GEOFF Billington carries the hopes of the entire British equestrian squad into the show jumping team championship in Atlanta today.

A dismal showing in the three-day eventing and dressage has left Britain without even sniff of an Olympic equestrian medal at these Games so far.

But Accrington's Billington, riding It's Otto, emerged on Monday as a genuine medal prospect, claiming eighth place in the individual qualifiers with just a quarter of a time fault.

This leaves him comfortably in the top 45 who go through to Sunday's final of the individual championship with today's two rounds of the team championship also counting.

Billington will jump third in the team championship behind Michael Whitaker and Nick Skelton with John Whitaker taking the anchor spot.

The 41-year-old has been thrilled so far by It's Otto's success.

And he is confident that they can repeat Monday's superb round today.

"I knew he could jump it easily on Monday and that made a difference," said Billington.

"He rises to the occasion and there is no bigger occasion than this.

"Our only hiccup was at the water where I had him stood a little too far off.

"But he pulled off a tremendous leap and we were right back on course.

"He is jumping superbly at the moment and the conditions are not at all bad.

"I'm quite confident we can do well again today as, hopefully, will the rest of the team.

"There's a lot of experience there and an equal amount of determination to do well."

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