GATCOMBE girl and World Champion eventer Zara Phillips’ dreams of following in her father’s footsteps with a Badminton win came to a premature end on Saturday as the royal rider failed to get either of her rides round the infamous cross-country course.

Zara’s first ride, Ardfield Magic Star, had not performed well in the dressage but her top horse, Toytown, started the day in ninth place despite the windy conditions in the dressage test which made life difficult for many of the competitors.

Saturday dawned bright for the cross-country, but early rider Zara was forced to retire a lame Ardfield Magic Star, so all hopes lay with Toytown.

Despite being one of the hot favourites, the pair came to grief on at the fourth element of the tricky sunken road combination, which left 16-year-old Toytown straddled across the 15th fence but hopefully uninjured.

“These things happen — it just wasn’t my day today,” said Zara.

There was, however, plenty of excitement in the show jumping ring for eventing fans who went on to watch British riders William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend battle it out for the prestigious £60, 000 first prize.

It was Townend who ultimately went on to lift the trophy, holding on to his overnight lead from the cross country on Flint Curtis, despite incurring four faults over the poles, with Fox-Pitt coming in second on Idalgo and Macchiato on fifth.

“Flint Curtis is a very special horse and we have got a very special partnership,” said Townend. “ I know him inside out and I knew that if I did the right things he would pull it off.”

In third place was Happy Times ridden by Australian Sam Griffiths.

Completing his fourth Badminton was Wiltshire-based Harry Meade, who eventually finished tenth on Midnight.

Harry also received the Cotswold Life Trophy for the best local rider, which he has won for the past four years, and an Armada Plate, which go to riders who have completed Badminton five times.