World and Olympic champion Blyth Tait, favourite to lift the Mitsubishi Motors trophy this week, has more than enough reasons to make the 50th Badminton three-day event the one to win. Incredibly, the New Zealander has never won this, the world's most prestigious horse trials, but he intends to go all out to rectify that and, hopefully, with his Olympic and world gold medal ride Ready Teddy.

Tait, who marks his 38th birthday next Monday, hopes the party will include victory celebrations, but a £250,000 Grand Slam has already slipped from his grasp. Having won at Burghley last autumn - and finished second into the bargain - Tait was bidding for success at the Rolex Kentucky four-star a fortnight ago before going for the hat-trick and the big prize pot at Badminton. But Tait and his Burghley runner-up Aspyring filled the same slot at the American fixture, beaten by a mere two points by home-bred Karen O'Connor and Prince Panache, in a finish that would have seen the placings reversed under the old scoring system that was killed off at the end of last season.

A win at Badminton would be both a delight and a devastation - to come so frustratingly close to £250,000 and be denied by two penalties would be hard to stomach. But Tait is still determined to be king of the hill by Sunday afternoon as the Grand Slam is run on a roll-over basis and O'Connor is currently in line for a crack at the big money if she can take the Mitsubishi honours. A win for Tait would not only deny the American, but would allow the Kiwi to start on another Grand Slam attempt.

Tait galloped his way to victory at the Devon event last Sunday with Welton Envoy and hopes to continue in winning mode at Badminton. But there are plenty of other serious contenders numbered amongst the 72 starters, including three-time champion and fellow New Zealander Mark Todd.

Irish representation has dwindled to five, following the withdrawal of Badminton debutante Jane O'Flynn after the mare Ladakha was found to have a leg problem. But Eric Smiley (Enterprise), Alfie Buller (Sir Knight), Mark Kyle (Irish Patriot), Austin O'Connor (Simply Rhett) and Joanne Jarden (Belle Canna) will be flying the flag, with O'Connor first of the Irish into the dressage arena at 11.30 this morning.