Jonelle Price, pictured competing last year, is the leader after the cross country phase ©Getty Images

Jonelle Price rose into the lead after the cross-country phase of the Badminton Horse Trials today.

The New Zealander, riding Classic Moet, missed the time limit by just 0.4 seconds after the quickest performance of the day in South Gloucestershire.

She sits on 28 penalties overall and rises from 22nd after yesterday's dressage.

Home rider Oliver Townend, seeking the overall Rolex Grand Slam title on Ballaghmor Class, remains second after finishing 7.2 seconds outside the time limit.

He is also on 28 penalties but trails Price by virtue of a slower cross country leg.

Fellow Briton Rosalind Canter remains third on 30.3 penalties on All Star B after finishing 6.4 seconds outside the time limit.

Oliver Townend remains in second place after leading following the dressage ©Getty Images
Oliver Townend remains in second place after leading following the dressage ©Getty Images

Germany's double reigning Olympic champion Michael Jung lies fourth on 30.7 penalties on La Biosthetique Sam.

Townend is fifth on a second horse in Cooley SRS.

Action will conclude tomorrow with the jumping leg.

Winners of the Rolex Grand Slam receive an extra $350,000 (£250,000/€300,000) in addition to their winnings from each event, which is £100,000 ($135,000/€115,000) at Badminton.

Townend has already triumphed at legs in Burghley and Kentucky.