Course designer Gérard Lachat had built a demanding and technical track for the 39 horse-and-rider combinations at start in this Table A class with a jump-off, set at 1.60m – counting 14 fences and 17 efforts. The triple combination at 5abc claimed its fair share of faults, as well as a combination at 10ab that also caused mistakes with a delicate plank jumping in.

Caption this... Robert Whitaker walking Gérard Lachat's course.

Hans-Dieter Dreher making his plan.

Ariel Grange, the owner of Daniel Coyle's Incredible.

World no. one Henrik von Eckermann having a word with technical delegate Gregory Bodo, who was the co-course designer for the 2024 Olympic Games.

The trophy they all want.

Sophie Hinners and Richard Vogel mapping out their plans.

Big enough...

Living legend John Whitaker is in Basel to support his son Robert.

Ben Maher with Jan Distel.

Alise Oken letting the course sink in.

From South Africa, Bronwyn Meredith Dos Santos and Bibisi impressed when only having a rail down coming out of the triple combination and adding a time fault to their score.

Bronwyn Meredith Dos Santos thanks Bibisi after a great round, which qualified the pair for Sunday's title decider.

Georgia's Shalva Gachechiladz parted ways with Modest vd Vroente in the triple combination, but luckily all seemed well with both horse and rider.

UAE's Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Enjoy de la Mure continue to impress with their lovely partnership, and finished the course on a total of six faults after having the plank at 10a down and adding two time penalties.

The first to deliver a clear round was Ireland's Daniel Coyle and Incredible.

...and four riders later a jump-off was secured as Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher left all the fences up aboard Elysium.

A big smile from Hansi.

Kristen Vanderveen thanks Bull Run's Jireh after a round of eight faults on the last line.

Marcus Ehning already has three Jumping World Cup™ titles on his record, and is ready for Sunday's third and last competition as he sits 15th overall.

KSA's Ramzy Al Duhami and Untouchable 32 had an unlucky rail down to finish on four faults, and now sit 18th on the overall standings.

Austria's Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P were the third pair to join the jump-off. They eventually finished second.

Riding Grandorado TN N.O.P., Willem Greve had to see a pole fall coming out of the combination at 10ab. The Dutch rider sits 12th on the overall standing coming into the last competition on Sunday.

Germany's Richard Vogel had to see a pole on the very last upright fall to the ground, and sits 10th overall riding United Touch S.

USA's Alessandra Volpi made it four for the jump-off...

...when delivering a lovely clear on Gipsy Love.

A big smile from U.S. Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland.

Swiss flags everywhere in Basel.

Martin Fuchs gave the home crowd value for their ticket money when jumping a clear aboard Leone Jei – putting considerable pressure on those to come from his overnight position as nr. 10 on the overall standings.

Hopp Martin!

The lovely Leone Jei, one of the super-stars of the sport.

Edouard Schmitz's martingale parted ways with the girth...

... and the Swiss rider left the ring disappointed after finishing on eight faults, with two rails down on no. 12 and 13.

Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames My Prins had a rail on the oxer at 10b down, finishing on four faults and now sit 9th on the overall standings.

Title defender Henrik von Eckermann – who was sitting fourth overnight – had to see a rail fall to the ground on no. 12. Nevertheless, he jumped up on the overall standings and now sits second only two penalty points behind Julien Epaillard.

Among the top five from Thursday’s first round, only one rider managed to keep all the fences up and it was the leader Julien Epaillard who cruised around the tricky track to a clear round with Donatello d’Auge. Kevin Staut (FRA) – 5th overnight, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – 4th, Lillie Keenan (USA) – 3rd and Ben Maher (GBR) – 2nd, all had to see a rail fall to the ground. Here Keenan, who had a fault on 5b. The American rider sits fourth coming into Sunday's last competition, only three penalty points behind Epaillard.

The lovely Kick On.

Just like Keenan, Ben Maher sits fourth coming into Sunday's last competition – only three penalty points behind Epaillard.

Many riders faulted in this combination, including Maher.

Julien Epaillard was last to go, and as usual he was completely unaffected by the pressure – riding another clear round with Donatello d'Auge.

After a quick calculation, Epaillard took a strategic decision to not return for the jump-off. “The idea is to give him less jumps today and have him 100% on Sunday," the French rider explained.

Epaillard now sits in the lead on an overall score of zero going into Sunday’s two final rounds, with Fuchs and reigning champion von Eckermann breathing him in the neck – both two points behind. It’s tight on top; Staut, Keenan and Maher all sit tied 4th on three penalty points each – so it’s still all to play for on Sunday. Volpi’s 3rd place has brought her up to sit 7th overall, followed by Kühner in 8th. Saturday is a rest day for the horses, which also includes a 2nd veterinary inspection to ensure all 30 horses qualified are fit to compete on Sunday.