Jock Paget, the New Zealander whose win at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials last year on Clifton Promise was annulled after the horse failed a dope test, took the overnight lead on the same horse at the end of the dressage phase of this year’s event.
Paget, the winner of Badminton last year on Clifton Promise, is 0.7 penalties ahead of William Fox-Pitt, the Great Britain rider who, on Bay My Hero, is bidding to extend his record of six successes. Sam Griffiths, of Australia, is third on Happy Times, just ahead of Andrew Nicholson, of New Zealand, who is seeking a record hat-trick of wins on the same horse, Avebury.
Paget, 30, was suspended from competition from September 2013 until June after Clifton Promise tested positive for reserpine, a tranquiliser that is on the list of banned substances. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in August. “It’s done and dusted now and I’m back with a chance to win again,” he said. With only 1.7 penalties separating the top four, the competition is wide open as it moves on to the cross-country.
• France could lose its team eventing spot for the 2016 Olympics after Qalao des Mers, ridden by Maxime Livio, tested positive for a sedative at the World Equestrian Games, the International Equestrian Federation said yesterday. France qualified for Rio de Janeiro by finishing fourth in the team eventing. A hearing date has yet to be set.