5 May 2017

Sir Mark Todd has strong start at Badminton

7:09 am on 5 May 2017

New Zealand's Sir Mark Todd and Leonidas are in fifth place after the opening day of dressage at the Badminton horse trials in England.

Sir Mark Todd competing on Leonidas II at the Rio Olympics

Sir Mark Todd competing on Leonidas II at the Rio Olympics Photo: Photosport

Four of the seven New Zealand riders competing in the event were in action on the opening day with Jesse Campbell the on Kaapachino in 21st place, Andrew Nicholson on Qwanza in 32nd and Daniel Jocelyn on Dassettt Cool Touch 35th.

Frenchman Thibaut Vallette tops the leaderboard.

Sir Mark Todd said this years course is bigger and better than ever with no room for mistakes.

"Leonidas is in really good form and it probably helped him going early today, he's 13 now i think he is growing up but he allowed me to ride him in the arena and i couldn't have asked him to go any better.

"I was really pleased with it, for me he didn't put a foot wrong the whole way through, slightly disappointed with the mark though," Todd said.