WILLIAM FOX-PITT's supremacy in the Blarney Castle international three-day event came under a severe threat from Olympic champion Blyth Tait yesterday. But although the New Zealander took a hold on the top slot yesterday morning, it proved only temporary as his British rival turned the tables four from the end to reclaim the advantage.
The British Olympic rider had led by the slimmest of margins on Thursday from fellow Briton Owen Moore and Tait's compatriot Mark Todd. But Tait made his claim on the top slot just before lunch yesterday morning with the Kiwi-bred ex-racehorse Darby and looked set to hold sway until Fox-Pitt and the Sky Boy gelding Pie In The Sky II stole his thunder just before close of play.
But Fox-Pitt is convinced that the change in the weather could have a serious impact on today's cross-country course.
Claire Gilaa remains best of the Irish, although she and Sweeps Pedro have slid down to 12th, with former junior European champion Suzanne Donnelly only two slots lower with Speedy Gonzales.
Austin O'Connor, formerly from Cork but now based in Cornwall, has stamped his authority on the national class with the seven-year-old Newhouse Samuel to take a 1.8 penalty lead from Thursday's top scorers, Jane O'Flynn and Gemstone.
