Chaka delights Fox-Pitt

William Fox-Pitt rode Chaka to a confident victory in yesterday's Pedigree Chum Pre-Badminton section of the Cornbury Park Horse Trials in Oxfordshire. The sprightly 15-year-old gelding, who won the Burghley Three-Day Event last year, defeated two other seasoned campaigners, Mandy Stibbe's mount King Jester (now 17) and Vicky Latta's Chief (16).

These were confidence-boosting performances for the three riders ahead of the big test at Badminton in 10 days. The same was true for the double Olympic champion Mark Todd, fourth in the Pre-Badminton class on Bertie Blunt and first in an advanced section on Just An Ace. These will be the New Zealander's two mounts in Avon next week.

Fox-Pitt, 26, believes his partner has peaked at the right time. "Chaka being very boisterous in his other events this year, his mind has not been on the job," he said. "Today he really concentrated in the dressage and took a good hold on the cross-country."

Chaka's dressage score was the best of the day and his cross-country time was the fastest. There were those who believed the horse lacked courage when he was pulled up in the 1993 European Championships and again when he had two run-outs at Badminton last year - but he now looks ready to silence his critics for good.

Mary Thomson was happy with her two Badminton entries, Star Appeal (10th) and King Kong (16th), who had both been given unhurried rides across country. Thomson will definitely be taking King William (who was resting yesterday) to Badminton and, since she can ride only two horses there, still has to decide between Star Appeal and King Kong. Thomson's pleasure was increased by victory in an advanced section, with her 15-year-old King Boris.

CORNBURY PARK HORSE TRIALS (Oxon): Pedigree Chum Pre-Badminton section: 1 Chaka (W Fox-Pitt) 34 penalties; 2 King's Jester (M Stibbe) 38; 3 Chief (V Latta) 40. Advanced Section H: 1 Just An Ace (M Todd) 43; 2 Honey Pot Lane II (A Gray) 44; 3 Welton Romance (R Thompson) 45. Advanced Sections I: 1 King Boris (M Thomson) 45; 2 Sky Lark II (E Douglas-Miller) 48; 3 Loch Alan (W Fox-Pitt) 52. Advanced Section J: 1 Dick Brown (P Fredricson) 35; 2 May Day (R Powell) 40; 3 Get Smart (K Dixon) 43.