LAST year’s world number two Nicola Wilson led the way after the opening day of dressage in CIC*** Section B at the Barbury International Horse Trials today.

London 2012 Olympic team silver medallist Wilson, riding Bulana, totalled 25.2 penalties to head the early standings as the trials got under way near Marlborough.

Her Great Britain teammate William Fox-Pitt was in second place with 26.4 penalties with Australian Sammi Birch in third spot on 26.9.

Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson occupied fourth place on Yacabo BK on 28.1.

Bromham eventer Libby Seed and What A Catch II were also in decent shape in 15th spot overall on a 35.7 mark, while Reybridge rider David Doel’s two horses Shannondale Quest and Chap were placed 23rd and 29th respectively.

The section B dressage test continue on Friday morning with showjumping a cross country disciplines to follow over the weekend.

Wilson was also inside the top 10 in the CIC** Section C, sitting in ninth on Beltane Queen, with leading Australian Sam Griffiths at the head of affairs on Billy Liffy.

Seed and Britannia’s Mail, West Littleton’s Harry Meade and Monbeg Medlar and Mildenhall-based New Zealander Tim Price and Pats Jester lay just outside the top 10.

Wilson’s fine form continued in the CIC** Section D as she lay second on JL Dublin behind Sarah Bullimore on Corouet.

The top three places after the CIC** Section E dressage were Maarten Boon on Gravin Van Cantos (29.1), Britain;’s Izzy Taylor on Artful Trinity and Rebecca Gibbs on Portphilip Double O Four.

The blue riband event of the trials, the CIC*** Event Rider Masters (ERM) class, worth £50,000, does not get under way until Saturday morning, when dressage will take place, with the final two disciplines taking place on Sunday.