Badminton top-10 contender tells Horse & Hound why he’s withdrawn after dressage

David Doel’s ride Galileo Nieuwmoed has been added to the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals. Nineteenth after the dressage on 33.9, David told H&H: “He just doesn’t feel 100% within himself – he feels really flat and uninterested. Normally at competitions he’s buzzing and a bit of a wild child and he just feels a bit flat and lethargic.”

David added: “We’ll get him home and give him a few days out in the paddock to try and perk him back up again. Otherwise he is sound and happy.”

Prior to this competition starting, David was one of the favourites to net a top-10 placing with the 13-year-old gelding, owned by Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas. They were sixth on their Badminton debut in 2022 and fourth in the five-star at Pau the same year. They followed this up by finishing eighth in the five-star at Kentucky last spring before finishing second at Burghley in September.

Other Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals include two of Harry Meade’s three rides this year – Cavalier Crystal, with whom he was =44th after the dressage and Red Kite, who was withdrawn before the dressage. His seasoned five-star campaigner Away Cruising remains in the competition in 25th place.

Pippa Funnell has withdrawn her first ride Majas Hope, who was  in 63rd after a disappointing dressage test. Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl, who were in 14th after the first phase, will also not go forward to the cross-country.

French rider Arthur Duffort withdrew Toronto D’Aurois prior to the dressage.

H&H will bring you the latest on these and any further withdrawals as and when information becomes available.

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