Funnell fronts up at Bramham as Stark's course proves testing

The French rider, Jean-Lou Bigot, who had been in the lead with Lotus de Gobaude, is now tying for second place with William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk. Both had a score of 46.4.

Funnell, who won at Bramham in 1992 and 2002, rode Redesigned in the senior CCI three star competition, finishing on a score of 42.3 penalties. "This is the best test he's done," said Funnell, who added she was grateful for the help she had had with the horse, including advice from the Yorkshire Riding Centre's Chris Bartle.

The course, which has been designed by the former Olympic rider Ian Stark, will be one that rewards bold riding, said Funnell.

"You can tell he's a very experienced rider by the way he's built the course," she added. "There are some big ones out there and the water is a strong fence at the beginning, very early on." Funnell will also ride Blue Horizon today.

Veteran New Zealand rider Mark Todd retained his lead after the second day of dressage in the CIC three star event which is also being run at Bramham this year.

He finished on a score of 41.3 penalties in the dressage with NZB Regent Lad which gives them a head start in the cross country today.

Todd has only been riding this horse since April and was delighted with his performance. "He's a cute little horse, he moves well and he jumps well," said Todd. "This is his first CIC, we are a new partnership and looking to the future, so I won't be going all out to do it on the cross country."

British riders Laura Collett with Rayef and Emily Baldwin (Drivetime) remain in second and third places respectively.

In the Bishop Burton College Under-25 Championship Laura Collett leads the way with Ginger May Killinghurst. Northallerton's Rachael Lupton, riding The Chenko Artist, is in third place. Harriet Morris-Baumber, from Everingham, York, finished 12th.

Great Britain's showjumpers maintained their 100 per cent record of podium finishes in the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series after delivering another battling performance yesterday.

While the French team produced a masterclass in St Gallen, Switzerland, Britain were third behind the German quartet.

John Whitaker (Peppermill) and Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) both jumped clear in the second round. But it was a frustrating afternoon for Michael Whitaker, whose horse GIG Amai lost a shoe in accumulating 17 first round faults before being withdrawn from round two.