ANDREW Nicholson’s dream of landing his first ever Badminton title moved a step closer as he leads the field going into the final day.

The Marlborough-based eventer went into the cross-country stage on Nereo with the lead after picking up 37.8 penalty points in the dressage.

The 53-year-old, who has won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, sent out a clear message of intent as he was only the third rider to jump clear and within the allotted time of 11 minutes 27 seconds to remain on the same score as the previous day.

Nicholson was his normal cool self in the end of day press conference as he joked that Nereo could be the next horse for third placed Oliver Townend, who is on board Armada, a horse that Nicholson produced.

However the New Zealander cannot rest on his laurels as he has less than a fence in hand over the two behind him with 1.8 points between himself and William Fox-Pitt, on Chilly Morning, and Townend, the same top three that started the day.

"I am very pleased with both horses,” said Nicholson after he finished his round.

"Nereo is very experienced and very classy but we had to do it, he did, he didn't know the pressure that was going to be put on him but he is used to digging things out at the big occasions.

"They definitely know what they are doing here.

"Nereo has been here probably four times now and you know the moment they arrive, they know where they are and they know what they are here for.

"They are not stupid and they know a lot more than we give them credit for.

"First we make sure the horse is all good tonight, tomorrow morning is the serious bit, we have to pass the vet inspection.

"Nereo is a different league to ride and hopefully, he is fit, he is hard and I hoping he comes out tomorrow morning fresh, he has had a good preparation and he should be ready."

Unlike last year where only 35 finished the course, 62 got around this time round but only 14 made it inside the optimum time.

Highworth-based Paul Tapner and Kilronan were the first of an 18 strong Wiltshire contingen to go on day three and, as the first rider on the course, he came home 14 seconds over the optimum time with a time of 11 minutes 41 seconds, adding 5.6 penalty points to move their combined score to 53.4 points to lift him up five places to 22nd.

However he proved that the ground got better as the day went on with the sun coming out on the thousands of spectators and recorded a perfect round with Indian Mill to raise the promising young horse to 6th place.

Jock Paget, who is also based in Marlborough, was the next of the local interest to take to the course, with Joseph Murphy of Ireland being the first to go clear before him, and he ended 16 seconds over the time on Clifton Promise to pick up 6.4 penalty points which dropped him down from four places to 10th.

Again though he went better with his second ride of the day as Clifton Lush went round with no time penalties to keep him in fifth place.

Jonelle Price, of Mildenhall, was the first of the Wiltshire-based riders to come in the allotted time as she finished strongly on Classic Moet, before ending her day on The Deputy with 1.2 time faults.

Badgerstown rider Sir Mark Todd looked good on Leonidas II as he picked up just 1.2 penalty points early on but Nicholson just behind him ensured he went into the show jumping stage in the lead as he stormed home on Nereo.

Tim Price was another late rider to go clear on Ringwood Sky Boy as he climbed up the leader board to finish 12th going into the final day, while Lambourn-based Laura Collett went the opposite way as she finished with 60.6 penalty points on Grand Manoeuvre.

Todd was the last rider to take to the course and despite finishing on Oloa he picked up 70.7 penalties, which actually saw him rise eight places to 41.