‘It’s a decent course’: William Fox-Pitt on Rio’s cross-country track

The eventing competition moves to the cross-country phase on Monday 8 August, when riders will tackle Pierre Michelet’s course.

William Fox-Pitt, who went into the lead on Saturday and stayed there after the conclusion of the dressage phase, described it as “a decent course, the biggest Olympic course I’ve walked.”

He added that the track was ‘a true Michelet course’. “Four corners and four skinnies, always committing you so that if you are not right on line then you will have a run-out, always encouraging you to attack it. The distances are all on the long side, it’s the most difficult Olympic Games I’ve seen but that’s how it should be. It will be a pretty good feeling if I go clear!” he added.

He is confident in Chilli Morning’s ability, saying: “There are no worrying fences out there for him, fence six (brush corners) is ugly, but the one I really don’t like is the corner to the gate (fences 23/23, The Malmesbury Cottage), there are just four strides to do it in, and with Chilli that’s a big question because he’s big and strong.”