HOPES are high at Biddesden Stud near Andover that Tamarillo, second at Badminton and bred at the stud, will be in the British team for the World Games at Jerez in Spain in September.

The 10-year-old was brought home to an exciting finish by William Fox-Pitt in one of the most competitive Badminton events ever.

William, based at Bicester, had withdrawn his first horse, Moon Man, after the dressage because he thought his leg would not stand the strain of two cross countries.

Tamarillo, bred by the Hon Finn Guinness, put in a flawless performance over the jumps and also won the prize for the youngest horse competing. Stud manager at Biddesden, Jo Richardson, who was at Badminton, admitted that Tamarillo's success had made it a 'very exciting weekend'.

"Hopefully, barring injury he will be at the World Championships," she said.

The stud had another fine result when Dandelion, bred from the same line as Tamarillo, came home with top honours from a local show. The bay won his class at the Wessex Arab Society's spring show at Hurstbourne Equestrian centre and went on to be selected as overall Anglo and part bred champion.

Hopefully the horse, aged only two, will achieve additional honours at the Three Counties Show at Malvern next month and at the Royal at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.