by Alex Hoad

William Fox-Pitt hopes to push for eventing gold when the equestrian competition resumes tomorrow.

The World No1 recorded a personal best dressage score on a dramatic day at Greenwich Park and hopes are high with the cross-country discipline to follow on Monday lunchtime (12.30pm start) and the show jumping the day after.

Aboard Lionheart, Fox-Pitt (pictured) scored 44.10 penalties to leave the five-strong Great Britain team in third place at the end of the first discipline of the team event.

Leaders Germany are 7.9 penalties clear of GB with Australia just 4.9 ahead in silver position.

The 43-year-old, brought up at the family home near Canterbury, said the best is yet to come from his young mount.

He said: "At 10 years old Lionheart is a lot younger than some of the other horses, and this is his first championship.

"Hopefully he’s going to come into his own the next couple of days and that’s why he’s here. He’s in the toughest company in the world and not far off the lead, so we’re certainly hoping things go our way tomorrow."

The British team are just ahead of Sweden and New Zealand, who are tied in fourth, and Fox-Pitt praised the performances of the other horses.

He said: " All the horses have gone very well and (team manager Yogi Breisner) is thrilled.

"They’ve all done as good a test as we could have hoped and you can’t expect more. I know that the next couple of days are going to be demanding and I hope we’re all going to be able to answer the questions."