'Superstar' horse eyes first Bton Horse Trials win

The Olympic gold medallist pairing of Ballaghmor Class and Oliver Townend, could become the outright most successful British combination in eventing history at Bton this weekend.

The pair have already enjoyed a distinguished career, claiming four five-star titles and leading Team GB to an historic Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

The 18-year-old gelding has not been placed outside of the top five on his past four visits to Bton, finishing runner-up twice.

And you can watch highlights of the 2025 Bton Horse Trials on Sunday, 11 May (BBC Two and iPlayer from 13:45 BST).

Townend, who has had the horse he calls "Thomas" in his yard since a four-year-old, told BBC Sport: "There's no other way to describe Ballaghmor Class apart from being a part of the family.

"He's very shy to start with but I think he's become quite aware that he's a superstar now.

"When the wagon goes down the road to a competition and he's not in it, he's banging the stable door down. Thomas is what you'd call a professional, a proper competition horse."

The "quirky" horse first gained attention in winning the Burghley Horse Trials on his debut at the level in 2017. He has since achieved success at Kentucky, Burghley again and Maryland last autumn.

Townend, 42, has won nine five-star level events, including Bton in 2009 on Flint Curtis.

"For me to try to show the world how good he is, is my main job but, so far so good. By the time he finishes everybody will realise quite what a special horse we've seen," he added.

Townend is also riding Ballaghmor Class' stablemate Cooley Rosalent in a bid to claim his second Bton title and 10th five-star win.

Paris Olympic champions Laura Collett, Ros Canter and Tom McEwen are amongst the challengers, alongside the reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham.