*warning this blog requires a substantial dose of optimism.

I won’t lie, this little gem has been on and off the notepad for some time, for two notable reasons.

Firstly the huge elephant that sits alongside us all now - COVID: will Tokyo be able happen, won’t it? Quite frankly who knows?! Who’d have thought this time last year that we’d all be enjoying our third lockdown in the forthcoming twelve months?

And secondly, the depth of talent available, I mean the long list keeps getting, well, longer not shorter!

But I have decided to inhale a good dose of optimism and forge onwards with my Tokyo dream (well version 2.0 as I had this drafted about 12 months ago till Mr Covid spoilt my blog party)…

Well as I am, as are we all, in the midst of lockdown 3.0, there’s time to fill so lets take a look out east…

Tokyo; located on the west coast of Japan, was once known as the small fishing village of Edo, has played host to the Olympic Games once already, when they welcomed the world in 1964. The most populated metropolitan area in the world, with a staggering 37.4million folks all settled within the area.

Cross Country will take place in the reclaimed Sea Forest Park, a mere 5998 miles from the splendour of Badminton House, with the remaining phases and all other Equestrian events held in the Equestrian Park, which is actually a legacy venue from the 1964 games.

Enough history, let’s get down to the tricky business at hand - quite frankly who’d be a selector!

You wouldn’t want to substitute yourself into the Team GBR selection committee; for they have many endless debates, head scratching and much deliberation ahead of them. (Although I’d love to be a fly on the wall for all those in depth discussions)

We are in a golden age of Eventing talent, both globally and here in Blighty; which gives us a tricky but fortuitous problem. We have a very long long-list of talent, yet only 3 team places are available and a lucky individual to take on board the plane to Tokyo.

With Team France having already come flying out of the blocks recently, announcing their long list, along with Team Ireland this week, it’s got me looking east and thinking about the question that seems to have been on every Team GBR supporter’s lips since well forever..

Who would you have on your team of 3 for Tokyo?

Lets take a look at the likely contenders.… (in the interest of some sort of fairness, they are in no particular order)

Ros Canter & Allstar B

For me an obvious selection - 2018 World Champions. Yes the supremo Allstar B may be rising 16, there are few miles on the clock for a horse that has achieved so much. Ross and Alby came out this season and strolled to a 4* short victory at Burgham in July like the seasoned pros they are. It took a few checks of the stats to believe this was both the rider and horses first 4*S victory, given the ease and speed at which they excelerated around the course.

I love a list, so if I was a selector I’d have a tick list to compare my selections.

This combination tick all the boxes for me - having travelled to Tryon, we know Alby handles the journey needed (thanks to supergroup Sarah Charnley), recent form, winning form, ability to handle the pressure and medal-winning ability are all there.

Tom McEwen & Toledo de Kerser

Another stellar combination that tick the form, travel and ability boxes for me. The five-star winning combination were part of the Tryon gold medal team and have recent form in the bag too, whilst again keeping the mileage low.

Laura Collett & London 52

2020 may have been less than ideal for most, but it was the coming-of-age year for dear Dan. Having won the four star long at Boekolo back in October 2019, it gave us hope that his unseating at the Europeans was just a wobble. Indeed Laura and Dan came out of lockdown 1.0 all guns blazing. Driving the 900 miles to Pau back in October, I said a silent prayer for Laura and London to deliver a Brit victory that they both thoroughly deserved. What a fairytale Pau was, London definitely completed his development into five star championship horse and you’d have to say has at least one hoof on the plane to Tokyo with that pillar to post win.

Again, another to tick the four star short and long form, and now they’ve added a 5-star to that too.

Kitty King & Vendredi Biats

Another supremely talented duo, that have both four star short and long form in the book, along with championship experience, being the highest placed British combination at the 2019 Europeans in Luhmuhlen.

The stunning Salle Francais grey gelding, who won Bramham’s four star long class in 2019, has talent aplenty for and was heading to Pau back in October, but for a less than ideal prep run at Little Downham. I can’t wait to see them come out this Spring and claim a spot of the Team, for it is very well deserved.

Oliver Townend & Cooley Master Class

Dual five star winner Cooley Master Class needs little introduction, the son of Ramiro B is another to have four & five star winning form and travel experience all in the bag. You’d think a return to Kentucky Horse Park and a crack at a historic third Kentucky victory is first up on the agenda for 2021 and should that be achieved, he’d be another that you’d struggle not to include in the team.

Piggy March & Brookfield Inocent

Prior to Pau, I would be the first to admit that the son of Inocent would have been my dark horse selection. But when a podium finish was delivered, there was no doubt that Brookfield Inocent & Piggy are definitely now firm contenders for a place on board the flight to Tokyo. Four star short form, combined with victory at Blenheim in the long format four star class back in 2019 would mean they definitely tick the form and ability boxes.

Alex Bragg & Zagreb

Alex has been reserve for two Europeans and is ranked 7th in the FEI World Rankings and with his long-term partner in crime Zagreb, they have joined an elite club of racking up 5 top 5 five star finishes. At 17 years young, time probers isn’t on his side, but the form is incredibly strong and I fully expect this combination to make the long-list.

Izzy Taylor & Monkeying Around

The joker finally turned pro last year, with victory in the only four star long class of the year at Burnham Market, along with a third place at Burgham in the four star short. Mark Satori and Izzy’s gelding may yet prove to be a dark horse in the selection race.

Mollie Summerland & Charly van ter Heiden

There is no doubting the solid form that this young rider and her beloved Charly have posted in recent seasons. Mollie and Charly made their five star debut at Pau back in October and delivered a very polished performance to achieve a top ten finish. Top ten finishes at both four star short and long formats, means they have a very consistent form book that surely the selectors can’t ignore!

Yasmin Ingham & Banzai du Loir

The striking Banzai du Loir may only be a ten year old, but the partnership put in some eye-catching performances last year, taking the notable 8&9 year old four star class at Burnham Market. Yasmin also has talented Sandman 7 and Nightline in her stable and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to find this talented young rider on the long list with her horses.

Pippa Funnell & Majas Hope/MGH Grafton Street

Pippa Funnell & MGH Grafton Street, Burghley winners 2019

The legend that is Pippa Funnell not only delivered a stellar pathfinding role for Team GBR at the Europeans following a last-minute call up, she also then delivered an emotional victory at Burghley less than a week later. Both Majas Hope and MGH Grafton Street have the talent and experience to deliver a championship team performance.

Pippa Funnell & Majas Hope, FEI European Championships, August 2019

Nicola Wilson & Bulana

Nicola’s opinionated but Uber-talented mare Bulana has past championship form, securing a bronze medal at the 2017 European Championships in Stzregom. Following some time off that prevented her from going to Tryon, Bulana has returned and delivered some strong performances last year including Top Ten finishes at Burgham and Burnham Market before finishing 11th at Pau in the only five star of the year.

William Fox-Pitt & Little Fire

Reportedly the young horse that has re-ignited the fire, Little Fire delivered a notable performance at Badminton 2019, finishing in the top ten. Another to compete in the four star at Burnham, the gelding has relatively low milage on the clock in recent seasons, but it likely being saved for another big performance and one we may well see at Badminton this Spring (fingers crossed that we all make it to Badminton this Spring!)

William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire, Burgham International Horse Trials, August 2020

Tina Cook & Billy the Red

Theres no doubt Tina has been a stalwart of the British Team for as long as I can remember and I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes the long list. Elizabeth Murdoch’s opinionated chestnut gelding does have his quirks - a completely unexpected and unexplained run out on the cross country course at the Europeans followed a surprise final fence fall at Hartpury that year also. Billy the Red has talent in spades but the Balou du Rouet sired fourteen year old has his quirks too. I hope that this partnership come out in the Spring and deliver a solid performance to catch the selector’s eye.

Sarah Bullimore & Reve du Rouet

I’m sure I would be the only person to believe that Reve du Rouet is the most talented horse never to have made it onto a championship team. Despite his 17 years of age and with his quirks, he deserves his place on the long list. Sarah does have her other Pau participant Conpierre and talented homebred Corouet that are likely to feature on the long list too.

Imogen Murray & Ivar Gooden

The five star cross country machine that is Sir Charles would be a strong addition to the team and another that deserves his place on the long list.

Ben Hobday & Shadow Man II

The current British Open Champions have been over in Portugal quietly collecting some good results in the warm up for hopefully an entry for Badminton Horse Trials this Spring. Oh so super Fidgy deserves his place on the long list.

And whilst Team GBR are at the forefront of our thoughts, we mustn’t forget that with world class Eventing venues aplenty here in dear Blighty, we are home to many more potential Tokyo contenders than just Team GBR.

Padraig McCarthy, Austin O’Connor and the super talented young Susie Berry have all made Team Ireland’s long list published this week.

The majority of New Zealand’s High Performance Squad and High Performance Futures Squad are based here and you’d be very surprised if Jonelle & Tim Price and Jesse Campbell didn’t feature in their squad.

Team Australia also enjoy plenty of Eventing over here in the UK and again fellow Eventers Chris Burton, Andrew Hoy, Kevin McNab, Sammi Birch & Isabel English are all likely to fear on their long lists.

Original deadlines for Tokyo last year had the IOC deadline of Team long-lists to be submitted by April 10th, with final team picks by 6th July. With timing of the delayed Games the same, albeit pushed back a year, it’s likely that deadlines will be similar so we can expect to have the long-posed question answered in the coming weeks.

Fingers crossed that all athletes, equine and human, wrap themselves up in proverbial cotton wool and bubble wrap between now and the end of July. Boris and co push ahead with the vaccine that is apparently going to save us all and that we escape the dreaded tiers long enough so we get all the required prep runs and training in. Oh and the Japanese Prime Minister keeps his promise that the games will go ahead, albeit increasingly likely behind closed doors.

Now time for a cuppa and to get my 4 picks nailed…. let me know your selections.

Stay safe everyone and fingers crossed we all see some Eventing by Easter!

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Looking East 2.0, with a dose of optimism