Title contender withdrawn from Badminton: ‘It’s just truly terrible timing’

Last year’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials runners-up, Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint, have joined the list of withdrawals from this year’s event (7-11 May).

Lucy told H&H: “Unfortunately ‘Paddy’ got a cut at home yesterday that required stitches. Thankfully he’s on the mend and will make a full recovery, it’s just truly terrible timing. We’re all gutted not to be returning to Badminton after such a memorable experience in 2024.”

Irish amateur rider Lucy made a sensational Badminton debut last year when she put in the fastest cross-country round to climb the leaderboard and finish second behind Caroline Powell on Greenacres Special Cavalier.

Lucy has not been able to compete RCA Patron Saint at a five-star since as a bout of colic put paid to their Burghley Horse Trials challenge last year.

The other recent Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals are Britain’s Rosie Bradley-Hole and Romantic and China’s Alex Hua Tian with Jilsonne Van Bareelhof. Alex will still compete on Chicko.

Tom McEwen and Tim Price have also withdrawn Brookfield Quality and Falco respectively; both horses  are instead competing at Kentucky Three-Day Event in the USA this week.

Nine pairs have now come off the waiting list; Brits Jack Pinkney (Rehy Revelation) and Selina Milnes (Gelmer) and Ireland’s Joseph Murphy (Belline Fighting Spirit) and Ian Cassells (Master Point) are the latest riders to join the start list.

There are seven pairs left on the waiting list and they will continue to be accepted to replace Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals until 2pm on Sunday, 4 May.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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