Gatcombe's Hoy hoping to make his mark at Badminton Horse Trials (From Stroud News and Journal)

Gatcombe's Hoy hoping to make his mark at Badminton Horse Trials

GATCOMBE PARK'S Andrew Hoy will be hoping to make his mark at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials that get underway this Thursday.

Hoy will be joined by Stroud-based rider Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) on Voyou Du Roc and will be competing at his first Badminton.

The four-day trials wll see last year's champion William Fox-Pitt a clear favourite to win the coveted trophy.

Riders from 15 nations will compete for the richest eventing prize in the world and the Mitsubishi Motors Trophy.

The entry list boasts four previous winners - Fox-Pitt with Tamarillo and Ballincoola, Rodney Powell, riding Liquid Ice, Mary King on the late Caroline Pratt's Call Again Cavalier, double winner Pippa Funnell with Supreme Rock and Primmore's Pride.

Olympic Gold medal winner Leslie Law will be attempting to win on Shear L'eau and Shear H20, while Jeannette Breakwell's veteran Over to You bids for his sixth completion.

Overseas riders include Australians Matt Ryan (Bonza Puzzle and Royal Dragoon) and Gatcombe-based Andrew Hoy (Mr Pracatan and Master Monarch) and Croatia's Pepo Puch, Portugal's Carlos Grave and Jaroslav Halta from the Czech Republic - all Badminton debutantes.

The event is also likely to see a new record set. New Zealander Andrew Nicholson aims to go ahead of Lorna Clarke with the most completions of the event - currently they stand on 22 each.

With Dressage on Thursday and Friday, everything can be lost on Saturday with one mistake on the demanding 12 mile cross country course.

More than 200,000 spectators are expected to flood to the Duke of Beaufort's estate to watch the cross country.

Badminton Horse Trials is one of the toughest and most exciting equestrian events - the pinnacle of the world's 3-Day-Event calendar.

Horses and riders must complete a dressage test demonstrating obedience, discipline, accuracy and elegance.

Before commencing the competition each horse is "trotted up" before an inspection panel of a vet and the Ground Jury to ensure the horse is sound and fit enough to compete (The First Inspection).

A further inspection takes place the morning after the cross-country phase prior to the Jumping test.

This ensures horses are still sound and fit enough to complete the competition (The Final Inspection).

For more information visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk.