BOTH of Rolex Grand Slam-chasing Oliver Townend's horses passed the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials final inspection on Sunday.

Yorkshireman Townend was issued with an official warning on Saturday for his riding of Ballaghmor Class and Cooley SRS during the cross-country phase.

Townend, 35, was interviewed by the event's ground jury and was given an official warning regarding his over-use of the whip on both horses.

Townend was also advised that both his horses "would be checked very carefully" at Sunday's inspection.

Ballaghmor Class, Townend's second-placed ride overnight, passed immediately, but fifth-placed Cooley SRS was sent to the holding box before Townend had to re-present it and it was passed.

Townend will secure the £255,000 Grand Slam, which is awarded for consecutive victories at Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton, if he takes top honours and another £100,000 as Badminton winner following Sunday's showjumping finale.

Mildenhall-based New Zealander Jonelle Price leads the field on Classic Moet. She is tied on 28 penalties with Townend, but has pole position after she was closer to the cross-country optimum time of 11 minutes, 49 seconds.

Defending Badminton champion, Marlborough-based Andrew Nicholson, meanwhile, withdrew his 2017 winner Nereo after being sent to the holding box.