MARLBOROUGH-based rider Jesse Campbell assesses the Olympic eventing medal chances of his native New Zealand in Rio.

Eventing gets under way on Saturday in Rio and New Zealand have a team that have a shout at a first gold medal for their country.

We were all heartbroken at the start of the season when we heard the news that Tim Price’s Wesko would miss the Games through injury.

I think if we had him fit then we would be nearly nailed on to win gold, but now it is fairly wide open.

German rider Michael Jung is not taking his best horse, Fischer Takinou, due to an infection, although his second horse, La Biosthetique Sam FBW, who won Badminton earlier this year is going for back-to-back individual Olympic gold.

However, the New Zealand is the strongest team they could pick. It is certainly the team I picked when I was thinking about it, and I think they can really do a good job.

Eventing at the Olympics is a hard one for people to understand because you do compete as individuals, it is a bit like the Davis Cup in tennis, but it is important that you have a good team synergy.

With that good spirit you can achieve so much more and that is something New Zealand have always prided themselves on. In the last year and a bit we have had a really good group which should bode well.

The experience of Sir Mark Todd is amazing and you know those real pressure situations bring the best out of him.

Germany and France are their main competition, but then you have got a whole lot of teams who could surprise and Team GB who are naturally strong.

With Australia as well, I think there will five really gunning for those podium spots – I don’t think there will be any surprises.

It is a special event in the calendar and you do target it.

I am already putting in a plan for the next four years to ensure that I am in consideration for Tokyo (2020), but for now I will be keeping an eye on what is happening while I am at Gatcombe.