Shropshire-based Oliver Towened puts Ashdale Cruise Master through his paces during the horse inspections on day one of the Badminton Horse Trials

Shropshire Olympic hopeful Oliver Townend will go for glory at this weekend’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials with a horse he describes as “the real deal”.

Townend, who confirmed a place among the world eventing elite by winning Badminton and Burghley in 2009, has found peak form after being unable to defend his title last year.

The 28-year-old who is based at DuddlestonHeath in north Shropshire was recovering from multiple fractures sustained when he fell from Ashdale Cruise Master while attempting to complete the £230,000 Rolex Grand Slam in Kentucky 12 months ago.

But both horse and rider are now back in harness, ready to contest British eventing’s most prestigious prize among a stellar cast that features seven former Badminton winners and begins near Bath today.

“I can’t wait to get back to Badminton,” Townend said. “I’ve not competed there since I won in 2009, so I have got good memories.

“Ashdale, in my mind, has always been a very good horse. He always looked like he had the potential to be a seriously top-class horse, but nobody knew how good he was.

“His form is getting better and better. He’s a lot stronger this year and he is looking as good as he has ever done.

“He has always looked a talent. I think he is the real deal. He is still relatively inexperienced but I am really looking forward to it.

“He won his first international class (the Grantham Cup) at Belton recently, so fingers crossed.”

Townend, who enters the dressage arena on Saturday afternoon in pursuit of a £60,000 top prize, knows there are major title challengers dotted throughout an 80-strong field.

Townend’s fellow British star William Fox-Pitt teams up with Cool Mountain, the horse on which he won world team gold and individual silver last October, just six months after landing the Lexington four-star event.

Twice Badminton champion Mary King arrives with experienced challengers Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce, reigning European champion and double Olympic bronze medalist Tina Cook returns aboard Miners Frolic, while three-time Badminton winner Pippa Funnell has high hopes on Redesigned.