot V.

America problem is headed up via the likes of Phillip Dutton, who has 3 rides, Doug Payne, whose two entrants come with earlier Kentucky podium finisher Quantum Soar, and Liz Halliday with the emerging big name Cooley Nutcracker, who’s owned via a syndicate. Many shall be excited to peer Arial Grald go back with Annie Eldridge’s constant performer Leamore Grasp Plan, who sat out remaining 12 months.

4 US combos are entered at each Badminton and Kentucky – Boyd Martin’s pair of stars On Cue and Tsetserleg TSF, Meghan O’Donoghue with Palm Crescent and Northamptonshire-based Grace Taylor along with her mom Ann’s Recreation Changer. It is going to be Grace’s debut at Kentucky or Badminton, despite the fact that she has finished the cross-country at Burghley Horse Trials with this horse.

Monica Spencer, the New Zealand rider who’s now founded in the USA, can also be one to look at along with her international workforce bronze medallist Artist.

There are 3 British entries within the CCI4*-S – Leslie Legislation, the 2004 Olympic champion who has lengthy lived in the USA, is within the line-up on Jackie and Steve Brown’s Woman Chatterley, whilst Lucienne Bellissimo is entered on Dyri and Tremanton, who run within the identify of her equestrian community corporate Horse Scout Eventing, LLC. Lucienne (née Elms) is married to Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Recreation Productions, the corporate at the back of a lot of massive scale US equestrian venues and occasions, together with the Iciness Equestrian Pageant in Florida.

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H&H mag editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand revel in of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and world CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the business on a most sensible tournament backyard. Pippa enjoys not anything greater than immersing herself within the game on the very best stage, reporting from the five-stars and world championships, together with the Olympics.