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Hunt: Big and bold
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Dick: Strong track
"I think it will take a good few walks to help me decide my routes at the combination fences but I'm really looking forward to it."
Sharon Hunt
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Great Britain's three-day eventers had their first glimpse of the cross country course in Hong Kong on Thursday and believe it will be a tough test of their skills.
The five-rider team had a look around the Beas River course in Hong Kong - which is staging the equestrian events for the Beijing Games.
Briton Mike Etherington-Smith designed the course but that, say the riders, does not give them an advantage around the 39-jump track.
Britain's Daisy Dick rides Spring Along in the three-day event, and although she says it will be a tough ask, she feels the course suits her mount well.
"I feel it's a really strong track and time will be a major issue with all the twists and turns," said Dick.
"It will be impossible to get the horses into a good rhythm as you are always on a turn and there isn't anywhere for a good gallop to make up any lost time.
"Overall, I'm happy it will suit my horse as he's quick."
Target
A target time of eight minutes is what the eventers will be looking for, and there seem plenty of alternative routes for them to try out to make up the time.
"Big and bold - should be good," was the assessment of Sharon Hunt, who rides Tankers Town.
"There are plenty of angles and different routes so time will be important.
"I think it will take a good few walks to help me decide my routes at the combination fences but I'm really looking forward to it."
Which route to take seems to be a major question for the eventers, as William Fox-Pitt, who rides Parkmore Ed, explains.
"The track is tight and busy with questions coming thick and fast all the way round," said Fox-Pitt.
"It is hard to pick out one problem fence as there are a few on first glance. When you ride at Badminton or Burghley, to win it is usually a case of straight route or nothing; here that's not the case as there are a number of routes through fences.
"I'm not sure if that's a good thing - the quick route here is definitely on but there will always be a bit of doubt knowing there is another way.
"The fences are not as big and bold as a traditional four star course but the questions asked are every bit four star."
