Burghley Entry Update: USA Contingent Up to Eight

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld. Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The Burghley CCI4* entries keep rolling in and we’re thrilled to see more Americans added to the list of accepted entries.

Bunnie Sexton announced yesterday that she and her 17-year-old off-track Thoroughbred Rise Against are Burghley bound. Bunnie and Ecko have twice completed the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* (2015, 2016) without cross country jumping penalties. Burghley will be this pair’s overseas debut!

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless are also on their way to their first Burghley CCI4*. In just over two years, Elisa and the now 15-year-old Australian OTTB owned by the Simply Priceless Syndicate have risen from the two-star level to having completed Rolex Kentucky twice, placing 17th in their rookie year in 2015 and turning out an impressive performance for eighth place at this year’s event.

Holly Payne Caravella and the Fox Syndicate’s 10-year-old Never Outfoxed (another full Thoroughbred, although he is unraced) are entered at Burghley for their first event across the pond. Holly and Fox were 20th at their first four-star at Rolex Kentucky in 2015. This year they were unfortunately not accepted in the Rolex Final Horse Inspection after a cracking clear cross country round, but they’ve bounced back and now have their sights set on what is widely considered the toughest four-star in the world.

Phillip Dutton is entered on two horses, but Mighty Nice will now compete in the Olympic Games instead. Phillip will still aim for Burghley with Fernhill Fugitive, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Thomas Tierney and Ann Jones. “Jack” was 8th in his first four-star at Rolex in 2015 and finished 13th at his second attempt this year.

This brings the USA contingent up to eight, as Libby Head and Sir Rockstar, Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley and Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime were among the early entries to Burghley.

Click here to see the full list of entries.