In a sport populated by double-barrel names and cut glass accents, it is refreshing to see a 21-year-old son of a long-distance lorry driver heading the Mitsubishi Motors field after the first day of dressage at Badminton.

Tristram Owers, whose father Michael has abandoned his truck for a week to groom for his son, may be making his four-star debut, but he didn't allow the big occasion to phase him and holds a 3.8-point lead over 1998 winner and dressage expert Christopher Bartle.

Based in Nigel Tabor's yard in Worcestershire, where he applied for a job as groom three years ago, Owers qualified for Badminton last autumn when completing the Blenheim three-star. It wasn't a particularly auspicious outing, however, as his Badminton runner Hatherden's Riverdance was languishing way down the order in 78th after the dressage and, although clear across country, then collected 43 penalties in the show jumping.

A miraculous transformation has obviously been wrought over the winter and the 10-year-old Riverdance, which is also making its first attempt at the very top level, produced his best ever test to depose Bartle and his number two horse, Oscar.

Bartle, who won here two years ago with his ride in today's dressage, Word Perfect, was thrilled with Oscar's test, even though the 13-year-old Irish export made two "uncharacteristic" mistakes.

Ian Stark, the defending champion, is saving his 1999 winner Jaybee for the Sydney Olympics. Riding the infinitely less experienced New Zealand-bred Rangitoto into a share of third place, Stark is level pegging with Leslie Law's Bramham winner Shear H20.

Sarah Daly, Ireland's lone representative yesterday, is one of 36 first-timers in the startlist, but although Sweet Icon saved his best work for his biggest ever test, it wasn't good enough to threaten the leaders. Cheshire-born Daly, who moved to Ireland five and a half years ago, is currently in equal 41st place, 30.6 points adrift of the lead.

The 28-year-old, who has considerably better form than the overnight leaders in her last three-star outing, is looking forward to tackling Hugh Thomas' 30-fence cross-country tomorrow, even though she admitted yesterday that she had never even walked a four-star track until she arrived at Badminton this week.

Alterations have already been made out on the course in deference to the spell of wet weather. Massive ground repairs are being carried out at one badly-flooded area.