Equestrianism: Moon Man pleases on retrieval mission for Fox-Pitt

William Fox-Pitt and the experienced Moon Man held a substantial lead when the first day of dressage at the Guardian Collections Bramham International Horse Trials was completed yesterday.

William Fox-Pitt and the experienced Moon Man held a substantial lead when the first day of dressage at the Guardian Collections Bramham International Horse Trials was completed yesterday.

The pair have 14.4pts in hand over 10-year-old Highland Spirit, the mount of Jeanette Brakewell, who will be one of Fox- Pitt's team-mates at this year's Olympic Games.

Moon Man was entered for the Yorkshire event in the hope that he will have a happy cross-country round over tomorrow's course. This would help obliterate a disappointing run last month at Badminton, where holding ground on the steeplechase course took its toll when the horse ran out of steam. In contrast, the going for Bramham is firm.

GUARDIAN COLLECTIONS BRAMHAM INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS (near Wetherby, Yorks): Standings after first day of dressage: 1 Moon Man (W Fox-Pitt) 41.4 penalties; 2 Highland Spirit (J Brakewell) 55.8; 3 Ballycathro (C Powell, NZ) 56.6; 4 Street Party (A Morris) 57.2; 5 Aero Dynamic II (D Gatherer) 57.4; 6 Hello Again (L Fortune) 57.8.