OLYMPIC champion Leslie Law will be mounting a lone challenge for Worcestershire at the world famous Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this year.

For the first time within living memory, there is only one entry from the county to face eventing's finest over the four days of competition in the Duke of Beaufort's magnificent park near Stroud, in Gloucestershire.

In fact the only other rider from this part of the world is Leominster vet James Robinson, who will be once again riding his mother's horse Commanche, on which he produced an amazing performance last year to finish fourth.

Lying 21st after dressage, James and Commanche stormed around the formidable cross-country course to pull up to fifth place.

They rose another, when Australian Andrew Hoy, who had been fourth, made a mess of the final show jumping phase. His horse Mr Practacan hit several fences and incurred penalty points to drop below Commanche.

Good though James's effort was, realistically Leslie, now fully settled in to his new stables near Upton-upon-Severn, is the far better bet to win Badminton this year.

Leslie has also got his autobiography out. Timed to coincide with Badminton, Shear Gold (Hardback £15.99) tells his story from Pony Club to Olympic triumph and what better launch pad would it have than to win at Badminton?

After a winter's rest he looks bursting to go and has started the 2005 eventing season in fine form, already winning several novice and intermediate classes.

A fortnight ago he came within a whisker of winning the first CIC one day event of the British season at Somerley Park in Hampshire, finishing second behind Hoy.

Strangely, in view of his outstanding success elsewhere, Law has never won Badminton.

However, he will have a tough battle on his hands, because competitors from a record 18 nations will be taking part.