KEY POINTS:
Mark Todd's comeback trail winds its way to the quaint surrounds of Osberton today as the double Olympic champion finesses his campaign for inclusion in the eventing team for Beijing.
The 52-year-old was an interested spectator at the Badminton Horse Trials - and a sought after sound byte in between overseeing his merchandising tent.
Todd and his 10-year-old grey gelding Gandalf are lining up in an event likely to attract only a couple of hundred enthusiasts - but it is still a valuable exercise for the duo.
It is Gandalf's first competitive experience in the Northern Hemisphere - and the lead-up event to Saumur in France, where Todd will be attempting to qualify for a sixth Olympics with a creditable performance in the three-star event starting May 15.
The French event is Todd's best chance to meet the selection criteria, though if things go awry there is one final opportunity back across the Channel at Braham next month, eight days before the five-strong team will be forwarded to the New Zealand Olympic Committee for confirmation.
The team for Hong Kong is taking shape with Andrew Nicholson, Joe Meyer and Caroline Powell all but assured, subject to their horses' fitness.
Powell, a former Cantabrian based in Scotland, finished an impressive fourth at Badminton, on Lenamore.
Meyer was 20th on Ease on Fire while Nicholson could only reflect on an unsuccessful campaign after his inexperienced Armada and Silbury Hill both retired during the cross country.
Nicholson will revert to his first choice mount Lord Killinghurst for a one-day event in Chatsworth at the weekend - a one-day competition that also marks the start of Heelan Tompkins' European campaign.
Tompkins skirted Badminton but remains a strong contender for Hong Kong.
Despite an eight year sabbatical, Todd's experience is clearly coveted by the New Zealand Equestrian Federation. He must finish the dressage with less than 75 penalties, incur less than 20 during the cross country and drop no more than four rails in the show jumping.
"It's pretty straightforward," said federation president Jennifer Miller. "One would expect he'd do better than that."
Todd successfully completed the first stage of his comeback at Puhunui last month but needs another compelling three-day event performance to jump the queue in front of shortlisted riders Tompkins, Annabel Wigley and Emily Butcher.
Wigley was 17th on Black Drum and Butcher 51st on Southern Ben in a field that whittled down from 80 to 54 after the cross country.
Though only an observer Todd admitted attending Badminton - an event he won three times - further fuelled his ambitious comeback.
"To come back here [Badminton] and be involved with everyone up here ... it was part of the attraction," he said.
He would not rule out competing next year though emphasised Hong Kong was the focus.
"It's a challenge to see if I can get myself back up and compete at that sort of level," he said. "If we get to the Olympics well and good, if we don't well it's not the end of the world. I've been to five so it's not a burning desire."
Gandalf has been acclimatising to English surroundings at long-time Todd associate Eddy Stibbe's eventing training centre at Waresley Park.
Todd had few concerns about a horse he is still getting to know after only acquiring him in January.
"He's a brilliant traveller. He's like [gold medal winner] Charisma is that respect - as long as he's got food and water in front of him he's happy."
- NZPA
