Oliver Townend seeking Trials glory

Shropshire event rider Oliver Townend has begun his quest for glory in the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Eventing’s premier four-star competition, which carries a record £100,000 top prize, has once again attracted a stellar field that includes Townend, from Duddleston Heath, near Ellesmere.

The line-up features four of the first five finishers at last summer’s Rio Olympics, including gold medallist, world No.1 and Badminton title holder Michael Jung.

And the 34-year-old German, who has arrived fresh from completing a hat-trick of Rolex Kentucky victories in America last weekend, is currently a class apart.

His career features two Olympic individual crowns, three successive European titles, Olympic, world and European team golds, plus 10 elite four-star victories.

Great Britain finished a disappointing fifth in Rio, but the home challenge at Badminton is likely to be a strong one, spearheaded by Gemma Tattersall and 2009 Badminton winner Townend.

Two days of dressage are followed by Saturday’s pivotal cross-country test, designed this year by south Wales-based Eric Winter, before the showjumping finale on Sunday.

Around 160,000 spectators are expected to attend this week at the Duke of Beaufort’s Gloucestershire estate.