Phillips basking in Bramham’s glorious surroundings as Funnell takes the lead

Zara Phillips trots her own horse Black Tuxedo at the inspection for the Bramham Horse Trials

Phillips sits fourth in this year’s feature CCI three-star event on Lord Lauries after the two-day dressage stage with her second mount Black Tuxedo back in equal 40th. Pippa Funnell and Or Noir De La Loge lead the Equi-Trek-sponsored competition which hots up with today’s cross-country phase. Victory would be particularly special for Phillips, who landed her first three-day event title at Bramham when winning the under-25s CCI event on Toytown in 2002.

Eleven years have passed since, but she remembers fondly that winning feeling at Bramham.

The Queen’s granddaughter has been a regular competitor at Bramham since and future visits to Yorkshire look guaranteed with the 32-year-old full of warm words for an event that proved a launchpad for her eventing career.

“I won my first three-day here and it’s a great Horse Trial to come to,” Phillips told the Yorkshire Post.

“You are looked after very well – you have got fantastic surroundings and it’s always a really great competition. Everyone always wants to try and come here if they can.

“I won the under-25 here on Toytown and I have had a couple of placings and a couple of falls.

“Last year I only did the CIC – I hadn’t been here for a couple of years so I just came to do the CIC with High Kingdom and he was third.”

Phillips savoured a huge high in the sport in last summer’s London 2012 Olympic Games when her mount High Kingdom helped her to a team eventing silver.

Now, with the help of Bramham, she has set her sights on developing her next star with all eyes on Lord Lauries and Black Tuxedo in Yorkshire this weekend.

Bramham’s top horse and rider will be crowned champion tomorrow afternoon following the showjumping finale with Phillips and Lord Lauries well poised in fourth.

However, Phillips knows she is guaranteed to face stern opposition – including from her Olympic team-mate Nicola Wilson, the Northallerton rider for whom she has much respect.

“Obviously I have been on the team with Nicola at the Olympics and she’s a great person and a very positive person to have on the team,” said Phillips.

“She’s a fantastic competitor – always right at the top – and always one that you need to beat.”

Your guide to Bramham’s cross-country fences: Page 8.

Interview with course director Nick Pritchard: Page 9.