Andrew Hoy, who has only managed to complete Badminton once in his four attempts to date, looks set to more than better that record as he heads the line-up after the dressage.

The 41-year-old, who was part of Australia's gold medal team at the last two Olympic Games and the youngest ever winner of Burghley at the age of 19 in 1979, produced a superbly flowing test from the talented 15-year-old Darien Powers yesterday morning to take a lead on a score of 30.8 penalties.

Several big names did their best to dislodge the Australian but all failed, most notably the 1998 winner Christopher Bartle whose dressage expertise could do nothing to cajole the recalcitrant Word Perfect, with the Irish-bred gelding even standing on his hind legs in the first halt to end the day in 58th.

Rodolphe Scherer, who became the first Frenchman to win at Punchestown when he scored with Bambi de Briere two years ago, came closest with a mark of 34.2, while Leslie Law, winner at Blarney Castle last year with Shear L'Eau, rode fellow Irish export Matt Butler into third, 4.8 penalties adrift of the leaders.

The top three are all confident about today's cross-country, which was altered yet again yesterday. The first two elements of Tom Smith's walls had been taken out on Wednesday, but both the Hayrack at 12 and the second arrowhead at the bottom of the following Steps to Sydney were also removed from the course yesterday due to the footing. However, three good days of drying have made a huge difference and most riders feel that, although the ground will be holding, it should ride well.

Virginia McGrath, embarking on her third tour of the Badminton cross-country today, produced her best ever test with The Yellow Earl for a mark of 54.8 that left her in 50th overall, while Sarah Daly is in 84th on her first attempt with Sweet Icon.