FORMER winners William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend have put themselves in prime position to potentially end Britain's barren run at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

While New Zealander Andrew Nicholson preserved his opening day lead on a score of 37.8 penalties aboard Nereo, Friday's dressage action ended with Fox-Pitt and Townend breathing down his neck.

Fox-Pitt has won a remarkable 13 four-star titles - but only one Badminton in 2004 - while Yorkshireman Townend was the last British champion six years ago.

Since then, it has been an uninterrupted tale of southern hemisphere dominance, but that could change in this weekend's cross-country and showjumping phases.

Fox-Pitt lies second overnight with his world and European individual bronze medallist Chilli Morning on a score of 39.0, while Townend and Armada - a horse previously ridden by Nicholson - are just 0.6 penalties further back in third.

A meagre 5.1 penalties separate the top 10, and only 6.4 penalties divide Germany's Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob in fourth from Frenchman Pascal Leroy, who lies 20th.

Had it not been for a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes during his dressage test, Fox-Pitt would probably have gone ahead, but organisers could scarcely have hoped for a more stellar top three heading into cross-country on Saturday.

"It was frustrating to have a couple of mistakes in the changes - you can't afford to do that here," Fox-Pitt said.

"He is a horse that is very solid in his changes, so it was just one of those things. What can we say? They are not machines.

"It's his first time here. He is normally very relaxed - maybe after the World Equestrian Games (last season) he was feeling a little bit more nervous than normal - but he has been half asleep all week. It was a bad time for him to wake up, I would say.

"It was annoying he chose the arena to do his first break this week, but everyone is very close (on the leaderboard), and the battle is on."

Townend, meanwhile, steered Armada to within 0.1 of equalling its four-star personal best for dressage, as the 16-year-old launched his 16th top-flight career event in style.

"Everyone knows Armada and what he can do, and to get it right for once is great," said Townend, who was Badminton runner-up last year behind Australian Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh.

"I think that is the first time he has gone in at Badminton and behaved.

"It is the first time he has gone into Badminton and felt like he was there to do his job in the dressage. Before, it has been like sitting on eggshells."