Britain’s sole contender Alex Bragg retired on the Mars Maryland 5 Star cross-country course today (Saturday, 18 October).

Alex and The Roe Family’s Quindiva looked to be having a super round until the 15-year-old mare refused at the big step down at the Fair Hill International Drop at fence 27a. Alex brought her back for a second attempt, but then retired when she stopped again.

Until then, Alex Bragg and Quindiva had excelled over the Maryland 5 Star cross-country track, designed for the first time this year by Pierre Le Goupil. They took the tricky direct route through the first big question, in the arena, The Chesapeake Beasts and Bay Bridge (fence 7abc) – a bending line over two corners styled as birds, with rooves overhead, either side of an angled hanging log.

Continuing on,

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