HIGHWORTH’S Paul Tapner and top ride Inonothing continued their return to form with second place at the first three-star international in Britain this year at Belton Park in Lincolnshire.

Inonothing, who won the Badminton three-day event title in 2010 but suffered an injury that autumn that took him out of the sport for over a year, was only pipped by Leicestershire’s Sarah Cohe and Treason.

The horse, who is aiming to return to Badminton in May, was 28th after dressage but a faultless showjumping round and one of the quickest cross-country sections took them right up the board.

“Inonothing was really back in the game at Belton, he jumped a great double clear,” said Australian Tapner, who is aiming for a 2012 Olympic team place.

Tapner also secured 12th spot on another advanced horse, Kilronan, his first major run of the year.

Membury’s Laura Collett claimed sixth on Noble Bestman - on the wait list for Badminton - with a promising double clear.

“Noble Bestman did a great dressage test and jumping rounds, just some time penalties in the cross-country saw us finish sixth,” she said.

“It was a perfect prep round for Badminton although there are still nine above us on the wait list.”

Collett led the competition after dressage on Rayef, only for a hiccough on the cross-country course to end to her chances.

Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson was in form in the star-studded Advanced sections, winning one on Avebury by a clear six marks, with an impressive dressage score of 25.9, and finishing fourth in the other on Shady Grey.

Both horses are entered at Badminton, along with another of Nicholson’s rides, Mr Cruise Control, who finished fifth at Belton, and it will be tough to narrow it down to the two he is allowed to ride.

Former Blenheim and Barbury Castle winner Chris King saw off six-time Burghley three-day event winner William Fox-Pitt in a strong Open Intermediate section on the 11-year-old bay GI Master Caster. King was also sixth in another OI section on The Secret Weapon.

Meanwhile, Badbury’s Andrew Hoy was third on Cheeky Calimbo at the CIC** (two-star one-day international) at Somerley Park in Hampshire.