Mary King had her bid for the six- year-old horses’ world championship title with Cavalier Venture thwarted by the weather.

Le Lion D’Angers cancelled the event in France after the dressage phase, due to waterlogging.

“It was a long way to go for a dressage test in the plough” said King, who missed the Team GB reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night as she was travelling Imperial Cavalier and King’s Temptress to Pau.

Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, is the first event in the HSBC FEI Classics� 2012/2013 season, has a top class entry with members of the Olympic gold, silver and bronze medal-winning teams.

The event started on Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon King was in third place on King’s Temptress after the first day’s dressage William Fox-pitt was leading on King’s former ride Chilli Morning. Imperial Cavalier was due to compete on Friday. There are 63 riders in the competition.