We’re ready to dive right into this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, and before competition gets underway tomorrow (Thursday), we’ve got a look at this year’s 66-combination field. There’s never enough time or space to tell the full story of each horse and rider, but we’ve done our best to give you the scoop on what you need to know about the pairs coming forward to compete for the title.
It’s a field flush with former 5* winners, Olympians (including two horses and riders who competed in Paris this year), several rookies (because why not choose Burghley as your first 5*? Seems sane enough, not that eventers are well-known for their sanity), and enough great stories to inspire us all.
Also featuring on our graphics are some predictions from our friends at EquiRatings, so be sure to check out all the Burghley stats in their Prediction Centre here.
The field below is listed in order of running for dressage and cross country, so feel free to scroll through as you watch the live stream. You can also use the link list below to jump to your favorite pair.
Want even more stats and facts about the field? Don’t miss out on Equiratings’ Form Guide, which is jam-packed with information on the toughest 5* in the world (did you know that out of 1100+ starters since Burghley adopted the modern eventing format, only 10 have ever finished on their dressage score?!). You can find it here.
Time to take to those hills!
Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [Cross Country Preview] [EN’s Coverage]
Want to jump straight to your favorite horse and rider? Click the links below to jump to their section (the combinations are listed in alphabetical order by country and last name; entries listed by draw number):
Sophia Hill and Humble Glory (AUS)
Luc Chateau and Viens du Mont (FRA)
Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge (FRA)
Gaspard Maksud and Kan-Do 2 (FRA)
Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II (FRA)
Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC (FRA)
Lizzie Baugh and B Exclusive (GBR)
Tom Bird and Cowling Hot Gossip (GBR)
Alexander Bragg and Quindiva (GBR)
Phil Brown and Harry Robinson (GBR)
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI (GBR)
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (GBR)
Alice Casburn and Topspin (GBR)
Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick (GBR)
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope (GBR)
Matthew Heath and Golden Recipe (GBR)
Matthew Heath and Askari (GBR)
Nicky Hill and MGH Bingo Boy (GBR)
Emma Hyslop-Webb and Jeweetwel (GBR)
Bella Innes Ker and Highway II (GBR)
Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift (GBR)
Andrew James and Celtic Morning Star (GBR)
Richard Jones and Alfies Clover (GBR)
Emily King and Valmy Biats (GBR)
Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser (GBR)
Harry Meade and Superstition (GBR)
Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal (GBR)
Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner (GBR)
Aaron Millar and Friendship VDL (GBR)
Nicole Mills and Fearless W (GBR)
Rose Nesbitt and EG Michealangelo (GBR)
Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley (GBR)
Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy (GBR)
Holly Richardson and Bally Louis (GBR)
Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality (GBR)
Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight (GBR)
Emma Thomas and Icarus X (GBR)
Zara Tindall and Class Affair (GBR)
Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent (GBR)
Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry (GBR)
Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain (GBR)
Susie Berry and Irene Leva (IRL)
Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln (IRL)
Ian Cassells and Master Point (IRL)
Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH (IRL)
Sarah Ennis and Grantstown Jackson (IRL)
Padraig McCarthy and Lady Ophelia (IRL)
Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue (IRL)
Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed (JPN)
Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG (LTU)
Andrew Heffernan and Harthill Phantom (NDL)
Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte (NZL)
Lauren Innes and Global Fision M (NZL)
Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise (NZL)
Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier (NZL)
Tim Price and Viscount Viktor (NZL)
Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera (NZL)
Tim Price and Vitali (NZL)
Monica Spencer and Artist (NZL)
Nadja Minder and Toblerone (SUI)
Felix Vogg and Cartania (SUI)
Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle (USA)
Mia Farley and Phelps (USA)
Cosby Green and Copper Beach (USA)
Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M (USA)
Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 (USA)
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2: Harry Meade and Superstition (GBR)
It’s been so exciting to see the very smart Superstition back in action for the first time since Maryland in late 2022. To that point, the 16.1hh gelding had had three 5* runs with Harry, all in the US, and all with top-ten finishes: he was fifth at Kentucky and seventh at Maryland in 2021, and seventh again at Maryland the following year, despite an odd situation in the dressage warm-up that effectively meant they had to go into the main arena cold, which caused a near bubbling-over of the very sharp gelding and saw them score a totally uncharacteristic 37.4 — well off the pace of the sub-30s they got in both their other 5* starts.
“Slinky’s” return to FEI competition was marked by a run at Burgham CCI4*-S in July, where he finished with a very steady clear round to knock the rust off. But don’t let those thirty-plus time penalties put you off – that’s a very Harry move, and will have been totally intentional. Slinky, who was initially produced to 4* by Lucy Jackson, is a naturally quick horse, and has never added a time penalty at five-star, nor in fact at any long-format since 2017. He’s also a respectable enough showjumper, though prone to a rail. It’ll be a very exciting comeback indeed, and one that we’ll all be watching closely and cheering along the whole way.
5: Ros Canter and Izilot DHI (GBR)
2023 Pau champion Izilot DHI, or “Isaac”, is an interesting character: he’s preternaturally talented, but he’s also very, very quirky, prone to extravagant spookiness, and built like a brontosaurus, so the fact that he gets such impressive dressage scores is really down to some very good, very sympathetic training and riding from Ros. And how impressive are those scores, inquiring minds may ask? Well, we very rarely see him post anything above a 25 at 4*, and he’s gone as low as 18 at the level, at Chatsworth last year. In his three 5* tests he’s posted a 24.3 (Pau, 2023), a 25.3 (Badminton, this year), and a 24.9 (Luhmühlen, this year). He could well lead the first phase here, and if he doesn’t, expect him to be very close to the top of the leaderboard.
We have to, of course, talk about his two 5* runs since his win at Pau on his debut last year. Ros brought him to Badminton this spring knowing full-well that the huge atmosphere might not suit him; before she even set out on cross-country, she was calmly vocal about the fact that she’d put her hand up if he seemed the slightest bit overfaced. He did, and she did, and when he came back out for his reroute at Luhmühlen in June, he looked only to have come along in spades for the experience on cross-country. He added just 2 time penalties to lead going into the final phase, and with two rails in hand, it looked sewn up – this horse is an unbelievable showjumper, and hadn’t had a rail in an FEI class since his first-ever international, five years prior.
But horses — and eventing — are unpredictable, and he had two rails and 2 time penalties, ultimately slipping to fourth. He finished third in his prep run for Burghley, the CCI4*-S at Blair Castle, which gave him a chance to tackle some proper terrain, and he’s run well there and at hilly Bramham previously, so he should have it in him to stay the course at Burghley. But will he be ready to cope with the distractions? Is Isaac finally ready to prove his dominance over the biggest of tracks on home soil? It’ll be great fun to find out.
6: Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick (GBR)
Eleven-year-old MCS Maverick has had a remarkable run of success since joining Pippa’s string early last season. He was originally produced and piloted by Helen Wilson, Pippa’s former stable jockey, who is herself an accomplished 5* rider, but following an injury, she needed to find someone to deputise for her. Pippa wasn’t initially sure – the gelding is, she says, “very, very hot”, and she wasn’t sure that she was keen to take on such an intensive project. So, she thought, she’d aim him at Bramham’s CCI4*-L — the toughest competition of its level — to see if he had the talent to make the effort worthwhile. He won it.
Now, Pippa knows the horse very well, and knows that getting the best out of him means creating circumstances that allow him to thrive: she brings him to events as early as possible, so he can have maximum settling-in time, and she makes plenty of time every day to get him out of his stable as much as possible, not to tire him out, but to give him some variety and interest in his day and keep his busy brain ticking over.
This’ll be the gelding’s third 5*. He went to Pau for his debut last season and finished 11th, despite picking up 20 penalties on course, and then ran at Badminton this spring, finishing ninth. He had a good run in his prep outing at Hartpury CCI4*-S last month, and comes in with very jolly prospects: we should see a sub-30 score, though he did produce a 31.9 at Badminton this spring, and a reasonably nippy run across the country. On Sunday, he’s a bit of a wildcard – most often, he’s clear, but at 5*s, he tends to really notch up the poles. He had five at Pau and two at Badminton, but now, he’s further along in his long-term fitness training, and that always makes a difference.
7: Matthew Heath and Golden Recipe (GBR)
Every 5* field pulls up a couple of classic ‘who dat?’s and Matt Heath’s very blood Golden Recipe is absolutely one of them this time around. Matt’s been riding Golden Recipe throughout the gelding’s international career, and took the reins in early 2019 for owner Patricia Pytches, who had been competing him herself from his first events through to his first Novice debut (that’s Prelim, if you’re reading this in the States). Over that first season together, Matt did a whole lot of Novice and Intermediate miles-building, winning two of those runs, and took the horse to his first CCI2*-L runs, picking up a big E in his debut at Blair and then coming away from it very obviously older and wiser, because they were sixth in their next attempt, at terrain-y Bicton.
One, two, skip a few, and we’re now at the gelding’s 5* debut, after a few solid years of being a sleeper hit. He’s had a top ten placing at CCI3*-L, which came at Houghton Hall in 2021, and he was speedy and impressive round his first CCI4*-L at Blenheim later that year, though a MIM-clip precluded a competitive finish. He sat out nearly all of 2022, and then in 2023, Matt gave him a reasonably light season, with a run at 3* to knock the rust off, a 4*-S outing at under-the-radar Aston le Walls, and, finally, a cruise around Blenheim’s 4*-L after opting to withdraw after dressage in the class of the same level at Blair. This year, we’ve seen him exactly once in an FEI class, in the CCI4*-L at big, bold, tough, hilly Bramham, where he finished in the top 20 on a reasonably swift clear.
This’ll be an educational week for the gelding, who’s still a high-30s horse on the flat – and can go into the 40s, as he did at Bramham – but looks to have all the right stuff to be a very cool cross-country horse. It’ll be fun to see what he makes of his biggest track yet; he’s a gutsy, heart-filled little horse and although he’s likely to knock a couple of poles on Sunday, if this year’s Derek di Grazia track proves plenty tough, horses like this, with a tricky first and final phase, can often still make themselves known.
8: Gaspard Maksud and Kan-Do 2 (FRA)
Flying Frenchman Gaspard, who’s been based in Britain for about 15 years now, is known for two things: extraordinary post-ride celebrations, and hats. We look forward to seeing what sort of novelty beret he debuts at Burghley this year – he admitted to us at Badminton that he’d briefly considered a full Louis XIV outfit, but thought it might be a touch disrespectful at the first inspection. We say he should have done it, frankly.
Anyway, onto the horses. The first of Gaspard’s rides this week will be Kan-Do 2, who made his debut at the level at Pau last year as a very green nine-year-old. He’d made his CCI4*-L debut at Blenheim just a month and a half prior, and had picked up 20 penalties there, so Gaspard took it slow around Pau and gave him an education, which at times looked a bit nerve-wracking. But they completed, with just 11 penalties to their name, and finished in 28th, ultimately. They began this season in the CCI4*-S at Thoresby, finishing sixth, and then went to Badminton, where they retired on course after activating two safety devices. Since then, he’s finished fourth in an OI section at Dauntsey in late July and top twenty in the British Open Championship at Hartpury in early August, a popular final run for many Burghley-bound horses.
Burghley will be his sixteenth-ever FEI run, and Gaspard’s focus will need to be on confidence-boosting education, rather than trying to be competitive at this stage, because the ten-year-old hasn’t quite ticked the 5* box yet, and we’ve not seen him really run over terrain, either – his Bicton and Chatsworth runs last year were at the short format, and while he delivered steady clears in both, it would have been good to have seen a Blair or Bramham long-format run along the way to better gauge his staying power. But Burghley horses can appear in surprising circumstances, and this could be a transformative week for the young horse.
9: Susie Berry and Irene Leva (IRL)
Eleven-year-old mare ‘Eve’ actually only stepped up to CCI4*-L this year, though that debut came at Bramham, which is basically a four-and-a-half-star. She finished in an impressive sixteenth place, adding just 12.4 time penalties cross-country and a single rail to her first-phase score of 39, and she ran a speedy clear in her Burghley prep run at Hartpury CCI4*-S earlier this month, too.
Her Bramham first-phase score was something of an outlier; here, we’ll be expecting more of a mid-thirties mark, though the dressage is still a work in progress. Irene was previously produced British rider Rhian Smith, who piloted her around the Seven-Year-Old World Championship at Le Lion d’Angers in 2020 and did half her CCI4*S debut in 2022, before the horse changed hands. Since then, she had a very light 2023 — she did dressage and went well across the country in the CCI3*-L at Blair last summer, but was withdrawn before showjumping because of a nasty fall Susie had from another horse — and then stepped up to 4* properly this spring at Burnham Market. Now, she comes to her 5* debut with three CCI4*-S runs and one go at CCI4*-L, all with clear cross-country rounds. She’s still a bit of an unknown quantity, and Susie will be riding her here to fact-find for the future more than to try to be competitive, but she could prove to be a very exciting addition to Susie’s enviable top-level string.
10: Aaron Millar and Friendship VDL (GBR)
It’ll be a 5* debut for Friendship VDL, who proved he was ready for the move-up at Bramham this year, when he finished sixth in the CCI4*-L. And on the subject of terrain-heavy courses, he also finished in the top ten in the CCI4*-S at Bicton this spring in tough conditions, and jumped clear, though steadily, around Blair’s CCI4*-L last summer. That’s a lot of Bs, so why not add one more? Just for fun? Just for continuity’s sake?
This horse can be something of a wildcard in the first phase — we’ve seen him go sub-30 at 4* (Bicton this year, a 29.6) but also go over the 40 threshold, too (Burnham Market on the run before Bicton, a 40.2). We’ll split the difference here, lean into optimism, and assume he’ll get a mid-30s sort of mark, which is absolutely good enough to keep anyone in the hunt at Burghley, where the real influence starts on Saturday.
That day, of course, he’ll have the usual debutant question marks hanging over him, but this year, we’ve really seen him on his best-ever form. He’s been very quick, and easy with it, and he’s been showjumping brilliantly, and if he keeps that up, he could well be one of those smirking dark horses who just KNOWS you skim-read his name on the entry list and maybe feel a bit silly about it in hindsight.
11: Emma Hyslop-Webb and Jeweetwel (GBR)
After a couple of seasons away from the 5* level while she produced horses to be able to move up, Emma Hyslop-Webb will return to the Burghley centerline this week with a new debutant horse, the 10-year-old Jeweetwel. This horse, whose barn name “Huey” is taken after actor Hugh Grant due to some personality similarities, is a character Emma describes as initially quite shy and scared of people. Over time, he’s come out of his shell and now loves attention and “being fussed over”.
Emma acknowledges that a first time Burghley for a 10-year-old horse is a steep ask, so she’ll be looking more for experience gained over competitiveness this week. As someone based less than an hour from Burghley, the chance to compete here is not something Emma takes for granted. She took some time away from horses — over a decade, in fact — working in sales before she returned to the sport full-time to continue to chase and realize her Pony Club dreams of being a Burghley competitor.
12: Nicole Mills and Fearless W (GBR)
“I’m 41 now, and I’ve been eventing since I was eighteen – and sometimes, you think, ‘Am I ever going to get there?’ For a long time, I thought it would never happen,” mused 5* debutant and local rider Nicole Mills, whose base at Casewick Stud is just two miles from Burghley. Teaming up with the right horse, though, has made all those lifelong dreams feel tangible, and Nicole is delighted to be making her 5* debut at the event that’s closest to her heart – even though she admits she would, in a perfect world, have gone to Luhmühlen for a first run instead. But horses being horses, that plan had to be adapted when Fearless W needed a bit of time off after an operation on his foot.
But, says Nicole, the 14-year-old is the fittest he’s ever been in his life, and when you’re ready and your horse is ready, why wouldn’t you take the leap? They’ll come into Burghley off the back of a strong top-10 finish in the CCI4*-S at Kilguilkey in Ireland, which they went to in June after having withdrawn before cross-country at Millstreet a month prior because of concerns about the ground. They began their season with a drive-by at Ballindenisk in the CCI4*-S, which Nicole chalks up to freshness after time off — at that point, he hadn’t run in an international since the CCI4*-L at Kilguilkey ten months prior, where they’d finished third. This week, and this debut, will be about taking it fence by fence and gaining valuable experience for the future; their CCI4*-L runs have been hit or miss, with 60 penalties and a retirement at Bramham in 2022 and 20 penalties at Blenheim a few months later, but last year’s Kilguilkey run was very good and the gelding has evidently learned plenty from his earlier experiences.
14: Bella Innes Ker and Highway II (GBR)
The youngest-ever winner of Blenheim CCI4*-L with Carolyn, Bella – who earned her stripes with the legendary William Fox-Pitt before setting up on her own in 2022— has produced Highway II from the very beginning of his career. Together they have built up a solid international record, including several notable 4* completions, as well as a Nations Cup appearance for Team GB at Boekelo in 2022.
Bella and Highway made their 5* debut in Pau last October, and followed it up with a top 25 finish at the level in Luhmuhlen earlier this summer. They had 20 cross country jumping faults on both occasions, though, so no doubt Bella will be hoping to come home without those this time around. The penalties he incurred on his last two 5* outings are really the only anomalies on Highway’s cross country record; he can usually be relied upon to come home clear, though his show jumping record is not so exemplary, adding 16 faults on the final day in Pau. That being said, Bella has obviously been working hard on the that phase over the winter, as he jumped a clear round at Luhmuhlen in June – and on all but two other occasions this season.
Their dressage score tends towards the higher end of the 30’s, though Bella has been working hard with Adam kemp to improve on that — focusing on the flying changes in particular. “He’s a brilliant mover, but he struggles with flying changes,” she says of the 12-year-old, who had been sourced as a seven-year-old from Vere Phillips. Whatever the result this week, even to enter Burghley was a dream come true for Bella, and with her 30th birthday to celebrate on cross country day, Bella will be popping the cork on the champagne regardless!
15: Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise (NZL)
It has been over a year since Blackthorn Cruise last ran at 5* — he was top 25 at the notoriously soggy Badminton last year, having managed to come home clear and have but one rail down on the final day. Named as one of the reserves for Paris, this year was less about 5*s and more about the Olympics, but now that all the palaver is done and dusted, Dan has his eyes firmly set on the autumn campaign. A prep run in the CCI4*-S at last month’s final-ever(sob) Blair Castle Horse Trials has set this pair up well for their second trip to Burghley, where a steady double clear saw them finish in 12th place — and if anywhere can prepare a horse for the undulations of Burghley, it is the mountainous terrain of Blair.
Sourced from Vere Phillips as a five-year-old, Blackthorn Cruise made his debut at the level here in 2021, where he finished in the top 25, despite picking up 11 penalties on the cross country. That was the last time he faulted cross country until a fall in the 4*-S at Thoresby last year. Still, that has done their form no harm – if anything they seem all the better for it. Other than that rail on the final day at Badminton, they have jumped double clear on every other outing since, earning them a slew of top-25 placings, including at Blenheim last year in the CCI4*-L. Blackthorn Cruise has yet to break that much coveted sub-30 barrier at any of his international starts in the first phase, though he came agonisingly close at Badminton last year with a 30.3. His scores have remained within the low 30’s this season too, and should they stay there this time out, we can expect another top-25 finish for them. After all, a double jumping clear at Burghley always ends well, and that is very much their specialty!
16: Holly Richardson and Bally Louis (GBR)
Another rider who is making a return trip to Burghley after a sparkling debut last year is Holly Richardson, with Julie Wingfield’s Bally Louis. They finished in the top 25, after a smooth as silk cross country round – “he just flew round, I couldn’t believe it!” said Holly afterwards, though she would be the first to acknowledge just how bold “Louis” is across the country – “I have never come across anything that has phased him yet — he just keeps saying yes,” she said, ahead of their Burghley debut. Still, they were not so successful at Badminton earlier this year; they were pulled up after a technical elimination on course, though they have since put that behind them, finishing in the top 25 in the CCI4*-S at Burgham this summer, with just a sprinkling of time to add to their dressage score. North Yorkshire-based Holly has had the ride on Louis since 2019 producing him right through the levels, with help from Mel Chapman on the flat, and Chris Bartle in the jumping.
Louis does struggle in the first phase, with a tendency to worry and try too hard; “he is always wanting to please, so he can boil up a bit as a result,” and so they won’t be troubling the leaders after the first phase. But as they proved here last year, Louis’ bravery across country could see them climb back up the leaderboard, though he is not immune to knocking a few poles on the final day, which could prevent them breaking into the top 20. Still, a repeat of last year’s performance would be enough, laying their Badminton blip to rest – and making the long trip to Stamford from North Yorkshire all the more worthwhile!
17: Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift (GBR)
Talk about a fan favourite – Capels Hollow Drift, or “Walshy”, is one of those horses who inspires ardent admiration, and rightly so. He’s really the horse who’s propelled Tom Jackson to the next level of his career, after Tom spent several years successfully bridging the gap between a fruitful Young Rider career and a 5* Senior career with horses such as Waltham Fiddlers Find. With Walshy, he’s been able to fight for top placings – and fight he has. The pair finished second here in 2022, and were fifth at Badminton last year and this year. They also got the call-up as individuals for the FEI European Eventing Championships at a tough, wet Haras du Pin last year, though a seriously uncharacteristic mistake late on course saw them finish with a 20. They regrouped well, though, as proven by that placing at Badminton this year, and come to Burghley as one of the combinations vying for the win this week.
So how will it play out? They won’t lead the first phase, though their high-20s score will put them well in the hunt (if they don’t throw out one of their occasional outliers such as, say, the 34.4 at Badminton this spring or, in the other direction, the 22.9 at Burgham’s CCI4*-S a couple of months later). They also won’t be the very speediest in the field, though they won’t be wildly far off, and they’re likely to climb from the lower top ten to the higher top ten in this phase. On Sunday, they really ought to go clear, though they are prone to the occasional rail on the final day. In any case, watch them closely.
18: Luc Chateau and Viens du Mont (FRA)
Luc and “Viens” are back at Burghley for another go after a disappointing 60 penalties on cross country day saw Luc put up his hand and walk home last year. That result was somewhat of a surprise after two very good CCI5* placings previously; they were ninth at Pau in 2022 on the gelding’s debut at the level, and came out the following season with a just outside the top-10 finish at Badminton, where they looked very impressive in the infamously tricky going that year. Unfortunately, their early 5* form hasn’t held so far, with cross country penalties and then six fences down on the final day at Badminton this year. We’re looking at high-30s or maybe even a hoof or two into the 40s in the first phase for this pair; they put down a 43.1 at Badminton.
For last year’s form guide, I wrote something to the tune of “but this pair are totally in this game for the cross country”, and up until then, they’d never had a cross country penalty in 19 international competitions; they were clear inside the time at Pau, a feat this gelding has demonstrated across the levels at both long- and short-format events. And then came those penalties at last year’s Burghley, and then Badminton in the spring. The final day does usually bring penalties, keeping it to just the one or two poles will be a successful finish to their competition. Luc will surely be looking to lay some demons to rest at this fall’s Big B offering. Should he do so, there’s every chance of a real push up the leaderboard on Saturday and then it’ll be a waiting game as to whether they can hold their place over the colored poles.
19: Felix Vogg and Cartania (SUI)
Swiss 5* champion Felix Vogg comes forward for his first-ever crack at Burghley after what has been rather a delightful season so far, actually: he finished eighth individually at the Paris Olympics with Dao de l’Ocean, and helped his team to fifth place, and was an eleventh-place finisher at Badminton this spring, riding the gritty mare he’ll pilot this week. She also finished well in that extraordinarily tough Badminton last spring, logging a 15th place finish there in the bottomless mud on her 5* debut, and she’s been a top ten finisher at the Europeans, too, back in 2021 in Avenches. In 2022, she finished 14th at the World Championships at Pratoni.
All this adds up to a pretty compelling picture of a Burghley horse to be: one that could start sub-30, but will probably start somewhere between a 32 and a 33, and will then go on to be economical and surefooted across the country, even if she won’t be lightning fast. On Sunday, she’s had three rails at each of her 5* starts, which could be nerve-wracking for the Vogg team, but she’s also jumped an awful lot of clears at 4*.
20: Phil Brown and Harry Robinson (GBR)
Phil Brown and his “big labrador” Harry Robinson return to Burghley again on a mission to put the demons of 2023 to bed; last year, they retired on cross country after encountering trouble in the form of runouts. This is a partnership that’s exceptionally well-established, with over 10 years together, and Phil has some extra spurs of motivation coming from the fact that he spent many years also local to the event.
He knows the Burghley finish is within both himself and his horse — after all, they’ve done it before, finishing 27th in 2022. “I thought one five-star was the aim and to get that was amazing, and now he’s lining up for his fourth one,” Phil told the local news this week. “It’s incredibly exciting to have a horse that is going there three years on the bounce and is sound and happy and still loving its job. That’s really special.”
22: Alexander Bragg and Quindiva (GBR)
This former farrier proved himself as one of the most discerning horsemen currently on the circuit when he pulled Quindiva up on her 5* debut at Badminton last year. Having jumped clear all the way past the Lake, Alex opted to walk home, rather than continue to subject her to the torrid conditions of one of the soggiest Badmintons there has been in recent years. “I didn’t want to break her heart,” was his reasoning, and a 15th place at Burghley later that year proved it to have been a sensible decision. As did a podium finish on his return to Badminton this Spring, where Diva added but a handful of time faults to her dressage score to finish third — an agonising 2 penalties behind the eventual winner, Caroline Powell.
It is the first phase that has proved this 14-year-old mare’s Achilles heel – their best score at the level to date was 34.3, back at Badminton last year. Since then, they have remained in the higher end of the 30’s, though a 33 in the CCI4*-S at Hartpury last month would suggest that we could see them better that this time out. One thing that won’t be causing Alex any sleepless nights is the final day — Diva competes in pure showjumping in her spare time, qualifying for the Foxhunter final at the Horse of the Year show last year, and winning the Hickstead Derby this summer, a massive 6 seconds ahead of second-placed Fred Scala. “She is an exceptional jumper,” Alex confirms, and although she is unlikely to finish within the time across country, she has yet to finish that far on the wrong side either.
Alex was elated when he finished in third at Badminton. “It’s more than special, we’re going to be living off this for forever,” he said in an emotional interview afterwards, although there is nothing to stop them from repeating that result at Burghley this week!
23: Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue (IRL)
Austin and “Salty” were part of the Irish team in Paris, and are one of a couple of this summer’s Olympians to get the train back on the tracks quite quickly for a Burghley run. They finished 17th in Paris, jumping a characteristic clear inside the time, though two frustrating – and uncharacteristic – rails precluded a higher placing. They also competed at the Tokyo Olympics, where they were traveling reserves but subbed in at the first horse inspection, ultimately going on to finish 13th and best of the Irish. In that run, they also really showed what they were quickly becoming – one of the fastest partnerships in the world.
This’ll be a sixth 5* start for the pair, who won Maryland in 2023 and were third at Badminton in the same season. They were also eighth at Badminton in 2022, making up for a tricky debut at Pau in 2020, where they were doing brilliantly with a clear inside the time but didn’t make it through the final horse inspection. They’ve had a crack at Burghley previously – last season, actually – but picked up a shock 20 very early on at the Leaf Pit, and Austin immediately put his hand up and planned the reroute to Maryland. And that, folks, is a classic example of something going wrong so something bigger can go right.
They’re definitely a pair that will be here to hunt for a top placing, although really, they’ll only want one thing — the win. They’ll be off the pace a touch, though still in the hunt, after the first phase, where they’ll be in the low-30s (though they did get a PB of 26.4 at Bramham this summer), but they should be clear and very, very quick across the country, once they get that pesky Leaf Pit behind them. They tend to be good showjumpers, but if they’re going to have a rail, they’ll have two – hopefully, the fact that they had two in Paris means they’re starting another run of clears again now.
24: Richard Jones and Alfies Clover (GBR)
This game gelding has garnered a fan club following with British eventing spectators over the years, but they’d be wise to take caution; despite his friendly demeanor, this unicorn will bite you as soon as look at you! A true stalwart of the British CCI5* calendar, “Alfie” is coming forward for his 10th start at the level, and fifth time at the UK’s fall Big B offering. He’s got four 5* top-10 finishes on his card, twice finishing seventh at Burghley, and when you watch him going cross country you can’t help but feel he’s knocking on the door of an even bigger result.
Consistently low-30s dressage scores put him in a good spot come cross country day, where we really see this guy on his game. A horse with buckets of stamina, gallop and jump, there’s a lot to be said for long-term partnerships in this sport, and if you want to see a pairing really showing just what eventing’s all about, this combination is one to watch. He’s been clear and close to the time at both Badminton and Burghley, as well as at the pop-up 5* event held at Bicton in 2021, where he was sixth, and they’ve got so much mileage behind them that Richard will know exactly where he can push for the time in order to creep up the leaderboard once all’s said and done on Saturday. Alfie’s a one or none kind of guy on the final day and can add a smidge of time, so we’ll have to wait and see how close to the wire things are as we get down to the nitty gritty of the competition on Sunday.
26: Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality (GBR)
This is a fourth 5*, but a Burghley debut, for elite amateur Libby and her heart horse, “Angel”. They finished 21st at Badminton this year with a steady clear,14th at Pau last season, and 28th at Badminton in 2022, giving them a cross-country jumping penalty-free run of 5*s so far. This is a game, plucky, unfuckwithable sort of mare, and Libby — who works full time doing something very clever involving devices that support in Vascular Interventional Radiology (don’t ask us, we just know lots about horses) — is a pretty determined sort of character, too. Her lead-up to big events like this isn’t like many of her competitors, who’ll be getting their eye in all day long on a string of horses; instead, she can be found riding at the crack of dawn or late in the evening, well after the rest of us have swapped our breeches for pajama bottoms and let the sofa, and an eight watch-through of YOU, swallow us whole.
This season has been a pretty quiet one for Libby and Angel – since that Badminton run, they’ve not done an FEI event, though they have had some very good national runs. They did a mid-July OI run at Aston le Walls, taking an easy second after finishing on their 29.3 dressage score, and then finished eighth in the British Open Championships, held at Advanced level at Hartpury last month. Their first-phase score there was a 30.9. They ordinarily sit around a 33 at 5*, though their Badminton test this spring earned them a 37.3, and they’re consistent, if not blazingly fast, across the country – their last jumping penalties came back in 2021 at the Bicton under-25 CCI4*-L, which was a Bramham replacement and was rather wildly tough. Angel’s a super showjumper but recently, she’s become more prone to a final day scattering, and had two down this spring, though having JUST two at Badminton this year was actually a very good result. They should come to fight for another top-20 result here, really.
27: Nicky Hill and MGH Bingo Boy (GBR)
This’ll be an impressive seventh 5* start for diminutive pair MGH Bingo Boy (16 hands fully shod and on his tippy-toes) and Nicky Hill (unsure of exact height, but very small), who have been together since 2016, when Nicky took the reins from fellow British rider Megan Cummings. They’ve learned a huge amount together over the years, through both the great weeks — such as top-20 finishes at Pau in 2018, Badminton in 2019, and Burghley last year — and the not-so-great ones, which we saw a fair few of across 2020, 2021 and 2022, when they had an unbroken stint of issues at international events. Bing got a year off after Badminton in 2022, and came back last year much better for it: the pair picked up fifth place in a seriously tough Chatsworth CCI4*-S, then went on to Bramham CCI4*-L and finished an impressive sixteenth. They ran well at Hartpury CCI4*-S as prep for Burghley, which they finished 20th at, and then this spring, they were well in the hunt at Badminton, sitting 13th after cross-country, but Nicky felt Bing wasn’t 100% at the final horse inspection and withdrew him from the holding box. Since then, we’ve seen them run well in a couple of OIs and the British Open Championships at Hartpury, held at Advanced level, and they looked super until a tack malfunction led Nicky to put her hand up.
They really do feel like they’ve come into their own now, and we look forward to seeing them in action this week. They’ll likely start off in the mid-to-high 30s, and then should throw down another fun, game cross-country round with a double handful of time penalties. Sunday could see them tip a couple of rails, but Nicky’s bound and determined to give her little horse the 5* top-10 finish she’s been dreaming of.
28: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle (USA)
This will be a second trip to Burghley for Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle, after finishing 12th here last year. “Foxy” is one of Jennie’s top horses, and she’s always been effusive about how much she believes in his talent. These two are absolutely knocking on the door for a top result, finishing in the top 10 at Kentucky this year and only finishing outside of the top 15 at the 5* level one time, in their debut at the level in 2021. This is a horse with whom Jennie has had to navigate physical limitations and setbacks en route to the accomplishments she’s earned to date, and as such, her emotions on finishing a fast and clear cross country at Kentucky were palpable. She’s also talked at length about the benefits of participating in a heart rate monitor study and fitness program with New Bolton in her home state of Pennsylvania, and her fitness program has evolved with this new knowledge, enabling her to get her horses fitter than ever before.
A top 10 or better finish is not out of the question for this pair, though we likely won’t see them threaten the top dressage horses with an average score closer to the low 30s. Expect them to make some major leaps in the standings though, as Burghley is definitively anything other than a dressage competition.
29: Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain (GBR)
Could this be the most beautiful horse in the world? You guessed it, DHI Purple Rain is appropriately known as “Prince” at home, and displays all the extravagance, flashiness, and “extra”-ness that you’d expect from a horse with such a moniker. Watch out for him at the horse inspection, where, along with his flamboyant movement, we’ll likely get an insight into how Prince is feeling about all the excitement of the occasion.
Francis does a masterful job keeping things from bubbling over in the dressage ring, most of the time; first-phase scores at the CCI5* level range from 34.1 to 41. His cross country jumping record is notably clean — from 30 FEI starts, he’s only had penalties on two occasions, one being Badminton this season, where Francis retired after picking up 40 jumping penalties. He was particularly impressive at Badminton last year though; on a day when many horses found the ground incredibly difficult, Prince ate it up and seemed to thrive in the demanding conditions.
He’s been to Burghley twice before — in 2022 he seemed to tire and broke a frangible device, prompting Francis to sensibly put his hand up; last season he finished in the top 20. He’s not the quickest across the country, in part due to his bouncy way of going, and the atmosphere tends to get to him in the final phase — he rolled two poles at Badminton and Burghley last season — but Francis really rides this horse sympathetically and they’re well worth a watch for the display of horsemanship that will be on show.
30: Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal (GBR)
Harry really has been spoilt for choice in his Burghley entries, with no fewer than five horses entered, from which he’ll pick three to start. This exciting talent finished on the podium on her CCI5* debut at Burghley last year and Harry will for sure be aiming to build on that success at the top level this time around, after missing out on a Badminton completion in the spring when he had to withdraw all of his horses after the dressage phase, the only non-completion on the mare’s record from 24 international competitions. She’s a low-30s kind of gal in the first phase, although she’s shown a bunch of promise that those scores will continue on a downwards trajectory as she gains more ground at the level, and she hasn’t had a cross country jumping penalty since the Eventing Championships for Young Horses in 2017.
Time penalties are more of a mixed bag, but her record is somewhat deceptive; “Nell”, as she’s known at home, can be quick, but Harry has often taken his time with her, opting for educational rounds. As we saw at Burghley last year though, when they’re in it to win it, they’re pretty speedy, and there’s no doubt that Harry will leave the start box on cross country day this year with his minute markers very firmly in mind as he aims for another top result. The show jumping phase is another chance for Nell to show off her careful jumping, leaving the colored poles up far, far more often than not — just what you want on the final day, particularly if you’re as well-placed as Harry’s likely to be on Sunday morning.
33: Tim Price and Viscount Viktor (NZL)
Of Tim’s three rides here this week, Viscount Viktor is perhaps the least experienced of them all. A green mistake on his first 5* run in Pau last year saw him pick up 60 cross country jumping penalties, though former World Number 1 Tim was unphased, putting it down to his inexperience at the level rather than anything to worry about. His second 5* run at Luhmühlen this summer certainly seemed to suggest that he has indeed learnt a lot since then, with a steady but clear cross country. Frustratingly, he had three down on the final day, though they still finished within the top 25.
Tim has said before that Viktor is his “next big star,” and he certainly has the makings of one, though at only ten years old, he still has a lot to learn. His first phase score has been consistently sub 30 for most of this season, though he did add a few (ahem) extra moves, to his test in Luhmühlen, which saw him score 38.4. Hopefully, there will be no such antics here in Stamford this week, and a 28.7 last month at Hartpury would suggest that Tim has managed to get him back in the box in that phase.
There still remains a question mark over his performance on the final day though; he is just as likely to jump clear as he is to have one, two, or three poles. However, for his inaugural trip to Burghley, it will be enough for him to come home clear cross country, setting him up as a serious 5* contender for the future, rather than to fight for a top placing. There is still plenty of time for that, but for now, Tim will be looking to build on his 5* education thus far, and give him a happy and safe trip round.
34: Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry (GBR)
Twenty-six-year-old Max Warburton returns for a second CCI5* start, this time with the 5* debutant horse Deerpairc Revelry, and they’re in hot form coming off a podium placing in the CCI4*-L at Bramham earlier this summer to set them up for Burghley. Since then, they’ve picked up an Advanced win and look to be peaking at just the right time for a strong performance this week.
This is another pair with a low- or mid-30s score average on the flat, and they have had a blip or two on their cross country and show jumping cards, but they’ve also pulled it out when the pressure is on — and while this horse is just 10 and Max’s focus will likely be education, they could be a strong pick for a top-20 or so finish (or better!) if they truly are ready to turn in a peak performance.
35: Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH (IRL)
This will be a 5* debut for both Declan and his skewbald gelding, Seavaghan Ash. Declan and his wife Becky are directors of Cullen Equine Solutions, an equine brand and feed consultancy based in County Armagh. He actually started his competitive career in show jumping, before switching to eventing following a stint with Hansule Smuthz in Switzerland. Of all of the horses he has produced thus far, Declan is perhaps best remembered for his partnership with Glenhill Gold, with whom he was 5th at Bramham in 2009, and who is in turn, the sire of “Cassidy.”
“ I love him to death,” says Declan of the 15-year-old, who he bought as a foal (along with Butch and The Sundance Kid. Yes, really). “He’s a very precious horse, with tonnes of scope,” he says, although he has struggled with injury, which has held him back a little in his career thus far. Still, he jumped clear cross country around both Boekelo and Houghton as part of the Irish Nations Cup Team as a relatively inexperienced eight-year-old, and has since jumped clear around some seriously tough 4*-L and 4*-S tracks, not least of all Bramham and Blair, where he has finished 10th on two occasions. No need to worry about his ability to tackle Derek di Grazia’s track at Burghley then, although the chances are he will have a few down on the final day. Still, with a mid-30’s dressage and a strong chance of coming home with a clean sheet — albeit with some time — on the second day, both horse and rider look set to have a happy time on their debut at the level, even if they don’t clock up a record result. And what a treat to see a skewbald back at the top level of the sport too!
36: Ian Cassells and Master Point (IRL)
Master Point, known as “Duke”, made his 5* debut in Pau last yea, at the relatively young age of 10. He pulled of a top-30 finish on that occasion, and he bettered that on his second run at the level with a top-20 finish at Luhmühlen earlier this year. Homebred by Bridget McGing, who still shares ownership of him along with Ian and her husband Brian, Duke has been with Ian since the tender age of four, progressing through the levels under his careful hand. Ian has quietly been making a name for himself as one of Ireland’s most successful producers of top quality horses and was named as the leading event rider in Ireland in 2020 after taking the most wins that season.
Duke scored a 33.9 at Luhmühlen, though Declan has every faith that he can better that. “I think he can do a very solid test; I would like a sub-32 at least,” he says. He is also confident of a good run cross country too: “He is the fittest he has ever been, and he is a really blood horse, so I think Burghley will suit him more than Pau and Luhmühlen. He can be quick and efficient, and stay all day — though I don’t want to jinx myself — and hopefully I can do him justice!” His main hope though, is to emerge with a happy and healthy horse, though of course another top-20 finish wouldn’t go amiss! A fit horse with a speedy turn of foot is never going to come in wrong when faced with the Burghley terrain, so don’t be surprised if Ian and Duke do indeed pull off another impressive 5* result and confirm their place within the upper echelons of the sport.
37: Lizzie Baugh and B Exclusive (GBR)
The first of our 5* debutantes on this year’s roster is 27-year-old Lizzie Baugh, who has twice represented Great Britain as an individual at FEI Young Rider European Eventing Championships, finishing in 13th in 2018 and ninth in 2017. Both of those appearances came with longtime partner Quarry Man, but her entry here is with the exciting B Exclusive, who she’s piloted throughout his international career. They shot into the spotlight at an achingly difficult Chatsworth last spring, where they won the second CCI4*-S section despite incredibly tricky conditions that saw many fail to make it to the cross-country. They then went on to a sixth-place finish in the CCI4*-L at Bramham – arguably the toughest track of the level in the world – and this year, they’ve had a light run of it, logging a prep run in the CCI4*-S at Hartpury, where they jumped a planned steady clear. That came after a trip to Aston for the Open Intermediate a few weeks prior, from which they ultimately withdrew before the jumping phases.
It’s admittedly not an ideal lead-up to a first 5*, but Lizzie knows this horse inside and out, and “Buzz” has proven that he’s an out-and-out Burghley type with his previous successes over terrain-heavy tracks. The pair have also had a little bit of prior exposure to 5* atmosphere; they did the guinea pig test at last year’s Badminton, en route to producing their international personal best at Chatsworth. We’ll be looking for a first-phase score in the mid-30s, though they’ve slipped sub-30 at 4* on a couple of occasions, and from then on out, their focus will be on notching up a confidence-building first trip around this beefy track.
38: Andrew James and Celtic Morning Star (GBR)
The 13-year-old Celtic Morning Star made his CCI5* debut at Burghley last year, finishing in the top 25. Andrew James followed that up with a trip to Badminton this spring, but opted to pull up after running into some trouble on cross country. They went on to finish in the top 10 at the Blair Castle 4*-L last summer, and this year have had a somewhat mixed bag of results in FEI competition. The son of the great Chilli Morning certainly has talent in spades, and his story is a special one to his breeder and owner, Michele Harries, as she owned and used to ride “Joey’s” dam, Rebel Riches. This horse was the mare’s first and only foal.
39: Mia Farley and Phelps (USA)
Well this is exciting, to see Mia Farley’s name on the entry list, along with OTTB Phelps, who is fast making a name for himself as a 5* superstar. Their trip across the Atlantic has been in part thanks to a massive fundraising effort — search “Get Mia and Phelps to Burghley” on gofundme.com if you’d like to donate to their cause — and this is but the latest chapter in what has been a fairytale few years for this partnership. Bought by David O’Connor for a grand total of $1, Phelps was given to Mia to produce, following her move to the O’Connor’s stable in 2017. Since then, their partnership has produced the kind of results that dreams are made of, and cemented them as firm favourites amongst eventing fans.
Fifth in their first 5* at Maryland last year — the only combination to come home inside the time — they followed that with a 13th place finish at Kentucky earlier this year, where they once again sped home inside the time. As such, it will be almost expected of them to repeat that performance over the undulations of Burghley, though Phelps does unfortunately frequently struggle on the final day. They were actually lying in third place at Maryland last year, where two rails knocked them off the podium, and four down at Kentucky also saw them fall from fifth after cross country to eventual 13th place. That is not to say that it is an impossibility — Mia is aware that this is Phelps’ weakest phase and has been working hard to find ways to improve upon it ahead of their third 5* run. With a first phase score that sits around the low-30’s mark, as well as their tendency to leap up the leaderboard after cross country, an improved show jumping round – even by one or two poles – could see another fairytale finish for this loveable pair, who have provided one of the very best stories within the sport in recent years – and long may it continue!
40: Zara Tindall and Class Affair (GBR)
We’ll be the first to admit it: we weren’t sure Class Affair had the right stuff for this level. And then at Badminton this spring, he just… dug deep, in a way that was new and refreshing, even when there was an open door in front of him for him to choose the easy, run-out option — and even Zara herself seemed pleasantly surprised by this change of fates. Perhaps, at 15, the spicy Irish boy has finally grown up. The pair finished 16th at Badminton after that very good round, which saw them add 18.4 time penalties and a rail to their first-phase score of 37.2, and they’ve also previously had a good run at Kentucky last year, where they finished 15th. But at Maryland in 2021, they picked up 20 penalties, and at Burghley in 2023, 2022, and 2019, they failed to complete, so they’ve got a real score to settle here (and probably more desire than anyone else to put the Leaf Pit firmly behind them).
Though they started Badminton in the high 30s, it’s actually much more like them to begin around 31, though they’ve gone sub-30 at this level before. On Sunday, they’ve had a rail each time they’ve made it that far at 5*, but Zara won’t be thinking much about that right now — the focus will be solely on carrying through the good juju that Class Affair brought to Badminton and getting that Burghley completion in the bag — then she can go for it on Sunday. Don’t expect them to be wildly quick – he’s not that kind of horse – but they can be efficient.
41: Tom Bird and Cowling Hot Gossip (GBR)
Twenty-two-year-old Tom Bird makes his sophomore CCI5* start this weekend with a new-to-the-level partner in the 12-year-old Cowling Hot Gossip (which is honestly a very on-brand name here at EN, big fan). Tom made his Burghley/5* debut at this event in 2023 with a different horse, gaining some valuable experience to take forward to future efforts at this top level. “Jasper” has been produced to this level by Tom, who’s had the horse in his program since the outset of his eventing career. They’re coming in hot off of a fifth-place finish in the always competitive U25 CCI4*-L at Bramham this summer, and they also have other notoriously tough events such as the Blair Castle CCI4*-L under their belts in recent seasons.
This won’t be a pair we’ll see at the top of the leaderboard after dressage, as they dip into the mid-high 30s on a good day, and show jumping is also a bit of a sticker for these two, but they have a pretty strong cross country record and should be coming into this weekend well-prepared for the challenge ahead.
42: Emily King and Valmy Biats (GBR)
Going into their seventh 5* start together, Emily King and Phillipe Brivois, David King, & the Valmy Biats Syndicate’s Valmy Biats first started their partnership back in 2020, competing at the 4* level after “Val” was campaigned by Victor Levecque and Mathieu Lemoine. Emily and Val have developed into a pair that often produce a low- to mid-20s dressage score, these two have all of the components to be a force to be reckoned with. They still have some inconsistencies at the 5* level, with an elimination and a retirement, but they most recently brought it all together to finish fourth at Badminton this spring, and will be looking to do so again.
44: Cosby Green and Copper Beach (USA)
Cosby moved to the UK last March, basing with Tim and Jonelle Price – her long-time idols – for what was initially meant to only be a year. However, she returned for another season this spring, and although she will be returning home to the states to set up her own yard next year, she will be taking with her a wealth of experience. She made her 5* debut at Pau in 2023, with the former Buck Davidson ride Copper Beach. Himself no stranger to the level, he and Cosby proved the strength of their partnership to finish in 16th place. They didn’t quite pull off the result they were hoping for at Badminton this spring, where they had a few too many show jumps on the final day to finish just outside of the top 30. Still, a clear round over one of the toughest cross country tracks in the world is nothing to be sniffed at, and proves their capability at the level ahead of their trip to Burghley.
One thing that they did improve upon at their second run at 5* together was their dressage score, bettering their 35.1 at Pau by two marks for 33.7. Indeed, their score in the first phase has remained there or lower for the rest of the season – they scored 31.5 in the British Open Championships at Hartpury last month, so don’t be surprised to see them go lower than their last two runs at the level. Something else that Cosby is sure to want to improve upon is their show jumping performance. Admittedly, seven rails is somewhat of an anomaly for “Sean”, who rarely tips more than two coloured poles, though perhaps at the grand old age of 18, it is his age that prevents him from jumping clear following a ten-minute-plus cross country run. Nonetheless, to continue to romp home around some seriously testing tracks at that age is no mean feat, and testament to Cosby’s careful management of her “best friend”. She will be grateful to come home safe and clear no doubt, ticking off another challenge and confirming her place as one of the rising stars of the US eventing scene.
45: Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy (GBR)
Long Tall Will v2.0 stepped Ballycoog Breaker Boy up to 5* at Badminton this spring, where they finished a very respectable 24th with a steady clear across the country, though they, like many competitors, got a bit of a spanking from that eye-wateringly influential show jumping track, and took down an uncharacteristic three rails. Last year, we saw them do very well in the CCI4*-S at Bramham, finishing fourth, and while the short isn’t as much of a “tell” for Burghley success as the long there is, it still features plenty of Bramham terrain. They finished the 2023 season with a top-20in the CCI4*-L at Blenheim, which always has a fairly whopping field of entries, and they were also top-10 finishers there in the prestigious eight- and nine-year-old class back in 2021.
This is a Burghley debut for Will, who’s the son of a former Olympian, though in the winter sport of cross-country skiing, and who once – allegedly, anyway – turned down an offer to go on Love Island (we wish he hadn’t, because it would make running our live updates on cross-country so much more entertaining if we had those clips to work with). We’ll expect this duo to start around the mid-30s, though they can certainly go lower – they produced a 36.1 at Badminton but frequently hover around the 30 mark at 4*, and have put mid-20s scores on the board at 3* (where, notably, there are no flying changes). Then, it’ll be about cruising around for experience and education – Ballycoog Breaker Boy is a naturally swift horse, but this is the biggest track these two will ever have seen, so learning as much as possible about it, and each other, will set them up brilliantly for competitive runs in the future.
46: Andrew Heffernan and Harthill Phantom (NDL)
British-based Dutch rider and Netherlands’ National Coach Andrew Heffernan is back at Burghley with Harthill Phantom; he retired out on course last year after picking up a twenty on the gelding’s CCI5* debut and Andrew’s first time at the level since 2017. Not one to automatically put his hand up when there’s a blip — obviously it depends on how things are feeling, but he’s gone on to complete with this gelding after having jumping penalties more often than he’s walked home — Andrew will be looking to come through the finish flags on cross country day having put some valuable top-level experience under Harthill Phantom’s cinch.
Their first phase scores have been consistently mid-30s since last year’s edition of the fall Big B, and their form card suggests it’s 50/50 whether they’ll put in a clear round on cross country day; regardless of if they do or not, there’s likely to be time penalties to add. Show jumping is a similar story really, with faults more likely than not; in 16 FEI competitions they’ve kept the poles in the cups just twice. But whatever happens and wherever the penalties lie, Andrew’s goal will surely be to add a solid 5* completion to this gelding’s record.
47: Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser (GBR)
FEI and World Number 1 is having quite the year, adding another Olympic Team Gold to his medal cabinet, as well as two 5* podium finishes; second at Kentucky with JL Dublin, and again at Luhmühlen with CHF Cooliser, his entry this week at Burghley. Oh, and he is about to become a daddy too, with wife Harriet expecting their first child in November.
Eliza finished second on her 5* debut too, at Pau in in 2021, with a double clear inside the time. Add to that a top-30 placing at Badminton 2022, as well as a 12th place here at Burghley later that year — despite activating a MIM clip — and it is safe to say that a 5* is not something that phases “Queen Elizabeth”. However, this will be her first return to Stamford since 2022, after a year out from international competition in 2023. If anything, her form has only improved since then, as demonstrated by that podium finish at Luhmühlen.
Due to start at Badminton in the spring, she was withdrawn before the first horse inspection – which worked out rather well in the end, actually. The 11 penalties incurred on her last run here marks her only cross country faults to date, and her show jumping record is similarly impressive; it is rare that she has more than a pole down. Tom will no doubt leave no stone unturned in an attempt to break the 30 barrier in the first phase – they scored 25.6 on their first run here, and while that rose to 30.8 in Luhmuhlen, that was a day of notoriously stingy marking. Should they drop back into the 20’s, then it would not be unexpected to see them back on the podium once again – and perhaps it is time that Tom took the win, after his recent bout of “seconditis”! One thing is for sure, this is one feisty mare, with all the guts required to tackle Derek di Grazia’s course, and one that is a delight to watch at the level.
49: Sarah Ennis and Grantstown Jackson (IRL)
“A loveable character who wants to live in your pocket and eat polos,” says Irish Olympian Sarah Ennis of the diminutive “Jacky”, with whom she was pathfinder at last year’s European Championships in Haras du Pin – where they were also second-fastest across country, in seriously tough conditions. The undulations of Burghley shouldn’t phase him then, as Sarah confirms: “cross country would be his strongest phase; he gallops like there’s no tomorrow.” Sarah is also renowned for her ability to ride at speed, so these two really are a match made in heaven – and a pair that actually came together on the suggestion of Ciaran Glynn, who Jacky was originally bought for, by owners Peter Cole and Susanna Francke. What a partnership it has been thus far; along with their incredible European Championships performance, where they finished up in 14th place, Jacky also made his 5* debut last year too, at Pau.
They picked up an unfortunate 20 penalties across country on that occasion, though the 13-year-old gelding proved that was naught but a green mistake, as he romped around Badminton with just 3.6 time penalties — the third fastest time of the day. As at the Europeans, that led to a massive leap up the leaderboard — this time from 42nd to 5th. Sadly, they dropped out of the top 10 on the final day with five show jumps down, though to finish within the top 20 on your Badminton debut is no mean feat. Sarah herself acknowledges that dressage would be Jacky’s weakest phase — “he’s super sensitive, the most sensitive horse I have ever had” — but it almost goes without saying that he will gallop right back into contention after the cross country. As long as he doesn’t have a repeat of Badminton, he could well stay in the top 10 – and earn himself a whole box of polos in the process.
50: Alice Casburn and Topspin (GBR)
Alice and Topspin will make their eighth 5* start together at Burghley this year — quite something for a rider who is only 22. Even more remarkable when you consider that, of those eight starts, they have finished out of the top 20 but once, and only then because Alice opted to pull up at Badminton this year. An FOD at Luhmuhlen proved that this was but a temporary blip, as did last month’s 11th place at Hartpury, in the British Open Championships.
Bred by Alice’s mother Caroline, who evented his grandmother Spangle to Advanced level before breeding his mother, Capriati, “Spin” is known for his quirks – indeed, Alice says that the spookier he is on entering the show jumping ring, the better the round he produces. This is their third visit to Stamford, and they have yet to finish out of the top 10; they were seventh here last year, and fifth on their debut in 2022, adding only a handful of time faults to their dressage score on both occasions. That first phase is the only real weakness in 16-year-old Spin’s armour; their best score at the level to date was on that debut, with a 33.6.
Since then, they have remained firmly in the mid 30’s, with a 35.8 here last year — and even straying so high as 38 at Luhmühlen. Instead, it is Spin’s jumping ability that allows them to repeatedly climb back up the leaderboard following the jumping phases — it is a rarity for these two to encounter a problem cross country (although he has proved that he is not quite invincible in this phase) and their show jumping record speaks for itself. But then, this is a horse that was initially produced as a showjumper by Caroline before Alice took the ride, and who still jumps in Puissance competitions “for fun”. Alice has always been vocal in her love and gratitude for her beloved Spin, despite the havoc that he so often causes behind the scenes; digging holes in his stable at Luhmühlen being but one example of his less desirable antics. They also won an individual Bronze medal at the Young Rider Europeans back in 2022, and it would be of no great surprise to anyone to see them back in the top 10 again this week at Burghley.
51: Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier (NZL)
For reasons best known to, well, no one, Caroline and this gutsy 11-year-old mare were left on the Olympic reserve bench this summer. No matter though, as she heads to Burghley for her second 5* of the season instead. Her first outing at the level this year was of course, at Badminton in the spring, where she finished atop the podium after a glorious jumping clear saw her climb up from seventh after dressage. Proof, if ever it was needed, that double-Olympian Caroline is still very much at the top of her game. This will be the first trip to Burghley for “Cav”, though of course it has been very happy hunting ground for Caroline in the past: she won with the late, great Lenamore back in 2010 and has enjoyed several top-10 placings here as well.
A tricky horse in her younger years — she was eliminated as a five-year-old in the Burghley Young Event Horse classes — “Queen Bee” has more than redeemed herself since then. The Badminton win this spring was not altogether too surprising, given her previous form at the level. Fifth on her first start at Pau, she picked up 40 penalties on her first trip around Badminton in 2022, though Caroline credits that educational round as instrumental in her victorious return to the event this year. Her other run at the level at Maryland last year ended with another top-10 placing, once more proving her talent, especially in the jumping phases. For this is a mare who has jumped a double clear more often than not — every time out this season, in fact. A win in the CCI4*-S at Blair last month would suggest that she is still very much on top form, and she comes here with every chance of another win.
52: Emma Thomas and Icarus X (GBR)
This will be recently crowned British Under-25 Champion Emma Thomas’ second trip to Burghley; she and “Stix” made their debut here last year, and what a memorable one it was, finishing in 18th place — quite the beginning to their 5* careers. Sadly, their second tilt at the level at Badminton this spring did not go quite so smoothly; they withdrew after dressage, when Stix was found to have a foot abscess. Indeed, the earlier part of this season has not altogether that successful season for Stix – the same weekend that Emma took the U25 title at Bramham with The Buzz Factor, she also retired on course with Stix, after suffering some communication problems. Undeterred, they rerouted to the CCI4*-S at Aston le Walls, where they pulled off a steady double clear, followed by a frustrating 20 penalties in the 4*-S at Burgham just a few weeks later. Testament to just what a tricky character Stix can be, though an eighth place at last month’s Blair at the same level also demonstrates his ability, as well as Emma’s own resilience and determination, with a knack for efficiently working through problems when they arise — no doubt a result of the tutelage she received under Pippa Funnell, as part of the Wesko Foundation.
They scored a 38.5 here last year, and no doubt Emma will be grateful for a similar score — dressage is “not his favourite” phase, she says, and so anything sub-40 is a gift. Still, he has all the ability to jump double clear again, should he apply himself. If anyone can bring the best out in him though, it is Emma, who studied Biology at the Royal Veterinary College before committing to riding full time. She has produced the 11-year-old gelding since he was just five years old: “I started his career and it’s just been the most incredible journey – he’s always been a bit of a wild child, but has also always had the talent and brain to be good. We’ve really formed one of the best partnerships and I think we’ve got ultimate faith in each other.”
That partnership is undeniable when it all goes to plan – theirs was one of few show jumping clears last year, and their cross country round belied their relative inexperience at the level. Fingers crossed that Stix keeps it together, and brings home another great result for his ever faithful rider!
53: Sophia Hill and Humble Glory (AUS)
A trip to Blighty was always part of the plan for Burghley first-timer Sophia, who made the journey here from her native Australia this spring — complete with two horses, her husband Andrew, and eight-month-old Oliver. She and Andrew, a farrier, remortgaged their house to pay for the trip, so determined was she to get a taste of the European eventing circuit. At that point, Sophia had only planned to bring Humble Glory, but a place on the shortlist for the Olympic team — along with a healthy amount of funding from the Australian Federation — meant that she was also able to bring her other top horse, Seattle Park, along for the ride. Sophia and Andrew run an equestrian business in Mansfield, Victoria, producing horses as well as competing her own, but they have been based with Nicola Wilson whilst over here in the UK. That in itself will have been an enriching experience for Sophia, who has already finished on the podium at 5*, following a double clear at Adelaide last year. “It’s been great, getting her guidance and advice as to which events to target in the lead up to Burghley,” said Sophia, who will be returning to Oz shortly after the event.
One of several Thoroughbreds on the start list here this week, “Hughie” had a short and unsuccessful racing career, and she was initially unimpressed by him – “He was dropped off in an open-topped stock crate, and I thought nothing of him. He looked fat and unathletic, and nothing special. But then I started working with him, and thought I might keep him for myself. He won his first event at 90cm, and well, he’s just kept going from there!” she recalls. “He’s been a cross country machine his entire life, and he’s a really careful show jumper as well.” He has certainly proved that to be the case this season, storming home inside the time at Bramham in June, to finish on his dressage score. Of his nine starts here this season, he has rolled but one pole, so should they skip around Derek de Grazia’s course in similar style, they could well be one of the stand out stars of the show; a lovely way to end the Hill family’s UK adventure.
The only real weakness that Hughie has, it would seem, is the first phase: their scores tend to hover around the higher end of the 30’s, though Sophia has also been gleaning all of the help she can from Nicola in this phase too, so if ever she was to pull off a PB, it would be here. A dark horse in a field full of proven superstars, Sophia and Hughie are certainly ones to watch, and will surely provide one of the best cross country runs of the week, if nothing else.
55: Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M (USA)
Hannah Sue’s mount “Chito” is relatively low-mileage for his age, having only begun his international career in 2019. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag of results at CCI5* thus far, with an unfortunate rider fall at Kentucky in 2022 on the gelding’s debut at the level, followed up with a fourth place at Maryland last season where he really showed his class, and then was withdrawn before cross country at Kentucky this year. He’s heading outside North America for the first time to contest Burghley, making the trip off the back of a second place at Bromont this summer and a win at Bouckaert Farm in the spring.
We’re likely looking at low-30s in the first phase and a clear cross country jumping round; since 2020 he’s incurred penalties just twice in 17 runs, both in the 2022 season, prior to Chito’s Cushing’s disease diagnosis and subsequently successful treatment plan, which has seen a marked improvement in the gelding’s performance. In terms of time, he’s likely to pick up a handful of penalties, but certainly not too many to put him out of the running. The show jumping phase was a bit hit and miss through 2022 and into 2023, with a spat of uncharacteristic faults, but things seem to have settled since then, although they did roll a pole in their most recent FEI run. Whatever happens, it’s really exciting to see this pair on the other side of the pond, and it’ll be cool to watch Chito getting stuck into Burghley’s infamously meaty track on Saturday.
57: Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge (FRA)
It is testament to the strength and depth of the current French team that Gireg did not make the final three this summer in Paris. He was still called up as the traveling reserve though, along with his Burghley partner this week. Like several other riders who also took that spot, he is using it to his advantage and rerouting here for a crack at an autumn 5*. This will be their first trip to the historic Stamford event, though it is their fourth 5* start. Fifteenth at last year’s Europeans, where they were competing as individuals, Gireg and Aisprit made their debut at the level two years ago at Badminton. They did so in fine style too, with a top-15 finish, and inched back into the top-20 at the same event a year later, having survived the torrid conditions across country.
Bought for Gireg as a four-year-old, Aisprit has shown a natural talent right from the start, with a top-25 placing in the Seven-year-old Young Horse Championships back in 2017, and another in the Eight- and Nine-year-old class at Blenheim a year later. His cross country record is not entirely flawless though, and indeed they failed to complete their second 5* run at Pau in 2022. Nonetheless, his recent form would suggest that any issues have been ironed out; he has been in the top 10 at each of his international outings this year, and Gireg will certainly be chasing a competitive result this week.
Eighth in the Under-25 class at Bramham in 2013, Gireg spent time with the likes of Chris Burton, Sam Griffths, and William Fox-Pitt in his younger years, before returning to France to set up on his own in 2020. “This is the best horse I have ridden so far,” says Gireg, and they will be ones to watch this week for sure. They will more than likely pull off a sub 30 dressage score – or at least be very close – and the 14-year-old Selle Francais isn’t too slow cross country either — though they may be disappointed by the comparatively lacklustre British spectators, who can’t be relied upon to shout “Allez, allez!” quite so enthusiastically as the French crowds in Paris!
58: Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent (GBR)
Oliver brings Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s exciting young mare “Rosie” forward for her first Big B, and it’ll be really interesting to see what she makes of the iconic, meaty track on cross country day. Already a CCI5* winner despite being just 10 years old, she’s also got a third place at the top level on her card, both on US soil. That’s not bad form to be coming into Burghley with; this season alone she’s had two wins and a second place and she hasn’t been outside the top seven in 21 international competitions — barring four occasions — including taking the title in the highly regarded 4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds at Blenheim last year.
More than capable of a dressage score in the low 20s (she went sub 20 for the first time in her latest run at 4*) and as sure a bet as you can make in eventing for a speedy clear across the country (she was just one second over the time at Kentucky in the spring), the only “will she, won’t she” question mark comes in the final phase — two down at Maryland last year dropped her from first to third, but she delivered the goods on her next top-level opportunity and kept the poles in their cups at Kentucky to clinch the win. Oliver’s no stranger to topping the standings once all’s said and done on the final day of a 5* event as he’s won Kentucky four times and Burghley three — will he equal things out this week? There’s every chance.
59: Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera (NZL)
A small, dark, feisty mare.. some might say that Jonelle Price has a type, as “Grape” could easily be mistake for her 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet at first glance. She too is a 5* winner, way back in 2022, when she rose from 13th after dressage to take the win at Pau. Since then, we have seen very little of this spirited little mare; she started but once last season at Bicton, and even there, Jonelle retired midway through the dressage. No matter, for she has come back in fine form, once more proving herself as an out-and-out 5* horse with a sixth place at Badminton.
“I always said we’d get there,” said Jonelle, following their win in Pau, but this mare has proved to be somewhat frustrating at times. We have seen her flirt with a sub-30 dressage score one week, before scoring a solid 40-plus the next, and Jonelle has spoken openly about the need to keep her on side in a big atmosphere too — “she’s a good jumper, but sometimes the moment can get to her.” Her form this season though would suggest that Jonelle, one-half of everyone’s favourite Kiwi power couple, has finally found the key. A frustrating 20 at Thoresby this Spring — Grape pecked badly on landing, and had no option than to run past the next fence — is the only blip on her record thus far this season. Other than that, she has applied herself almost impeccably, with even the first phase scores remaining consistently within the mid to low 30’s.
A rail at Badminton has been the only show jumping fault in all of her international starts this season, the result of another winter in Spain on the Sunshine Tour, no doubt. Renowned for her fast and efficient cross country riding, Jonelle will not be coming to Burghley to make up numbers. Jonelle has been achingly honest about her Olympic disappointment following an unfortunate 20 penalties in Paris, so she will be more determined than ever to post a good result here. Grape has proven herself worthy in the past, and indeed, her natural talent has always been recognisable — she won the British 5-year-old Championships in 2016 with Alex Postolowsky before Jonelle took the reins in 2017. Now it is more a case of managing her naturally fiery temperament to ensure she can perform at her very best, and if anyone can do that, it is Jonelle, who is arguably the human personification of Grape — “fiercely determined and athletic.”
60: Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG (LTU)
Aistis was set to become Lithuania’s first Olympic eventer this summer, until a contentious call at Luhmühlen saw him lose out on qualification when he was pulled up for what was deemed a series of dangerous jumps. Whichever side of the issue you may support, the job was done: he wasn’t able to go to Paris, and instead, we see him reroute here with the lovely Commander VG, a horse as game and honest as the day is long.
This will be a 10th 5* start for the 13-year-old gelding, who made his debut at the age of nine at Pau, where he jumped clear for 31st place. Their best result at the level is 11th place, which came in 2021 at Luhmühlen, and they jumped a slow clear in the deep mud at Badminton last year, though the rest of their season was a bit trickier — they then went on to Luhmühlen the next month and retired on course, then tackled Burghley a couple of months later and had a horse fall at the Dairy Mound, and then rerouted to Pau and completed, although picking up a 20 on course. This season, they had that technical elimination in the CCI5* at Luhmühlen. Since then, they’ve quietened the pace a bit, and secured a top ten finish in a CCI4*-S class at Hamm in mid-July, and haven’t run internationally since.
An easier lead-up may prove to be just the tonic for this cool horse, who’ll start off the pace in the dressage — he tends toward high-30s scores that can go into the 40s or even, rarely, the 50s, because he gets so tense. That won’t matter, though — Aistis just likes to try to give Commander as nice an experience as possible in this tricky phase, and their focus will be wholly on a confidence-boosting completion here.
62: Lauren Innes and Global Fision M (NZL)
This will be the fourth 5* start for Lauren and “Flipper,” and their second trip to Burghley. They made their debut at the level last year at Badminton, where they finished 24th, before pulling off the same result at Burghley later in the year. This year, they went one better, finishing 23rd at Badminton, after yet another steady clear around Eric Winter’s track. Cross country is the 14-year-old gelding’s specialty; “nothing is too big,” says full time chartered accountant Lauren, who bought him as a five-year-old from Brian Morrison. The same could not be said of his dressage proficiency — as he has a tendency to become incredibly nervous, and consequently tense, between the white boards, and even more so when there is a particularly large crowd. Hence, they usually have to climb from the bottom end of the scoreboard after the first phase, though three top-25 finishes from their three 5* starts proves that this has yet to be a problem. Still, Lauren will be hoping for an improvement on last year’s 45.3, which saw them in 58th place before cross country.
Lauren has been working hard with Jason Webb over the winter to try to find a way to dampen Flipper’s pre-dressage nerves, and allow him to produce a more relaxed test, and indeed, a five-mark improvement on last year’s Badminton score this spring would suggest that the hard work has paid off. Seemingly, the atmosphere did get to him again at Aachen where he posted 53.2, though understandably so, for that is an arena incomparable to any other in the world. Hopefully, he will have wound back down in time for his second trip to Stamford this week — and even if he doesn’t pull off a PB, there is no doubt that he will skip round the cross country with ease to finish comfortably within the top–25 once again, for he is as consistent in the final phase as he is on the cross country, rarely tipping more than two poles. One certainty though, is the lucky banana that will be accompanying him this week, which groom Debbie McDonald never fails to provide, complete with face and name!
63: Nadja Minder and Toblerone (SUI)
It’s a family affair at Burghley for Nadja, whose mom is along for the ride as groom to Toblerone, or “Schöggeli” (translation: chocolate) as he’s known at home. Nadja says her guy’s character “is as funny as his name” and he’s “THE rascal” in the barn. There’s something extra special about reaching the pinnacle of the sport with your Young Riders horse, and that’s exactly where Nadja finds herself as she lines up for her second CCI5* start. Not only have they achieved the upper echelons of eventing together, but they’ve done it via Senior team ranks, with World and European Championships appearances as well as a trip to Paris as traveling reserve for the Swiss Olympic team; she sure has packed in a bunch of experience before her 25th birthday.
They come to Burghley with a top-25 result at Pau under their cinch and plenty of impressive form. They’ll be looking for a low-30s score in the first phase and will be hunting a clear cross country round on Saturday, which they’ve every chance of achieving if their record is anything to go by. They’ve had jumping penalties just twice, a 20 at Pau on their debut at the level and a 15 for a missed flag this season; other than a very late, very unlucky rider fall at the World Championships in Pratoni, they’ve gone clear in all of their other 26 international runs together. They’re often speedy to boot, although Nadja will probably be going for the jumping clear at her first Burghley over the time. They’ll likely have a pole in the final phase but, all being well, will be competitive enough overall for another solid 5* completion.
64: Padraig McCarthy and Lady Ophelia (IRL)
A 5* debut for Lady Ophelia, Padraig has developed this 12-year-old mare from her first FEI event at the 2* level in 2021. With seven 4* runs under her belt, we have seen these two often come home clear across the country, which bodes well for a crack at the ever-foreboding Burghley terrain. If they can maintain that trend, they could sneak up the leaderboard; however, we’ve seen a bit of a range in their scores on the first day, from mid 30s-mid 40s, which could put them off of the top of the competitive field.
65: Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte (NZL)
2024 will be a year that Jesse would rather forget; he lost his beloved Georgie following a fatal fall in May, which sent shockwaves throughout the entire eventing community, the effects of which are still being felt, no more so than by Jesse. Still, he urged us all to smile on, in an achingly moving tribute to Georgie and “above all, try and love everything and everyone.” For Jesse, consolation lay with his horses, and in a superhuman effort, he has shown that the show must go on. “Being on the back of a horse galloping across the countryside is where I feel happiest, and I can’t wait to leave the start box tomorrow with my wife in my heart,” he wrote ahead of his return to competition, and no doubt that will be the exact same sentiment with which he leaves the start box at Burghley.
Runner-up in the unofficial Tallest Man in Eventing Competition (although there could be a rematch this week, with joint winner Will Rawlin also entered…), Jesse arrived in the UK at the tender age of 21, as part of the New Zealand High Performance Squad. Initially based with Andrew Nicholson, he set up on his own in 2012 and has since represented his country in several Nations Cups, as well as at the Tokyo Olympics, where he and Diachello finished in the top 25. He won the cross country prize on his 5* debut at Luhmühlen in 2015, after finishing bang on the optimum time.
Aptitude for eventing was not something that came as naturally to his ride this week; “Henry” came to his yard as a last resort, having shown little appetite for the sport as a young horse. Even Jesse despaired of his lackadaisical attitude for a while, but his patience paid off — he jumped double clear around Bramham and Blenheim in 2023, and repeated that in the 4*-L at Bramham last year to finish in the top 20. An unfortunate fall at the third water meant that Henry’s 5* debut came to an untimely end, though he put that firmly behind him on his second start at the level at Badminton this spring, where they rose from 35th after dressage to finish in 15th place.
Likely to score mid 30’s in the first phase, Jesse and Henry will be reasonably well placed after dressage, but their usual quick spin across country should see them climb back into contention, though Henry is not immune to a pole or two on the final day. He knocked three at Badminton, though that was a track better suited to a pure show jumping ring rather than the last day of a 5*. No one deserves a top result more than Jesse, and indeed, there are few more capable riders out there either. Go well Jesse — the whole eventing community is right behind you.
66: Rose Nesbitt and EG Michealangelo (GBR)
Rose partnered up with “Jack” when he was a five-year-old, and they’ve enjoyed a successful run up the levels together. She describes the gelding as having a huge character — he knows he’s a special lad and can’t wait to get to the big events where he can show off. This will be their third appearance at 5*; Rose opted to sit out Badminton in the spring in favor of having time to get sufficient prep runs in after the winter. This pair’s dressage scores have been on a downward trajectory recently, with a hoof in the 20s at 4* in their most recent run. Generally though, we’re looking at low-30s; they posted a 34.6 at Badminton last year before having their competition end early after a fall out on cross country.
There’s just one cross country jumping penalty on their record from 25 international completions, which came at Badminton in 2022, so Rose will be looking for a solid, if reasonably steady, clear round. Keeping the poles in the cups in the final phase is by no means outside their grasp, although they do sometimes have the odd one; a fraction of a time penalty is likely. No doubt Rose will be hunting a fun, cross country clear and a second top-level completion as she heads to Burghley with her game gelding.
68: Monica Spencer and Artist (NZL)
Monica made no secret of the fact that she was vying for Olympic selection when she moved over to the US in February, along with husband Andrew, son Gus, and a string of horses, including OTTB Artist. She certainly did her chances of making the team no harm with a seventh place in the 5* at Kentucky this Spring – a repeat of her performance at Maryland last October. Ultimately though, she missed out on a team slot, and instead opted to reroute to Burghley, ticking off another bucket list event whilst over in the Northern hemisphere. Where Monica goes, Andrew and Gus follow; they flew out to join her in the UK last month providing able assistance for she and “Max” this week.
Bought as a four-year-old after having proved “too slow” as a racehorse, Max has certainly taken to his second career. He and Monica made their mark on the world stage as part of the Bronze medal winning Kiwi team at the 2022 World Championships, where a dressage score of 25.9 saw them burst into the top 10. They have not disappeared from view since, with two top-10 placings in two consecutive 5*s affirming them as rising stars within the sport. Max posted another sub-30 score at Maryland last year, though he didn’t manage the same at Kentucky, where he scored 31.9. Still, even that won’t leave them too far out of contention at Burghley, and their usual fast and clear cross country round could see them rise from wherever they do land after the first phase.
A tendency to knock a rail or two on the final day – they had two down at both Kentucky and Maryland – could leave them just out of the top ten, but even so, the Spencer family will already be living the dream this week, as a trip to Burghley is just another step on what has been a whirlwind adventure for them all. Who knows – perhaps a visit to the UK could be enough to tempt them over here for a whole season…?
69: Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley (GBR)
A Class Cooley, winner of the CCI4*-L at last year’s Blair Castle Horse Trials, is the only entry here for Perthshire based Wills Oakden, who was fifth and eighth last year with Oughterard Cooley and Arklow Puissance, respectively. Another Cooley Farm-sourced horse, “Felix” has not had the best 5* career to date — he retired after an early run out on his debut at the level at Pau last year, and the pair fell on cross country at Badminton this spring, too. Hopefully, it will be third time lucky for Wills and the 12-year-old gelding — and if anyone can bring him home clear, it is Wills, who is renowned for being an incredibly talented cross country rider. Initially based with Ian Stark before setting up on his own in Perthshire, Wills’ quiet horsemanship has seen him impress on various occasions over his eventing career. He won team gold as a Young Rider before riding as an individual on the Senior team at Blair in 2015, and since then has had numerous Nations Cup appearances, slowly but surely building an incredible team of horses.
However, given the issues that they have had at the level previously, there is no doubt that Wills won’t be riding for another top-10 finish this week, but rather for a safe and happy completion instead — as is typical of his thoughtful and considerate approach to the development of all of his horses. With a dressage average ranging from mid to low 30’s they aren’t likely to be in the mix after day one anyway, although should he make it home without issue after cross country, we could still see them climb – and climb again – for this is a horse that rarely has more than a pole; he has had but one throughout this entire season. So whilst Wills might not be coming to Stamford with a particularly competitive result in mind, don’t be surprised to see him back in the top 25, as on his day, Felix has all the makings of another top class horse.
71: Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight (GBR)
Smart gelding Chilli Knight is one of the 5*-winning horses in this field — he and Gem took the one-off pop-up 5* at Bicton in 2021, which was a Burghley replacement in those wild and woolly COVID times. Then we didn’t get to see much of him for a while – he came out for just one FEI run in 2022 in the CCI4*-S at Bramham, and then was off games for a year before returning for a couple of September and October runs in 2023 at CCI3*-S.
This year though, he’s firmly back in the fray, and Gemma’s come out of the experience having learned even more about rehabilitation –a knowledge base she’d already topped up by bringing the exciting Jalapeno back to the top level. Chilli Knight is looking brilliant for all those tender ministrations from her and her team, and was desperate in his two early-season CCI4*-S runs to be allowed to run at his preferred top speed, but Gemma kept him in third gear to work on the rideability and took the handbrake off when they went to Badminton. They looked exceptionally good there, and actually would have won the thing but for 15 penalties awarded for a flag early on at Huntsman’s. They appealed, but weren’t successful. On that run, Gemma said that Chilli Knight was very strong and not as “with her” as he’d normally be – but his boldness and totally genuine nature meant that they got the job done regardless.
In their final prep run at Hartpury CCI4*-S they looked on point, adding just 3.6 time penalties to finish 13th, and now, it feels as though they could come to Burghley — the gelding’s first — to finish what they started this spring. Expect them to start between 30 and 33, go quick and clear with their teeth gritted and their ears pricked, and either jump clear or tip one on the final day. If they’re in spitting distance of the lead, you can bet that’ll be a clear — Gemma’s at her best when she’s got something to prove and her back to the wall.
72: Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC (FRA)
One of the great surprises in the lead-up to Paris team announcements was the removal of Absolut Gold HDC — Nicolas’s very consistent team stalwart — from contention. That was a call made by the horse’s owners, who had been told that Diabolo Menthe was the favoured choice, and rather than leave the gelding in as direct reserve and commit to sending him to training camps, they pulled him out to focus on Burghley, (and gave Facebook a few days of excitement too).
Now, though, it IS very exciting to have this combination here. Nicolas hasn’t yet tackled Burghley, but he’s been dreaming of it for a long time, and he remains the only Frenchman ever to win Badminton, which he accomplished back in 2008 with Hildalgo de l’Isle. In 14-year-old Absolut Gold, he has a formidable partner: the gelding was fifth and team bronze medalist at last year’s tricky European Championships, and sixth and team bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. He was also 10th at the 2019 European Championships, and has run well around some tougher CCI4*-L classes, such as Saumur in 2019, where he finished sixth.
Nicolas, who’s been European Champion on two occasions (2003 and 2007) and was part of the Olympic gold medal-winning team at Athens in 2004, comes here having been part of the bronze medal winning effort at Paris, and those eardrum-blasting cheers will no doubt still be coursing through him as he comes to this huge challenge, emboldened and ready. That this is a first 5* for his horse won’t cause him much concern; he’ll sprinkle a bit of “allez” in there and crack on, in his unique style. They can start sub 30, but a very low 30s score feels more likely, and they’re very fast and reliable across the country, though they have that debutant question mark looming overhead. On Sunday, they won’t necessarily look stylish, but they tend to get the clear round done.
73: Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 (USA)
Although this will only be Wakita 54’s second 5* attempt, she and Andrew have three top-10 finishes at the 4* level, crowned with a win at the Rebecca Farm 4*-S in 2023. At their 5* debut at Kentucky this past spring, the duo finished 17th after adding some cross country time and two rails to their dressage score of 41.5. We’ve typically seen an upper-30s dressage score and a clear cross country at the 4* level, which they’ll be looking to transition to the 5* level.
74: Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed (JPN)
Straight off the back of being a crucial part of the Japanese team’s bronze-medal-winning efforts in Paris — who can forget the joyous sight of “Sabu” doing the victory gallop on foot because teammate Toshi had subbed in for him in the final phase? — the plucky British-based rider comes forward for a crack at Burghley. Interestingly, the horse he’ll ride here, Feroza Nieuwmoed, was the horse with whom he was travelling reserve at the Tokyo Games– in a bit of a role reversal, he was able to be subbed in after cross-country on that occasion, and show jumped in the place of teammate Yoshi Oiwa. (He delivered a smart clear, for what it’s worth.)
Feroza Nieuwmoed was also key in securing Japan’s Paris qualification, finishing third in the class at Millstreet that ultimately gave them their ticket. This season, he’s been on fine form, jumping clear inside the time for third place at Millstreet CCIO4*-S in May, and the same again at Hartpury CCI4*-S last month for ninth. This’ll be his Burghley debut — and Sabu’s too — but they do have some prior form over tough terrain to help them make the best of it; they were eighth at Blair’s mountainous CCI4*-L last season, and jumped very well around Chatsworth’s hilly, very tough CCI4*-S last spring to place. They’ve also got a 5* run under their belts already; they did Pau in 2022, finishing 15th. We’ll be looking for a very low-30s starting point — though they did have a high-30s score at Pau, which is unlike them – and a one-rail round on Sunday. In between, it’s a fact-finding mission as a first Burghley always is, but they should be well-equipped to deliver the goods.
75: Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln (IRL)
What a year Wellfields Lincoln is having! Not only has he just competed in an Olympic games, where he and Susie finished in a very credible 31st place, but he is about to make his 5* debut too. Still, his rider is one with plenty of 5* experience herself: Susie first started at the world renowned Stamford event back in 2022, and although that trip ended prematurely with a fall on cross country, she has since completed several other 5*s — not least of all Kentucky this Spring, where she finished comfortably within the top 25.
Still only 28, Susie — who moved over to the UK in 2014 to be based with Piggy March — has produced “Slinky” since 2018, taking over from Jonty Evans following his life-altering fall. She has taken the 11-year-old gelding all the way up the levels, achieving a slew of top-20 international finishes along the way, not least of all this season when they finished top 10 on all but one of their pre-Olympic international starts. Expect a mid to low 30’s dressage score, although a sub-30 is within Slinky’s capabilities — he scored 28.7 in the CCI4*-L at Kronenberg earlier this year, a PB at that level — so there is certainly more to come in this phase. His jumping record is superb though, both across the country and on the final day, where he rarely tips more than a pole. Here’s hoping Slinky and Susie match their Olympic debut with a sparkling run round those hallowed Stamford hills!
76: Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II (FRA)
British-based Frenchman Gaspard has a surer thing in his second ride this week, the game and gutsy Zaragoza, with whom he finished sixth at the 2022 World Championships when she was just nine. Now she’s still only 11, but with lots of experience under her belt for her age: she’s since represented France at the European Championships, finishing eighth individually and third as part of the team, and made her 5* debut at Pau last year, though that ended with an elimination when she stumbled in the water. This spring, she’s come out on super form, finishing sixth with a quick clear in the CCI4*-S at Burnham Market and sixteenth in the CCI4*-S at Luhmühlen, which had a seriously hot field and acted as an Olympic selection trial.
77: Matthew Heath and Askari (GBR)
We talk about some horses as being “Burghley horses”, but there are also some riders who we just think of as “Burghley riders” — those really gritty, gutsy folks who claw their way up the leaderboards because they really head out on course ready to attack every last inch of terrain. Matt Heath, who comes from good racing stock himself, is one such rider, and so it’s great fun to see him come forward this year with two entries for the Biggest B. His second ride will be the former Dickie Waygood ride Askari, who makes his sophomore 5* appearance, having debuted here last year for 29th place, picking up an educational 20 penalties along the way.
Askari’s a beautiful, sometimes frustrating sort of horse — it always feels as though he’s just on the cusp of making everything come together, but often there’s some sort of spanner in the works. He’s gotten his previous mid-30s scores down to sub-30 scores, though more recently, those have crept back up to high-30s scores; likewise, he tends to have several events in a row where it falls apart a bit on cross-country, followed by a purple patch of smart, steady clears. He comes to Burghley off the back of a run at Bramham CCI4*-L in June, where he had a 20, and then a withdrawal before cross-country at Blair CCI4*-S, though he’s had a couple of nice, cruising clears around OI classes too this summer. Hopefully, this week will see a return to form in the first phase and the start of one of those purple patches in the second.
78: Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope (GBR)
Pippa Funnell MBE needs little introduction to eventing fans as a multiple Olympic, European, and World Championships medalist and CCI5* winner, first (and only, in the long-format) winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, Wesko Equestrian Foundation mentor, and video game star. Not content with all that, she’s relaunched her series of children’s books — Pippa’s Pony Tales — which aim to encourage young equestrians to develop their horsemanship. Pippa has produced a record number of Burghley Young Event Horse winners and is no stranger to the show jumping ring either through her work with The Billy Stud, the breeding program she co-founded and runs in partnership with her international show jumper husband, William Funnell, and Donal Barwell.
She comes to Burghley double-handed, with stalwart CCI5* campaigner Majas Hope the second of her two rides. With eight top-level runs under his cinch, he’s an old hand at this eventing lark, although he sure wasn’t acting his age in the dressage ring at Badminton this spring, with Pippa withdrawing after a disappointing 40.8 on a horse who regularly puts in sub-30 scores and had finished top-20 in all of his 5* runs to that point, top 10 in three of them. A reliable clear cross country round kind of guy, there’s likely to be a handful of time penalties to add to his first phase score on Saturday and probably a pole on the final day, but if everything comes together as it should do, Pippa will be hunting to better her sixth place from last year.
79: Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (GBR)
What a treat for us all to get to welcome home Walter and Ros, who helped the British team to gold in Versailles just a few short weeks ago. They’ll be coming here with one goal in mind: a win, to go with their Badminton win and their European Championships win of last year, and to make up for some slight disappointment in Paris over a contentious flag penalty.
Arguably, they’re coming in as the favourites in this hot field, despite this being Walter’s first go at Burghley. This is actually only going to be his third-ever 5* start, which feels wild to say, but he’s been focused so much on championships, and is still just a 12-year-old, so he’s not actually had a lot of time to cram in the mileage at this level. But his two previous runs, both of which came at Badminton, have been very, very good, with a second-place finish in 2022 and a win the following year.
He’s a horse that regularly produces scores between 21 and 24, so will be very close to the top – if not the leader – after the first phase, and he’s naturally quick and capable across the country, too. That odd flag penalty at Paris, of which there’s very little compelling evidence, is Walter’s only FEI cross country jumping penalty ever. On Sunday, they’re a one-or-none pair, but tend to be so well-placed that they can afford a rail, which must be a nice position to be in. We can’t relate, but we’re happy for them. You wouldn’t make much money on the kind of odds a bookie would give you to back this pair, but you WILL have a delightful time cheering them on, and that’s probably worth more than a cheeky payout, anyway.
80: Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner (GBR)
The former Sam Griffiths ride Annaghmore Valoner proved exactly what she’s capable of this summer, when she handily won the CCI4*-L at Bramham – the toughest competition of its level and the surest indicator that a horse could be capable of jumping around Burghley. This is just Harry’s second season with the mare, and this will be her first 5*, but she’s well worth getting excited about – if, of course, Harry picks her as one of his rides here. He can pilot three, and currently, he has a slightly mind-boggling five entered.
The pro-points for picking her? That Bramham win, of course, where she finished on her 31.3 dressage score, but also the fact that she so seldom goes above that sort of benchmark in the first phase, and has been known to pop sub-30 at 4*, too. Also notable: she’s historically at her best and quickest on a long-format course, because she’s a more old-fashioned galloping type, and across all her career long-format runs, she’s only picked up a total of 0.4 time penalties in this phase. And, she’s getting more and more consistent over the poles, too – she used to be a very reliable one-rail ride, and now, she’s got three consecutive FEI clears under her belt. (She also, mind you, showjumps better on the final day – she’s gone clear in all except one of those rounds.)
We reckon he might choose her too, because as he said after her win at Bramham: “I totally love her. I’ve had a real soft spot for her; I just feel she’s really talented, and just a lovely, lovely person. There’s not an ounce of malice in her. She’s very sensitive; she’s a worrier; she’s one that you try and hold her hand, and therefore, to give her the chance for any latent talent to come to fruition, that feels as rewarding as any win or placing.”
“For me, she has all the ingredients to be a 5* horse; she’s got the speed, the stamina, the bravery, the scope, and the training in all three phases. The one thing is she can get rattled very easily, so even on cross-country, if you have to squeeze her anywhere or change speed, that can slightly rattle her. It changes her breathing and it changes her heart rate, so I try to give her the smoothest possible ride everywhere. I’m very conscious that the higher you go up the grades, the more resilient they have to be in terms of coping with things going slightly wrong.” The good thing about Burghley? It’s a long old stamina test – so you can set your horse into a rhythm and ride them through.
83: Tim Price and Vitali (NZL)
Ah, what is there to say about Vitali that hasn’t already been said before? Simultaneously one of the most talented yet frustrating horses that we have seen in recent times, he lay a massive six penalties ahead of second placed Oliver Townend after the first phase last year, having scored a record breaking 18.7. He held onto that lead going into the show jumping, despite a handful of cross country time faults, before ultimately dropping down to fourth after three show jumps down. So the story goes with this horse, time and time again, despite Tim’s best efforts to find a solution. The issue is not one of carelessness — almost the opposite in fact; this is a horse that, despite his enviable suppleness in the first phase, gets incredibly tense when entering the show jumping ring, and that tension only intensifies if he has a pole. Still, his Badminton prep runs would suggest that Tim had unlocked the secret to his show jumping, and indeed, his Badminton prep runs would suggest that to be the case, with four out of four double clears, including the 4*-S at Thoresby, where they finished fourth.
Spectators collectively held their breath, crossed their fingers, hoped and prayed, as Tim and Vitali entered the ring at Badminton this spring — once again in the lead — that this would be the day he finally made it happen. And then the first pole fell, and another, and another… five fences later, and Tim and Vitali once again found themselves off the podium, way down in eight place. Hearts broke once again, not least of all Tim’s, who has worked so hard to get to the bottom of this incredible horse. For let’s not forget that of his six starts at the level, he has yet to finish out of the top 10 — even a handful of rails at the Tokyo Olympics still saw them finish in the top 25, such is his talent in the first two phases. So once again we wait with bated breath to see if this is the year that Vitali can keep his head in all three phases – certainly his speedy double clear in the British Open at Hartpury last month, which earned him his second consecutive win in the class, would suggest it could be. But then, he did the same two years ago and still, the rails fell on the final day at Burghley. All we can do at this point is cross everything possible, pray to whatever gods that may be listening, and collectively hope with all of our might, for if anyone deserves to take the win here this year, after so many, many close calls, it is Tim and Vitali.
