RIO Olympic gold medallist Michael Jung and Wiltshire-based silver medallist Astier Nicolas head the list of entries for the 2017 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Germany's Jung will defend the title he won in 2016, when Badminton was his third and final winning leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing on La Biosthetique Sam FBW, while Studley-based Nicolas will compete on Rio runner up Piaf De B’Neville.

Fourteen nations will be represented including six previous winners – Badgerstown-based New Zealander Mark Todd, Highworth's Australian rider Paul Tapner, compatriots Andrew Hoy and Sam Griffiths as well as Great Britain's Pippa Funnell and Oliver Townend.

Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson will be looking for his first win in his 36th completion, with Nereo and Qwanza, while Lower Stanton St Quintin's Kitty King will ride her Rio horse Ceylor LAN.

Gemma Tattersall, third last year with Arctic Soul, Tina Cook with a choice of two from three entries, Nicola Wilson, former Olympic and World champion Blyth Tait, of New Zealand, 2016 Burhgley winner Christopher Burton and Ingrid Klimke, with her Rio team silver medallist Horseware Hale Bob, who was second in 2015, are also on the list.

The draw for the Starting Order will for the first time this year be shown on Facebook Live on Tuesday, April 18, with new course designer Eric Winter’s cross country course will be unveiled at a preview day on Wednesday, April 12.

The trials start with the Mitsubishi Motors Cup for amateur riders on Wednesday, May 3, followed by two days of dressage, the cross country on Saturday, May 6 and show jumping and prizegiving on Sunday, May 7.

Tickets are available via badminton-horse.co.uk.