Oliver Townend has pulled of another first: He’s the first to be sitting in first and second place after dressage at Badminton.

Yesterday, Townend scored the lowest score ever recorded at Badminton –19.7– on riding Cillnabradden Evo. Today he laid down a 21.1 with his 2017 Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class. He earned three perfect 10’s on the test — one for a halt before the rein-back and two for the final halt. I don’t know about you, but I’ve only dreamed about ever getting a 10 on a test.

Tom McEwen, who performed his dressage yesterday afternoon with the Toldedo De Kerser, is third with a score of 24.7; Piggy French is in fourth with Vanir Kamira on a score of 26.  Pippa Funnel riding Billy Walk On 26.5, putting them in fifth place.