REIGNING champions Andrew Nicholson and Nereo and last year's runner up and double Olympic champion Michael Jung and La Biosthetique – Sam FBW will headline the challengers at the 2018 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May.

Marlborough-based Nicholson, who won Badminton at the 36th attempt last year, will again battle with Germany's Jung, who won the event in 2016 and has been second twice.

Great Britain’s leading challenger is likely to be Oliver Townend, another previous winner, with his Burghley champion, Ballaghmor Class, Townend also having three other horses to choose from.

Burghley runner up Piggy French also returns, while three of the four members of the team that won the European gold medal in 2017 - Ros Canter, Gemma Tattersall and Tina Cook - will all be among the starters.

There are eight previous winners in the field – with both Britain's Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt on the wait list. Highworth-based Australian Paul Tapner and compatriot Sam Griffiths, as is Badgerstown-based New Zealander and former Olympic champion Sir Mark Todd, a four-time Badminton winner who was fourth last year.

Olympic bronze medallist Philip Dutton will represent the USA while, while Marlborough-based Lissa Green, the daughter of six-time Badminton champion Lucinda and now riding for her father David’s native Australia, also competes.

Wiltshire riders, including Hullavington's Alicia Hawker, Marlborough-based Flora Harris, West Littleton's Harry Meade, Foxham's Georgie Spence, Mildenhall-based New Zealanders Tim and Jonelle Price are also among the entries.

Gates open at Badminton on Wednesday, May 3, when the amateurs’ Mitsubishi Motors Cup takes place, with the international event running from the Thursday to Sunday.

Advance tickets are still available via badminton-horse.co.uk.

Nicholson and Tim Price are also among the entries at this weekend's Land Rover Gatcombe Park Novice and Intermediate Horse Trials in Gloucestershire.

Riders from 15 nations will take part in the event on Friday and Saturday, with Meade, Gatcombe-based Tom McEwen and the likes of Nick Gauntlett and Julie Tew also attending.

See gatcombehorsetrials.co.uk for more information.