BADMINTON Horse Trials will show off its new-look course to thousands of spectators and competitors this weekand and, as always, Wiltshire is well represented with a bumper crop of entries

William Fox-Pitt’s recent Rolex Kentucky win has made him the bookies’ favourite, but Marlborough’s Andrew Nicholson is a close second.

Nicholson stands a great chance with his two entries, Nereo and Quimbo, both of whom have winning form at four-star and could easily repeat that here. Nereo is the most experienced of the pair, with three Badminton completions to date, coupled with a consistent and clean cross-country record so he would be this reporter’s preference.

Quimbo has in the past come home with some penatlies across country and is yet to encounter Badminton, but is equally capable on his day and can go sub-40 in the dressage phase. This could well be the year that breaks Nicholson’s Badminton duck after 33 prior completions.

Badgerstown’s Sir Mark Todd will be the oldest rider at 58 but comes to the party in flying form. Todd targets his fifth Badminton title aboard two first-timers and is buoyant about his chances, saying: “My two rides are pretty evenly matched and both more than capable of being near the top. NZB Campino is back from a lay off and is feeling stronger and very well.”

Campino only made one event last year due to injury but in 2012 earned team bronze and individual 12th at the London Olympics. Leonidas II steps up to four-star here for the first time but showed his class in winning the CIC three-star at Belton last month.

Todd thinks a lot of the horse, saying: “He is more than ready for the challenge and is capable of performing well in all three phases. He has plenty of three star mileage and I expect him to cope pretty well.” Badgerstown also fields entries from Swedish team member Ludwig Svennerstal, Marcio Carvalho Jorge, Tom McEwen and Megan Heath.

Svennerstal could well be looking at a top-10 finish; he and King Bob produced strong four-star results last year at Luhmuhlen and Burghley, while Alexander IV will be looking to make amends after injury cut his last visit to Badminton short.

McEwen returns with Dry Old Party, who made light work of the cross-country on their debut last year, finishing a very respectable 19th. They would need to show an improvement in their dressage to be right up there but a 41 at Pau shows they are very capable.

Of newcomer Diesel, McEwen said: “He’s definitely ready to move up to four-star. He’s quite a hot horse so he might find the atmosphere a bit exciting, but he should cope fine with the dimensions of the fences and the dressage movements, so everything is in place.”

If the horse can keep his cool, don’t be at all surprised to see them competitive.

The 2010 winner, Highworth’s Paul Tapner, hopes to regain the title-riding grey steed Kilronan. They’ve been knocking on the door at four-star but a few unlucky faults have been costly previously. If all three phases come together they could absolutely be competitive and it would be wise to expect an improvement on last year’s 20th place, starting in the dressage arena. At 40-1 he represents exceptional value.

It would be very fitting to see Lucinda Fredericks win the title, having sadly lost her retired former Badminton-winning ride Headley Britannia this year. She will partner her Olympic partner Flying Finish. On their day they could go very well, and always give a good performance on the flat. Mildenhall’s Kiwi husband and wife team Jonelle and Tim Price have three entries between them. Any of these could go well – Jonelle’s The Deputy came fifth at Burghley last season but can have a few poles down and the same could be said of Tim’s Ringwood Sky Boy. Wesko has some really nice three-star form and has shown great improvement – he could be one to watch.

Maizey Manor’s Canadian resident Rebecca Howard finished 12th here last year on Riddle Master. On this season’s form you wouldn’t expect them to trouble the leaders, but their consistency has earned them some great results and a top-10 finish would be very doable.

Nations Cup squad rider Harry Meade has a very good cross-country horse in Wild Lone and has seen an improvement in his dressage marks, which would need to be competitive. The Badminton local brings experience and is pragmatic about his hopes, saying: “He’s been a very consistent four star horse and his dressage is improving all the time, so I’m feeling positive. This will be my ninth Badminton, and I know well what we’re capable of in each phase so I’m confident but equally realistic.”

Unfortunately, Foxham’s Georgie Spence has had to withdraw her sole entry Wii Limbo last week owing to a strangles scare at her yard. Despite the horse being cleared to compete by vets, at such a late stage Spence felt the timing and circumstances were wrong.

Outside of Wiltshire, the competition and standard of entries remains fierce.

William Fox-Pitt is a worthy favourite. The quirky Chilli Morning boasts a 33.3 dressage at four-star (in Kentucky last year), but was subsequently retired after a stop cross-country. He has the whole package and could well go all the way. Cool Mountain is very consistent, with impressive wins at four-star, and on his best form could equally take a lot of catching.

Oliver Townend means business this season and currently tops the British Eventing rankings by a comfortable margin. He has serious four-star form and previously won Badminton in 2009. He partners Nicholson’s former ride Armada, with whom he finished 34th last year. Since switching to team Townend the horse has produced some low 40s dressage tests, which would put him in a very good position, if he can keep the poles up showjumping.

Izzy Taylor, Team GB Nations Cup regular, is a little under the radar but perhaps only owing to not having that big four-star win under her belt. Both Mary King and Pippa Funnell know what it takes to win this big event but arguably haven’t had the big wins of late that fans are used to seeing from them.

Stylish combination Vittoria Panizzon and jumping machine Borough Pennyz have some excellent results behind them, including two second places at three-star already this season. They could be poised for a big four-star win and last year’s seventh place will stand them in good stead.

Nicola Wilson is without long-time popular partner Opposition Buzz, who has been retired from top level, but will be looking to prove her newcomers can also compete with the best of them.

Tina Cook’s De Novo News can improve on last year’s result, where they picked up 20 penalties across the country, and have since had an impressive outing at Burghley.

Trying to pick a winner is a tough choice, with so many impressive combinations lining up, but ultimately they will be competing against the course rather than each other.

This year’s Badminton brings a new look track and with it a fresh challenge, so it promises to be another great event for competitors and spectators alike.