Riders always know they’re living dangerously when Australia’s number one rider is breathing down their neck and so it proved in the show jumping phase of the Magic Millions British Open Championship CIC3*.

Oliver Townend, who had set himself up for another victory on Cillnabradden Evo with a superb dressage mark of 19 penalties, had two rails down and has dropped to third place, while Christopher Burton, who was second after dressage, produced a lovely clear round on Polystar l.

Chris now has a 2.1 penalty lead over Britain’s Izzy Taylor, who has never won the title but has obvious chances on CIC3* specialist Be Touchable.

Oliver is by no means out of it as he is still on the good score of 27, just 0.8 ahead of Emily King and Dargun, a horse by the great German show jumping stallion For Pleasure; Emily, whose mother, Mary, has won the national title five times, has leapt from 13th place after dressage with a clear round.

Sweden’s Ludwig Svennerstal, last year’s runner-up, is now fifth on Stinger and yesterday’s Smith & Williamson British Intermediate champion, Tom McEwen, is sixth on the beautiful grey Strike Smartly.

With the cross-country run in reverse order of merit, a thrilling contest is assured. Watch all the action live on the Live Stream from 2.30pm.