BRITAIN'S Kristina Cook and Billy The Red are the overnight leaders ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping phase of the CIC*** competition at the St. James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials.

The former European eventing champion and three-times Olympic medallist produced a stunning test riding the 10-year-old gelding, securing a mark of 40.4.

Cook said: “I am really pleased. Billy is only a young horse and there is masses of atmosphere here today.

"He can be a buzzy, which makes him good on the cross country, but means he can show some tension in the dressage, but he was great in the arena today and I am delighted how he responded”.

Australian Bill Levett performed the best dressage scoring a remarkable 36.1 on Lassban Diamond Lift.

However, the combination withdrew from the competition following their test, leaving Cook in pole position.

William Fox-Pitt , the overnight dressage leader after day one riding Clifton Signature, now sits in second place on 40.7.

Marlborough-based New Zealander Tim Price and Lower Stanton St Quintin's British Olympian Kitty King lie in third and fourth place respectively.

Price, riding Ringwood Sky Boy, delivered a smart dressage scoring 41.3.

Vendredi Baits and King scored a dressage mark of 42.2.

Levett's fellow Aussie Christoper Burton headed the CIC** section C after dressage on Lawton Boy, with Price fourth on Cooley Showtime while the Kiwi ace was also third on Xavier Faer in CIC** section D, the category being led by Britain's Amy O'Connor and Sankro.

Section D was led by home rider Laura Schroter and Willem Van Wup, while there were novice section wins for America's Tiana Coudray and G (section F), Fox-Pitt and Georgisaurous (G), Britain's Oliver Townend and A Sportsfield Diamond (H) and Burton and Lawtown Girl (I).

The CIC*** competition continues on Saturday morning with the showjumping discipline, while the headline third leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters (ERM) series, featuring Nicholson defending his title on Badminton winner Nereo, also gets under way with dressage tomorrow morning.