Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Despite the World Equestrian Games attracting eventing’s top horses and riders the week before the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, the field for the famous CCI4* still looks very strong, with 90 horses from 11 nations appearing on the entry list, which went live yesterday.
The U.S. has an exciting contingent of six combinations entered: Allison Springer and Arthur, Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot, Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice, Buck Davidson and Park Trader, Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate, and Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica have withdrawn.
Hannah and Harbour Pilot are also entered at Blenheim International CCI3* the week after Burghley, along with Phillip and Fernhill Fugitive and Land Rover grant recipient Fernhill Cubalawn.
Canada has two combinations entered in Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott and Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice, but both are entered to contest WEG next week and are expected to be withdrawn.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury will return to attempt a three-peat at Burghley, having won in 2012, narrowly edging U.S. WEG squad members Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, and also taking the trophy in 2013 with Jock Paget and Clifton Promise’s title stripped following a positive banned substance test.
William Fox-Pitt will ride this year’s Rolex winner Bay My Hero, as well as Parklane Hawk, who won Burghley in 2011 and has placed third each year since. He joins a slew of other accomplished combinations entered to contest Burghley, though many appear on the definite entries list for WEG next week.
Nineteen horses in all appear on the entry list yet are slated to represent their countries at WEG: Black Tie II, Chilli Morning, De Novo News, High Kingdom, Wild Lone, CP Qualified, Kilronan, Pluto Mio, Shannondale Titan, TS Jamaimo, Gin & Juice, Fenyas Elegance, Classic Moet, Clifton Promise, Nereo and Tubber Rebel. Kilrodan Abbott, Makara de Montiege and Clover have already withdrawn.
Burghley unveiled Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross-country course in an excellent preview video last week, so be sure to click here to watch and see photos of all the fences on course. Stay tuned for much more as we count down the days to Burghley.
Go Eventing.
Burghley Links: [Website] [Entry List] [Course Preview]
