Oliver Townend won the dressage today at the Badminton Horse Trials ©Getty Images

Oliver Townend’s prospects of completing the Rolex Grand Slam title at the Badminton Horse Trials soared today as he and his mount Ballaghmor Class won the dressage stage and go into tomorrow’s cross country with a 2.6 penalty lead, giving him six seconds in hand.

The Yorkshireman’s dressage score of 20.8 penalties was the best recorded at Badminton in 18 years and helped him to total 231 marks.

Just two penalties separate the next 10 riders.

New Zealand’s four-times Badminton winner and double Olympic champion Sir Mark Todd, on Kiltubrid Rhapsody, totalled 222.5 marks, and 23.4 penalties, to progress in second place.

New Zealand's Sir Mark Todd, on Kiltubrid Rhapshody, is in second place behind Britain's Oliver Townend going into tomorrow's cross country section of the Badminton Horse Trials ©Getty Images
New Zealand's Sir Mark Todd, on Kiltubrid Rhapshody, is in second place behind Britain's Oliver Townend going into tomorrow's cross country section of the Badminton Horse Trials ©Getty Images

Third place is filled by Britain’s Rosalind Canter, making her debut at Badminton, the overnight leader of the dressage.

Canter, on Allstar B, totalled 223.5 points, one place ahead of Ireland’s Jonty Evans, riding Colley Rorkes Drift.

Townend, the lunchtime leader in the dressage yesterday aboard his first ride, Cooley SRS, requires the Badminton title to complete his Grand Slam, having already won at Burghley and Kentucky.

Winners of the Rolex Grand Slam receive an extra $350,000 (£250,000/€300,000) in addition to their winnings from each event which is £100,000 ($135,000/€115,000) at Badminton.