The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is known as an important launch pad for horses and riders to go on to Olympic and world success. The 2002 winners, Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia went on to score a rare treble of the four-star events at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky, and the 2001 winners, the USA’s Kim Severson and Winsome Adante later captured World gold and Olympic silver medals whilst previous winner Pippa Funnell went on to achieve the Eventing ‘Grand Slam’ with wins at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky, writes Kate Green.

In this year’s CIC*** ‘star spotter’ class you will see horses and riders who could be in the frame for the 2012 Olympics and maybe a gold medal?

This year’s CCI*** entry is no less stellar, with representatives from 12 nations: Great Britain, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA.

All six members of the British squad at the forthcoming European Eventing Championships, where they are aiming for a record eighth successive team gold medal, have rides in either the CCI or CIC at Blenheim: reigning individual silver medallist Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Tina Cook, Lucy Wiegersma, Nicola Wilson and Oliver Townend.

There are four former Blenheim winners in the CCI field, all of whom have a winning chance: Pippa Funnell, who holds the record for four Blenheim wins, returns with the rising star Redesigned and the well-established ex-racehorse Ensign, placed here in the 2005 European Championships; Daisy Dick with Superseal; Andrew Nicholson on the talented and majestic grey Mr Cruise Control; Polly Stockton with the in-form Westwood Poser and Westwood Mariner; and local rider Rodney Powell on the part-Welsh Cob Langarth Darcy, his ride at the 2007 European Championships.

Riders for whom Blenheim victory is a notable omission on their CVs are Lucy Wiegersma, (my tip to win on the continually improving Simon Porloe); Olympic bronze medallist Tina Cook on the veteran First Flight; William Fox-Pitt, who rides the former British Novice Champion Cool Mountain and has entered the powerful jumper Seacookie, sixth at Kentucky in April; and former dual Olympic champion Mark Todd, who has emerged from an eight-year retirement to compete the former Oliver Townend ride NZB Land Vision.

Others to note are Alex Hua Tin, the first Chinese rider to compete at an Olympics, German-based Japanese rider Yoshi Oiwa, and British stars Piggy French, Sarah Cohen on the form horse Irish Jester and 20-year-old Georgie Davies.

If you want to see cross-country riding at its best, make sure you are on course to see these great horsemen and women as it is going to be a real fight to the finish with this talented bunch!

Several of the riders will be out on the cross-country course on their exciting young horses in the competitive CIC*** for eight and nine-year-olds on Sunday.

Look out for Andrew Nicholson’s pair, Parkmore Repecharge, an advanced winner this season and full-brother to the 2007 Burghley winner Parkmore Ed, and the stunning grey Avebury, winner of Saumur three-day event in May.

Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, Lucy Wiegersma, Piggy French and Tina Cook have young horses entered for this ‘star spotter’ class , plus world silver medallist Clayton Fredericks and Badminton winner Oliver Townend.

And the winner? I would have money on five-time Olympian Mary King on her exciting youngster Fernhill Urco.

Yet again, Blenheim promises the highest-quality competition with thrilling cross-country action in the spectacular grounds of historic Blenheim Palace.