The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, who undertook a mammoth 51-hour journey involving a £1,600 (£2,461) night-time taxi ride over the Pyrenees and a Disneyland charter flight from Madrid to Miami in order to get to Lexington, Kentucky in time for the competition, stands to win a £233,000 ($358,000) jackpot if he can excel in the cross-country and showjumping events.

While Townend’s British colleague William Fox-Pitt had the best dressage score of the 57 riders, registering 42.8 on his horse Cool Mountain, Townend is well placed on Ashdale Cruise Master, with whom he scored 46.2.

Dressage is considered to be the weakest discipline for Ashdale, whom Townend has only ridden for the last three months, so the rider who has already won the Badminton and Burghley trials back-t0-back was entitled to feel satisfied after registering one of only nine scores under 50.

He also posted the ninth, registering 49.8 on his second horse, Master Rose.

Townend shrugged off any effects of his marathon journey, although organisers gave him an extra recovery day by allowing him to ride both his horses today.

"I was really pleased with the performances from both my horses," Townend said. 

"They are both relatively inexperienced and they did the best that they could.

"This is a serious competition now and we have to go out there tomorrow and get the job done.

"If we can put in a good round in the cross country tomorrow (Saturday) then we are still in with a really good chance. 

"We have prepared well for the next two stages and I know the horses have the ability to put in a good performance.

"I've had terrific support from the people back home and I'll be out there tomorrow riding for them."

When Sunday's show jumping finale is over, Townend faces an immediate journey home in order to defend his Badminton title starting next Friday.

But at least he will be able to take a plane for the majority of his return journey…

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