Sorry to be terribly British and talk about the weather, but the heavens have opened here at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and it is pelting down. I can’t help but think that this might be a factor in the show-jumping, especially if it keeps it up all day, (Sinead!), but we managed to get through most of the trot up with nothing more than light drizzle until the end.
The ground jury
Happy Times looking keen and beautiful
Georgie Spence and Running Brook
Sir Percival, so impressive yesterday, with Francis Whittington
Francis again, this time with Easy Target, who as I write this has just show-jumped and completed his first CCI **** – congratulations!
Sweden’s Dag Albert with Tubber Rebel
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury
Nereo was incredibly fresh, this might be the only time you’ll ever see Andrew Nicholson get run off with !
WIlliam Fox-Pitt with current leader Parklane Hawk. Is he poised to take a record breaking 6th Burghley title?
and with his 7th placed ride, Neuf des Coeurs
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise, the first of his two clears yesterday
Caroline Powell with Mrs Tilly
The incredibly popular Lenamore with Caroline – can they pull off a repeat?
Pippa Funnell and her lovely Mirage D’Elle
and with her second ride, Pure Addiction
Mary King and King’s Temptress, sitting in 4th positon
I love Zero Flight and I really enjoyed talking to Lauren; make sure and follow her blog on Horse and Hound if you don’t already. They both looked super this morning.
ESJ – working hard, or hardly working?!
Mark Kyle’s Step in TIme came out looking great today
Mark Todd and Major Milestone, both looking like greyhounds
Flintstar with Jonelle Richards
Tom McEwan’s Dry Old Party, who’s by the same sire as Best Mate (multiple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner) was asked to trot twice, but accepted.Tom, at his first four star, and one of the youngest competitors here at just 20 years old, rode an inspired round yesterday, and we were all relieved him to see him go through to the show jumping.
Boyd and Neville – what a moment! Everyone is talking movies and Disney, and yes, there should definitely be a whole franchise, but this story is far from over, can’t wait to see what happens next.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love this couple any more: the official Burghley website reports that vet James Robinson has been riding beautiful 18 year old Comanche with a broken collarbone, an injury he sustained in the Fathers Race at his son’s sports day at school.
Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz, her little jumping machine
Chapel Amble looked a lot fitter this morning, but trotted up well for USA’s Jules Stiller
Emily Llewellyn and Pardon Me. I was standing with Jen Carter (and Riley) and Jen was helping me keep track of everything, and we both agreed this horse has a beautiful tail!
Looking fabulous – Exponential and Jessie Phoenix
A stand-out horse with a great rider, High Havoc and Kitty King
Any messages? Chris Burton supporting Sam and Happy Times
Sam Griffiths
Lucinda Fredericks was asked to trot Prada twice but then accepted
Nick Gauntlett and the stallion Chilli Morning
Polly Stockton and Westwood Mariner. By now it was raining quite hard.
Sinead and Manoir de Carneville (Tate) I was a bit worried that there was no bucking or kicking as Sinead said yesterday that sometimes meant he was going to jump clear, but I’m blaming it, like most things, on the weather!
Zara Phillips and High Kingdom
Laura Collett on Noble Bestman. I think I forgot to mention yesterday what a great job she did on this horse cross country. He is enormous, and there were a few moments when it looked like he might have got overwhelmed but she managed to package him all together and wagon him round, and he looked better and better by the end, albeit tired. I’m so impressed by her competitive drive and mental toughness, and also that she’s able to switch off and enjoy life too. I also forgot to give a shout-out to Angus Smales who rode a beautiful round on Ballyvooney cross country.
Luckily the trot-up wrapped up as conditions deteriorated. The sun is trying to come out, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed for the afternoon session of show jumping as the morning session had to compete in a downpour. Lots more to come, it’s going to be an edge of your seats finale here at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Thanks for visiting Eventing Nation, see you soon, Go Eventing
