Laura Collett – Paris 2024 variety marketing campaign printed

Oliver Townend and Laura Collett each plan to take a an identical pageant path as they adopted in 2021 sooner than they gained crew gold on the Tokyo Olympics, as they target for variety for Paris 2024.

Laura and the 2022 Badminton Horse Trials winner London 52 won’t do a five-star this spring, as an alternative appearing their shape at four-star shorts. Relying at the climate, Laura hopes to visit Thoresby (28-31 March), perhaps Burnham Marketplace (12-14 April), Bicton (23-26 Would possibly) after which Luhmühlen Horse Trials (13-16 June), the place the pair gained the five-star closing 12 months.

“We have been compelled to do four-star shorts the 12 months of Tokyo and it labored out smartly,” stated Laura, who gained a bit at Aston-le-Partitions in Would possibly in 2021 and used to be fourth at Bicton in June.

Luhmühlen, in Germany, shall be a specifically just right imitation of the stipulations in Paris since the dressage and showjumping stages are on a floor, somewhat than grass.

Laura and 15-year-old London 52, who belongs to his rider, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett, gained an open intermediate (OI) on the season opener at Poplar Park on Saturday (2 March).

Oliver and Ballaghmor Magnificence gained Kentucky 3-Day Tournament in April 2021 and the arena primary once more intends to take the gray to a five-star this spring, with Badminton (8-12 Would possibly) being “plan A”.

The pair additionally gained an OI at Poplar on Saturday and Oliver stated the 17-year-old, who belongs to Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, has “by no means felt higher”.

“I don’t know whether or not it’s imaginable, however he nonetheless seems like he’s making improvements to flatwork-wise and he’s essentially the most dependable horse on this planet within the leaping stages,” Oliver stated of the three-time five-star winner. “I’m very mindful of short of to complete his profession the suitable manner, however to me he feels far off the inevitable. He used to be mad contemporary at Poplar and couldn’t take his eyes off the cross-country.”

Oliver doubled down on OI victories at Poplar with a win at the Ridgeons’ 10-year-old Cooley Rosalent, who used to be 3rd at Maryland 5 Megastar closing 12 months and who he hopes to take to Kentucky (25-28 April).

Learn extra about Poplar Park on this week’s Horse & Hound mag (dated 7 March). 

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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 global CCI2*-L degree, and has labored within the business on a most sensible tournament backyard. Pippa enjoys not anything greater than immersing herself within the recreation on the very best degree, reporting from the five-stars and global championships, together with the Olympics.