Equestrianism: Muschamp Impala has Edge over rivals

Law has had to rearrange his schedule since Coup de Coeur, his intended partner for next week's European Three-Day Event Championships at Blenheim Palace, was found to be lame on his off hindleg on Wednesday. Shear l'Eau, his winning mount in Athens, was therefore withdrawn from Burghley so that he could be re-routed to Blenheim, leaving Law with just the Olympic champion's older brother, Shear H20, to ride here.

The 15-year-old made a good start and he is currently ahead of Rodney Powell on Liquid Ice, who was a lowly 66th after this phase here last year and is another horse to have benefited from dressage training.

Law is hoping for another satisfactory performance tomorrow over Mark Phillips' cross-country course, since he would like to expel the memories of Badminton and Barbury Castle having fallen at both with Shear H20 this year. Edge, who sent poles flying with Muschamp Impala in the show jumping at Gatcombe, is not expecting a repeat performance here on Sunday.

LAND ROVER BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS (Stamford, Lincs): Standings after first day of dressage: 1 Muschamp Impala (R Edge, GB) 45.9; 2 Shear H20 (L Law, GB) 50.2; 3 Liquid Ice (R Powell, GB) 50.6; 4 Duddles (A Nicholson, NZ) 52.4; 5 Tankers Town (S Hunt, GB) 53.0; 6 The Foreman (P Dutton, Aus) 53.1.