Classic Eventing Nation

A Small Matter of Keeping the Poles in the Cups – Live Blog from the Show Jumping Finale at Defender Burghley

By on Sep 8, 2024 9:01 am -

On track to finish on their dressage, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo head into the finale at the head of the pack on a score of 22. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

And so we find ourselves on the edge of our seats, chomping at the bit to discover who will take home the Burghley trophy, but there’s much more than the glory, impressive purse and gorgeous piece of silverware at stake this year, for the winner will also be awarded with their weight in beer courtesy of Hawkestone. It’s not clear whether they’ve committed to the rider’s weight, the horse’s, or both, but there’s for sure an argument that eventing is very much a whole team effort and therefore horse, rider, owners, grooms, sponsors, breeders, and the entire team at home are all winners. (Can we go as far as sire and dam?) Just saying.

But before we go about inviting ourselves to the champion’s celebrations to share the spoils, there’s the small matter of keeping the poles in the cups and the top 20 are waiting in the wings to have a go at doing just that.

Things are due to kick off at 2:15pm local time / 3:15pm CET / 9:15am ET with Britain’s Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal getting things underway in this afternoon’s session, jumping out of order as Harry has no fewer than three rides in the top 15; they come into the final phase in 5th place. The rest of the competitors are due to come forward in reverse order, although Harry had his round with 15th placed Superstition this morning, jumping clear inside the time and finishing on a score of 42.9.

Fighting for their weight in beer at the top of the table as things stand are:

1️⃣ Britain’s Ros Canter with Lordships Graffalo on a, frankly, ridiculous score of 22 are looking to do the double with a win at both the big Bs after coming out on top at Badminton last year.
2️⃣ 3.5 points behind is New Zealand’s – Tim Price with Vitali on 25.5.
3️⃣ And 2.3 points behind them is Britain’s Harry Meade with Annaghmore Valoner on a score of 27.8.

Basically, Ros doesn’t have a fence in hand over Tim, who doesn’t have a fence in hand over Harry, who doesn’t have a fence in hand over Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza in 4th, or himself with Cavalier Crystal in 5th. It’s tight at the top and we’re in for an exciting finale to Defender Burghley!

🇺🇲 If you’re rooting for the US, this is what you need to know:

📍 Mia Farley and Phelps were in 34th place overnight on a score of 77.3 after picking up 20 jumping and 23 time penalties out on cross country. They jumped this morning and had four fences and 1.2 time, putting them on a Burghley completion score of 94.5.

📍Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 – were in 29th place overnight on a score of 60 after picking up 19.6 time yesterday. They also jumped this morning and had two fences and 2 time, putting them on an overall score of 70.

📍Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M parted ways out on the cross country which brought their competition to an early end.

Jumping in the top 20 are:

📍Cosby Green and Copper Beach – currently in 15th place on a score of 44.4 .

📍 Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle – currently in 18th place on a score of 49.9.

Click here to see how this morning’s competitors got on and how things look for the rest of the combinations coming forward this afternoon.

If you’ve missed out on our coverage thus far, don’t fret, catch up here:

▶️ Dressage Day One: [Test-by-test reports] [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report]

▶️ Dressage Day Two: [Test-by-test reports] [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report]

▶️ Cross Country: [Live blog of all the action] [Round-up report]

Here at EN we’ve been beavering (chinchilla-ing, if you will) away to bring you all manner of cool content, so whilst we await the bell, get stuck in to all things Burghley and mosey on along to our IG account for even more @goeventing.

Remember the rule from yesterday’s pop quiz? The first rule of live updates: refresh, refresh, refresh if you want to keep up with live updates.

There’s (potentially, a lot) of beer at stake ENers, let’s go eventing!

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

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10:12am ET

And that’s it. Burghley is over for another year and the Burghley champions have been crowned (and are on their way to collect on that beer).

Click here for the full scoreboard.

If you’re not ready for it all to end (join the club), keep it locked on to EN for our round-up report of all that went down to culminate in glory and beer for Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo – coming right up.

And if you need even more, like, right now, click here for all of EN’s Burghley content.

What a competition. What a sport. Go eventing!

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10:07am ET

We really are all living in Walter’s world and it’s pretty dang good.

Here’s the top 3:

1️⃣ Winners of the whole dang thang are Britain’s Ros Canter and Lorships Graffalo on a score of 23.6 – a record Burghley finishing score.

2️⃣ The 2024 runners-up, 5.9 points behind, are New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali on 29.5.

3️⃣ And taking the final podium spot are Britain’s Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal who have finished on their dressage score of 31.3.

Harry’s also in 4th with Annaghmore Valoner and has finished up with all three of his rides in the top 12.

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10:05am ET

ROS CANTER AND LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO WIN DEFENDER BURGHLEY 2024!

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10:02am ET

🇬🇧 Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 22
Cross Country Penalties: 0+0
Overall: 22 – 1st

OK, this is it. Are we watching our Burghley champions?

Easy over the first, careful over the second. Balanced round the turn and right over the third. He doesn’t even notice the fourth and there’s no question over 5 or 6, or 7. They come round to the treble at 8 and tap the middle part but it stays. The Mars oxer’s no bother at 9 and the black and white rails at 10 are perfect. Over the double and clear of the Defender Finale and HERE ARE YOUR BURGHLEY WINNERS!!! Just 1.6 time to add.

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo finish on a score of 23.6.

It’s a record Burghley finishing score!

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10am ET

🇳🇿 Tim Price and Vitali

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 22.3
Cross Country Penalties: 0+3.2
Overall: 25.5 – 2nd

OK, hold your breath. The crowd has been asked not to clap as he comes into the ring. Vitali really does get hyped up, as we see very clearly at the horse inspections. It’s silent in there but for Vitali’s breathing. His head’s in the air over the first couple of fences but so far so good. Vitali’s really being careful and jumping out of his skin. He’s clear through fence 7. The treble comes up and Tim’s riding brilliantly. He touches the Mars oxer at 9 and is still clear. He’s clear over 10 but then, oh, he has the second part of the double at 11. One to go. Clear over the Defender Finale. Good job Vitali, and Tim, of course. Just one fence down and holding on to second place.

Tim Price and Vitali finish on a score of 29.5.

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9:57am ET

🇬🇧 Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 27.8
Cross Country Penalties: 0+0
Overall: 27.8 – 3rd

This mare may not have the most experience but she sure looks class as she clears the first two fences, she’s jumping her socks off. They get in deep to the third and the crowd gasps. They tap the oxer with the watertray at 5 but it stays. Their luck runs out at the black and white rails at 10 and that comes down. They put that behind them though and finish up with no further problems. One down for them.

Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner finish on a score of 31.8.

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9:55am ET

🇫🇷 Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 26.8
Cross Country Penalties: 0+3.6
Overall: 30.4 – 4th

This mare is usually careful but she just doesn’t get up high enough over the first and has it down. There’s a tap at the oxer at 3 but it stays and then they rub 6, but that also stays. There’s a big rattle at the first part of the treble at 8 but their luck holds. Gaspard says “Woah” as he makes his way through there with the mare getting quite keen. They finish up clear. One down for them.

Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II finish on a score of 34.4.

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9:52am ET

🇬🇧 Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 29.7
Cross Country Penalties: 0+2.4
Overall: 32.1 – 6th

Chilli Knight’s a bit squirrelly before the first and the second but Gemma keeps things together and there’s no question of the poles staying up. They quickly settle into their round and easily clear the next few fences. There’s a tap at the treble at 8 but then the Mars oxer at 9 just doesn’t come up for them and they have that down. They’re clear the rest of the way round. One fence down for them.

Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight finish on a score of 36.1.

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9:50am ET

🇳🇿 Monica Spencer and Artist

Photo by Sally Spickard.

Dressage Score: 24.4
Cross Country Penalties: 0+8.4
Overall: 32.8 – 7th

This pair have a bit of a rub at the first and then tap the second. Both stay up. They get up higher over the oxer at 3 and then easily clear the Rolex fence at 4. They have another tap at 5 – the oxer with the watertray – and then their luck runs out at 7 and they have that down. They tap all the poles at both elements of the double at 11 but their luck’s back and everything stays up. One fence down for them and 2 time penalties.

Monica Spencer and Artist finish on a score of 38.8.

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9:47am ET

🇬🇧 Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 28.6
Cross Country Penalties: 0+5.6
Overall: 34.2 – 8th

This horse has already proved what a good jumper he is and he’s only proving that once again as he flies over the fences with buckets of room to spare. There’s a tiny tap at 6 but absolutely no worries. It’s a bit of a rattle in the middle part of the treble combination at 8 but it stays. They jump very neatly through the double at 11 and then over the Defender Finale for a clear round. No worse than 8th for them.

Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift finish on a score of 34.2.

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9:45am ET

🇫🇷 Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDZ

Photo by Eventing Nation.

Dressage Score: 26.1
Cross Country Penalties: 0+8.8
Overall: 34.9 – 9th

Absolut Gold shows his class over the first few fences and nothing seems to be a problem for them so far. This big horse has to really shorten in the treble combination at 8 and taps the vertical on the way out but it stays. They have a rattle at the b element of the double at 11 but that also stays. They continue on and finish up clear. Nicolas gives a yell and is clearly thrilled.

Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDZ finish on a score of 44.9.

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9:42am ET

🇬🇧 Alexander Bragg and Quindiva

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 35.1
Cross Country Penalties: 0+0
Overall: 35.1 – 10th

Alex is looking to join the elite club of finishing on his dressage at Burghley. He comes quietly into the first fence and then really has a beautiful jump over the second. ‘Diva’ is such a good show jumper and she’s really showing that off. She’s not even breathing on these fences. This round must feel really good for Alex. Not a problem for this pair. Alex punches the air and gallops along to share his celebrations with the crowd. Clear and guaranteed top 10 for them.

Alexander Bragg and Quindiva finish on a score of 35.1.

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9:40am ET

🇬🇧 Alice Casburn and Topspin

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 36.6
Cross Country Penalties: 0+1.6
Overall: 38.2 – 11th

Alice takes a breath before turning towards the first fence. She sets Topspin up for the Lion Bridge at 2 and they give the Rolex Grand Slam fence at 4 plenty of room. This is a really confident round so far. Alice reminds Topspin to shorten up through the treble with a ‘Woah’ and he’s right with her. The whole shebang looks sweet and easy and they finish with a clear round. Easy and class.
Alice Casburn and Topspin finish on a score of 38.2.

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9:37am ET

🇮🇪 Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue

Photo by Sally Spickard.

Dressage Score: 33.9
Cross Country Penalties: 0+4.8
Overall: 38.7 – 12th

This pair are neat over the first and leave nothing to chance at the Lion Bridge at 2, clearing it easily. ‘Salty’ is really jumping his socks off. Oh, he jumps up too high over the oxer with the watertray at 5 and comes down on the back rail. They put it behind them but there’s an uncomfortable looking jump at the vertical at 10 but they’re clear. The oxer out of the double at 11 is a similar story to the one they had at 5 and that goes. Two fences for them.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue finish on a score of 46.7.

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9:35am ET

🇨🇭 Felix Vogg and Cartania

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 28.8
Cross Country Penalties: 0+12
Overall: 40.8 – 13th

This mare is jumping really nicely at the start of the course and gives the big oxer at 3 lots of air. The round looks careful and steady but he’s taking very tight lines. They pay the price for that at the upright at 7 and have it down. Cartania continues on carefully and doesn’t even breathe on any of the poles. One down for them.

Felix Vogg and Cartania finish on a score of 44.8.

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9:32am ET

🇺🇸 Cosby Green and Copper Beach

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 31.6
Cross Country Penalties: 0+12.8
Overall: 44.4 – 15th

Cosby brings her experienced campaigner in and he jumps the first well. He’s a little hollow over the second and he’s got his own technique over the fences that’s for sure. It doesn’t look easy but Cosby’s doing a great job and all the fences have stayed up. He taps the first part of the treble at 8 and gives not an inch over the two verticals coming out, but all the poles stay put. They take out the second part of the double at 11 and then clear the final fence. One fence and 1.2 time.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach finish on a score of 49.6.

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9:30am ET

🇯🇵 Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 33
Cross Country Penalties: 0+15.2
Overall: 48.2 – 16th

They come quietly into the third and climb up over it. Wow, they were lucky that stayed up. But Feroza picks up better over the next couple of fences and really stretches over the oxer with the watertray at 5. They tap their way through the treble combination at 8 but all the poles stay put. They’re careful through the double at 11 and finish up with a great jump over the Defender Finale. Clear with 1.2 time.

Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed finish on a score of 49.4.

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9:27am ET

🇬🇧 Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 36.1
Cross Country Penalties: 0+12.4
Overall: 48.5 – 17th

This pair have a real problem at fence 2 and really run into it. But then the horse is very neat over fence 3 and is really jumping well as she continues round the course. She stretches right out over the Mars oxer at 9 and is really giving all the fences buckets of height. Wow, she leaps right up into the air over the last. One fence down and one second over.

Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality finish on a score of 52.9.

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9:25am ET

🇺🇸 Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle

Photo by Sally Spickard.

Dressage Score: 34.7
Cross Country Penalties: 0+15.2
Overall: 49.9 – 18th

‘Foxy’ looks up for it as he comes round to the vertical at 1 and he makes nothing of the Lion Bridge at 2. There’s a tiny rattle at 3 but no question it’s staying up. He shows his scope over the oxer with the watertray at 5 but then takes the upright at 7, he just didn’t quite get up high enough. Jennie’s really helping Foxy out as they continue on clear up to the double but then unfortunately take the second part. They finish with two fences down.

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle finish on a score of 57.9.

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9:22am ET

🇬🇧 Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley

Dressage Score: 30.6
Cross Country Penalties: 0+19.6
Overall: 50.2 – 19th

Unfortunately we miss the start of Wills’ round while Nadja’s being interviewed but he clears the Rolex Grand Slam fence at 4 looking very classy. He really pushes off the ground and stretches over the wide oxers. He’s neat and tidy over all the fences and is clear all the way. Just two seconds over.

Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley finish on a score of 51.

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9:20am ET

🇬🇧 Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dressage Score: 28.9
Cross Country Penalties: 0+22
Overall: 50.9 – 20th

This combination look very relaxed as they start their round. The first three fences pose no problem and the horse shows his scope over the wide oxer at 5. He’s got his ears pricked and is jumping out of his skin. He rattles the final part of the combination at 8 but it stays up. What an exciting prospect this horse is for the future. They rattle the last but it stays up and they’re clear. Just a second over.

Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry finish on a score of 51.3.

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9:17am ET

🇨🇭 Nadja Minder and Toblerone

Photo by Eventing Nation.

Dressage Score: 31
Cross Country Penalties: 0+21.2
Overall: 52.2 – 21st

The clear the upright at 1 and then the Lion Bridge. The come round to the oxer at 3 and stretch right over. 4 is no trouble and they come back round to 5, tap the back rail but it stays. Toblerone’s jumping his socks off. He’s really careful through the treble combination at 8 and really stretches over the Mars oxer at 9. They roll back to the double at 11 and take a tap but it stays. Clear with 0.8 time for them and a superb Burghley finish.

Nadja Minder and Toblerone finish on a score of 53.

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9:15am ET

🇬🇧 Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal

Photo by Eventing Nation.

Dressage Score: 31.3
Cross Country Penalties: 0+0
Overall: 31.3 – 5th

Cavalier Crystal looks keen for the job and clears the first. The Lion Bridge at 2 is no problem. They stretch over the oxer at 3 and clear the Rolex Grand Slam fence. The watertray at 5 is no trouble and the next to the same. They tap the first part of the treble combination at 8 but it stays. They continue on clear and the horse really is showing off her superb jumping ability. They clear the Defender Finale and there’s a cheer.

Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal finish on a score of 31.3.

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Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

Burghley Bids Adieu to Four Horses Ahead of Showjumping Finale

By on Sep 8, 2024 5:22 am -

Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold present at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The field of competitors at the Defender Burghley CCI5* has thinned from 43 to 39 after this morning’s final horse inspection, which took place after a night of heavy rain on site.

Three of those losses to the start list occurred before the inspection even began: we saw early-morning withdrawals logged by Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope, who had been sitting 31st after a cross-country round in which they’d picked up a flag penalty and 19.6 time penalties; Holly Richardson and Bally Louis, who’d been 36th after adding a 20 and 30 time penalties; and Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser, who’d delivered one of the rounds of the day to sit 14th.

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

But when the remaining 40 horses came forward to present to Christina Klingspor (SWE), serving as president, Robert Stevenson (USA) and Nick Burton (GBR), the drama wasn’t wholly behind them.

Three horses were sent to the holding box throughout the course of proceedings: US representative Jennie Brannigan’s FE Lifestyle, 19th, British five-star debutant Lizzie Baugh’s B Exclusive, 37th, and French Olympian Nicolas Touzaint’s Absolut Gold HDC, ninth overnight. Both Jennie and Nicolas would ultimately get the nod to continue their competition – but sadly, Lizzie would not.

Lizzie Baugh and B Exclusive. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Today’s showjumping finale will be split into two halves: our first nineteen pairs will jump from 10.30 a.m. (5.30 a.m. EST), while the top twenty will take to the ring from 14.15 (9.15 a.m. EST). We’ll be back with a full report from the final phase at the end of the day, but in the meantime, keep it locked on EN for live updates and analysis from Cheg throughout each round. In the meantime, you can catch up on all yesterday’s action with our full report and live updates, and tune in to Burghley TV to get yourself front row centre for the action that’s about to start. As always: Go Eventing!

Overnight leaders Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo go into today’s showjumping without a rail, but with time, in hand. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The top ten going into showjumping at the 2024 Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Our coverage of Burghley is brought to you by our incredible supporters, Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional products to keep your horse feeling their best at all times. They’ll even get on the phone with you to help you formulate a solid supplementation plan for your horse’s individual needs! We’d really appreciate your support of KPP, as they’re champions for our sport and beyond and are wonderful people to boot. Check them out here.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

Sunday Links

By on Sep 8, 2024 12:01 am -

Of all the moments yesterday, it’s always hard to pick just one favorite, but we’re going to go ahead and give our vote to Jesse Campbell, who jumped a clear round at Defender Burghley yesterday with Cooley Lafitte. As he crossed the finish, Jesse looked to the sky and paid a sweet tribute to his late wife, Georgie, who passed away in a cross country fall earlier this year. The resilience and kindness Jesse has shown in the wake of this loss has been nothing short of incredible, and we’re tipping our caps to his class and in honor of Georgie.

U.S. Weekend Events

Five Points H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. (NJ): [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer]

CDCTA Fall H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

Links & Reading

MidSouth Eventing and Dressage Association – Pop Culture Representation Matters: Snoop at the Olympics

The Happiness Advantage

How to Sweat a Horse’s Leg

US Equestrian Wraps Paralympics with Record Medal Count

Waredaca to Offer Prize Money at October Classic Three-Day Event

Video Break

A #supergroom spotlight out of Burghley:

The Cross Country Debrief: The Burliest of Burghleys, The Topsy-Turviest of Leaderboards

By on Sep 7, 2024 5:06 pm -

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Collectively, there probably hasn’t been many hours of sleep logged amongst the competitors at Defender Burghley ahead of today’s cross-country day; what little that was, no doubt, was plagued with night sweats and prolonged horror stories featuring the brush arrowheads at the Leaf Pit (7ABCDE), which nearly every rider had referred to, grim-faced, as the biggest fences they’d ever seen. And big, they most certainly were: made of stiff brush, they towered over the heads of any rider foolish enough to stand on the landing side and try to peer over the top.

By any estimation, after two days spent talking to the riders, and a mizzly morning early today spent walking the lines and finding many of them down there doing the same thing, any one of us would have put money on this extraordinarily tough-looking question being the most influential of the day.

Until, of course, in fine five-star style, it wasn’t. But that, as I’ve found over so many years of reporting on this sport, is so often the way – the line that walks the hardest, and looks as though it’ll have no margin for error whatsoever, and keeps us all awake wondering what on earth we’re doing this all for, ends up being, well, a bit of a puppy dog of a thing. Is it because all the panic engenders a deeper level of respect to the approach? Is it because these rider frighteners that are actually surprisingly readable are a marker of quite remarkably canny course designing, in this case by Derek di Grazia? Or is it, probably, some alchemical combination of the two things?

I’d love to tell you we have the answer, but all we really have for you is this – the fact that, at the close of the day, just one rider out of 65 faulted at the Leaf Pit. That was a late-in-the-day rider fall for Jonelle Price, who set out of the start box meaning business on the 2022 Pau champion Grappa Nera, who twisted in the air over the first of those colossal skinny brushes and gave her pilot an unwanted flying lesson, putting paid to their bid for a leaderboard climb.

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Sorry, sorry, did you think that this meant that the course ultimately ended up being a bit of a breeze? Let’s not be silly.

This year, Derek built us a track that was packed with intensity, and serious five-star questions, in the first quarter, and that first quarter absolutely wrought its influence. 17 of our field of competitors ultimately picked up jumping faults of some description between the start and fence 11ABC, the latter part of the Trout Hatchery water, and ten of those finished their rounds within those fences, whether through tumbles – dramatic dunkings in the Trout Hatchery water for top-ten-placed Gireg le Coz as well as Padraig McCarthy, plus that Leaf Pit whoopsy for Jonelle – or run-outs and retirements, as for, among others, France’s Luc Chateau and Lithuania’s Aistis Vitkauskas at the first pass through Defender Valley, which also caught out overnight leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, who skimmed out the side of the angled brush final element after the ditch, and Ros, as she did at Badminton this spring, opted to put her hand up and, presumably, plan a reroute.

So that was our leader out of contention, as just the second round of a day packed with drama. Pathfinders Harry Meade and Superstition had logged the early clear, though with 10.8 time penalties, and then our next two starters after Ros, Matt Heath and Golden Recipe and Pippa Funnell and her 2022 Pau winner MCS Maverick, both retired on course after running into trouble at various points of the track.

It would have been easy, then, to assume that the tone was set for the day, until the next two riders, Ireland’s Susie Berry on Irene Leva and British rider Aaron Millar on Friendship VDL, both navigated their five-star debutants to classy, steady clears on 20-odd time penalties.

So what was it to be, really? Ultimately, with the crystal clarity of hindsight, a day of classic Burghley action, basically. We look at this – the biggest, boldest of five-stars – as being a true eventing challenge, in which dressage plays its part but doesn’t play the whole part, and in which heroic efforts can pull deserving horses and riders thirty, forty, or fifty places up the leaderboard and give them a fighting chance of a competitive finish, and that’s exactly what today did.

The problems, when they came – and boy, did they come – were dispersed far and wide across the course, with Defender Valley at 5 giving it plenty of welly and the achingly wide Rolex Corners at 16AB offering up no shortage of sway, too, with their tough related distance. And two-thirds of the way through the day, that meant that of the dressage top-ten who’d left the start box – five, at that point – not a single one had completed.

Let’s, before we go any further, run through who those were, because their absence from the competition going forward is just as key as the addition of those who took their spots. We’ve discussed Ros, who might not come as a wild surprise, as she’d been nearly as vocal this week as she was at Badminton about potentially pulling up quirky, spooky Izilot DHI. But Emily King and Valmy Biats, fourth after dressage and hotly tipped for a first five-star win, called it a day on course too, having picked up a drive-by at the second angled hedge at 11BC, which caught out plenty through the day. They retired after that; a less dramatic finish than that of fifth-placed Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, this year’s Kentucky winners, who had a slightly wiggly (though clear) jump through the final skinny brush at the Maltings at 15ABC, and then had the wheels fall of the bus entirely at the Rolex corners at 16AB. After jumping the first corner, the mare stumbled slightly after the first stride, and from that moment, it felt like a foregone conclusion: the line was lost, the angle was too severe, and though Oliver got his elbows out and tried to direct the mare’s considerable athletic ability between the flags, there was nothing that could be done. The clever mare picked up and quickly saw the fruitlessness of it all, put back down again, and collapsed the frangible fence while skirting her way around the side of it, sending Oliver tumbling into the wreckage but staying upright herself.

France’s Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge, seventh overnight, got their aforementioned dunking at the Trout Hatchery after a big jump in and a peck on landing, and Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, eighth after dressage, retired at the first of the Rolex Corners after a frustrating run-out marred a til-then excellent round.

Phew. Okay. Did we mention that four of those falls, inclusive of a tumble for Hannah Sue Hollberg late in the course from Capitol H I M after leaving a leg at the Dairy Mound at 23ABC, came back-to-back without breaks?

For all the moments that left us gasping and – in the case of Burghley Radio interviewer Ben Way, accidentally punching everyone in close proximity in the boobs – though, there were so many truly exceptional bits of derring-do and some seriously thrilling moments of guts and gumption that pulled many of our seemingly out-of-the-hunt pairs right back into things today.

We’ll get into those shortly, but first: a moment for our overnight leaders, who certainly weren’t out of the hunt after dressage, but gave us one of the most fluid showcases of cross-country navigation we’ve ever seen as one of the last pairs to leave the startbox today.

That, of course, was Ros Canter, who swaps one leading horse for another and now helms the competition on her Badminton winner and European Champion Lordships Graffalo (Grafenstolz – Cornish Queen, by Rock King). It’s no small feat to tackle the Burghley course even in the freshest of headspaces, but doing so with a chance to win the whole thing, and just hours after a very early finish on your other competitive ride, is an extraordinary show of compartmentalisation.

But, says Ros, who made the whole thing look a bit like a schooling exercise en route to finishing one second inside the time, “I watched Tom Jackson, I watched Harry Meade, I watched a few of the really good ones and then I pulled myself away and had a bit of cereal and paced a bit — paced a lot.”

Then, she got to work forgetting about her morning in exchange for focusing on her afternoon, and her extraordinarily reliable longtime partner making his Burghley debut.

“I think we always thought Burghley might be another great event for him, and I’m just relieved. I’m quite relieved, to be honest,” she laughs. “I’ve been around Burghley a few times — not loads, but a few times — and I didn’t feel like I’d really cracked it until this afternoon, so when this morning went kind of fairly categorically wrong very early, it’s been a long wait, to be honest.”

When they left the box, though, nothing about their ride looked like it might have come after hours of waiting and, probably, worrying. They were so balanced and considered throughout that it would have been easy to start worrying, from the ground, that they might be a touch too slow – but Walter’s capacious natural gallop stride is deceptive, and as they came to the Dairy Mound in the latter part of the course, they were the fastest of the day at that stage.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m taking too many waits, but because he’s just got such a scopey stride and he just gets his head down, doesn’t he? He’s made to gallop,” smiles Ros.

The pair retain their first-phase score of 22 overnight, giving them a 3.5 penalty margin – not a rail, but some time – in hand over second-placed Tim Price and Vitali, our last pair on course today and last year’s two-phase leaders.

Tim Price and Vitali Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

They didn’t quite manage the clear inside the time – their smooth ride saw them add 3.2 time penalties – but for Tim, too, it was a reassuring way to end the day after a slightly tricker earlier round on the relatively inexperienced Viscount Viktor, who picked up a run-out, a missed flag, and a broken safety device across the course.

“He’s too good, isn’t he?” grins Tim, who followed an interesting path set by Tom McEwen at the Leaf Pit, choosing the steep left-handed approach up to the bank rather than the more smoothly sloping ‘ordinary’ route.

For Tim, the highlight of the round was the talented gelding’s continued improvement in this phase.

“He felt better than last year; fitter, I think. It was just a really fun experience. The thing that’s always happening, even though there’s always highs and lows, is he’s gaining experience, and he’s really gotten the whole package. He really used to nap going into the start box. The whole thing is really building the arsenal of what he understands.”

“It’s not his first time around these big tracks, but this was definitely the best he’s felt,” he continues. “He was galloping and moving, still jumping. And he’s a real privilege to ride around there, because he can go fast across the ground, but then you can balance him up at the end. At the double corners [16ab], which have been causing a lot of trouble, I jumped in there on four strides all day, and it probably was, but then I got scared and fiddled a fifth stride. But you can just do that with him, and that’s at six or seven minutes. So you know, to be able to do that is impressive, for what he’s capable of.”

There haven’t been any doubts about Vitali’s ability to perform in the first two phases; he’s had five previous five-star runs, and in all of them, he’s been well-placed in the first phase – including setting the dressage record here last year with an 18.7 – and quick and capable in the second. It’s the third that’s the issue: in four of those runs, he’s had three rails, and in his last, at Badminton this spring, he had five.

But who’s dwelling on the past? They delivered a smart clear in their prep run in the British Open Championship at Hartpury last month, and all Tim wants to do is look ahead.

“I just feel like he’s come here in very good form, and it’s just nice to go out tomorrow and have a jump and hopefully do a good job, and that’s a good campaign,” he says. “Really, that’s what it’s about, and I know he’s often been in a winning position. But I’m really trying to compile three decent phases in him, and if that’s a good result, then that’s secondary to what I’m trying to achieve with this horse.”

Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Ros and Tim are joined on the podium by the busiest man of the week, Harry Meade, who piloted three horses around the track for clear, competitive rounds: the pathfinder of the day, Superstition (Satisfaction FRH – unknown, by Cordalame), added 10.8 time penalties for overnight 15th, despite only having run once in the past year, and he sits third and fifth, respectively, with final ride Annaghmore Valoner (Coroner – Annaghmore Lady Valier, by Black Walter) and second ride Crystal Cavalier (Jack of Diamonds – Cavalier Iris, by Cavalier Royale), both of whom added nothing to their first-phase scores, though Annaghmore Valoner was initially awarded 15 penalties for a late flag that the ground jury opted to remove without any appeal.

“I had five entered and probably left my two strongest cross country horses at home,” laughs Harry, who’ll take those two – Away Cruising and Et Hop du Matz – to Maryland next month.

Of third-placed Bramham CCI4*-L winner Annaghmore Valoner, who he inherited from Australia’s Sam Griffiths in early 2023, he says: “She’s a lovely horse. It’s her first five-star, and I’ve had to hold her hand so far around the two four-stars she’s done and build her confidence because she’s been a little unsure. She was a bonus [entry], so I thought I’d just crack on and not waste time, and she was comfortably inside.”

‘Comfortably’ is something of an understatement – though the mare always looked smooth as silk and totally comfortable within her cruising speed, she crossed the finish line as by far the fastest of the day, with thirteen seconds in hand.

“I tried to give her a quiet ride at speed,” says Harry. “I tried to set out really fast and steeplechase every straightforward fence, including fence one, but really hold her hand and give her confidence. She wouldn’t be that resilient – she’d get upset very easily even if she saw something in the crowd or caught a fence or something, she could just panic in her breathing. But she was wonderful from beginning to end. She grew and grew. She feels like she’s really come of age now. She was wonderfully professional and easily inside the time, and could have been even quicker.”

Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Riding three horses on a day like today – and three very different horses, at that – is a major mental game, but Harry took a measured approach to the task at hand.

“I sort of had a plan at the beginning of the day for each horse. I was quite happy going out first, and I would have been quite happy going out second and third,” he says. “I think they all went as planned, and they’re all different horses. I just tried to ride each one with a bit of sympathy, and giving them time. It’s not a sprint round somewhere like here. Superstition was amazing — really game, foot perfect everywhere. Cavalier Crystal was just on fire. And she’s a horse who, 18 months ago, I didn’t think she’d be a five-star horse, and she just was absolutely wonderful.”

Nothing, though, would happen without the village of extraordinary support he has around him, he continues.

“I think it is a real team effort for us. I’m pretty hopeless at a lot of things, but one thing we can do is produce confident, happy, resilient, five-star horses from young horses. It’s not how you produce them in the month leading up to this, it’s 10, 15 years. It’s a process which not everyone buys into, but I personally believe it’s about giving them that long term, slow confidence, and then when you get somewhere like this, they’re absolutely bulletproof.”

And, at the end of the day, it helps that Harry himself finds it, well, just plain fun.

“I just enjoy doing this,” he grins. “If there was no crowd here, if it wasn’t a competition, I’d love to come out here on my own and just have a good crack round a course like that. It’s what I do, it’s what we as a team do. And, you know, to get three bites of the cherry is even more fun. And long may that last — one day, I’ll miss being at these events.”

Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Like Harry on Annaghmore Valoner, British-based Frenchman Gaspard Maksud was initially awarded 15 penalties for a flag with Zaragoza (Cevin Z – Saracen’s Pride, by Saracen Hill xx), but after he dismounted at the finish and cooled his horse off, he went to appeal it – and before he even made it to the ground jury, he got news that they’d decided to remove it. That propelled him straight up the leaderboard thanks to the scant 3.6 time penalties he’d accrued, giving him a temporary lead that ultimately became overnight fourth.

The speedy round perhaps didn’t have the same polish as those of the leaders – there were some decidedly agricultural moments and some gutsy decisions made, but Gaspard took to heart plenty of sage advice from Andrew Nicholson, with whom he used to be based before setting up on his own a few years ago.

“I walked with Andrew, and there were a few things I was discussing with other people, a few routes, and I was never going to go straight through on the Leaf Pit, but everybody jumped it well. So I said, ‘you know what? Just let’s do that’,” says Gaspard. “She just keeps on giving. I put her in a rhythm, and once we jumped over those corners, I told her to move on a little bit more. And to be fair, she kept on galloping strongly into the end. So I’m very pleased with her.”

It’s easy to forget that gritty ‘Zoe’ is just eleven – in 2022, she and Gaspard were sixth in the World Championships, and there’s plenty more to come from the exciting mare.

“Give me another year or two, and I’m sure she could get that time,” says Gaspard. “But basically, it’s our first five-star completion, because we fell off in the water at Pau. So the sure thing I really wanted to make sure we stay on the four legs. She was very good; she tried hard for me and she was still feeling very well at the end.”

Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

The finish line was so often a place of gleeful celebration today, but nobody celebrated quite as ebulliently as Gemma Stevens, who punched the air and screamed like a frisky housewife front row centre at a Bon Jovi concert as she sailed through the timers with her 2021 Bicton five-star champion, Chilli Knight (Chilli Morning – Kings Gem, by Rock King). And rightly so, too: they had a blinder of a round, adding just 2.4 time penalties and putting the frustrations of Badminton this spring, where they’d have won but for a flag, well behind them. That puts them into sixth overnight, well up from first-phase eighteenth.

“I cannot tell you how nervous I was!” she says. “I felt horrendous today, because I just so badly wanted to do well. And yes, I did feel like we had a little bit of a point to prove after Badminton. It’s such a shame I lost a little bit of time but the jumping today, he was just incredible.”

The time, she says, came down to a couple of factors: “You could say I was just a little out of practice. The last few years I haven’t had the rides at that level and coming back to it, it’s scary. But now I’ve got some amazing ones coming through so hopefully I’ll be back. I’m really annoyed that we had a few time [penalties], but he did lose a shoe, so after Capability’s Cutting, I could feel him slipping the whole way down that hill for that big fence at the bottom there. So I was like, ‘Oh God, we’ve got to be careful we don’t fall down.’ And, yeah, just like, round the corners there, just after the water and stuff, I just had to be careful. But what an amazing little horse.”

The son of Badminton winner Chilli Morning is, says Gemma, “just a fantastic little horse. He’s such a trier. What he maybe lacks in scope, he makes far up for in heart and grit and determination. Coming to the Dairy Mounds, because I feel like that’s the last really difficult one, I was like, ‘Come on, little man, come on.’ And when I jumped that, I was like, ‘Come on, now we can get home!’”

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

After so many tough rides through the Rolex Corners at 16AB, which looked as though they may have been the one less-than-perfect placement choice on Derek’s course, it was a joy to watch US-based Kiwi Monica Spencer and her gritty Thoroughbred Artist (Guillotine – Maxamore, by Satin Blush) sail down the line as though it was a straightforward question. That fluidity and partnership was the keystone of their round, and saw them gain a flurry of speed in the final run of the track to cross the line with 8.4 time penalties and take overnight seventh place, dropping just two places from fifth in their Burghley debut.

“It felt like a lot of big jumps and a lot of galloping, and I didn’t imagine feeling so, like, desperate to go fast,” says Monica. “But he was great. He just answered every question I asked of him — I just probably took a bit too much time in some places. It’s pretty awesome to build a partnership with a horse over many years; I think we’ve been together nine years now, and he’s only 13, but I feel like he gets better every year, so I don’t think he’s reached his peak yet.”

After dismounting and taking stock of her horse, Monica wasn’t quite able to process the magnitude of what had just happened, even with two seventh-place five-star finishes, at Kentucky and Maryland, under her belt already.

“I don’t know if it’s settled in yet, but yeah, I’m rapt. I mean, this morning, the course felt like a huge, huge challenge, and I was almost wondering how I was going to get through all those flags. But now that I’ve done it, I guess, there’s just more self-belief – and I’m just thanking my lucky  stars that I’ve got a horse like him.”

Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

One of the horses on everyone’s radar today – along with Austin O’Connor’s Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail – Rock Me Baby, by Rock King), who was almost marginally too keen for 4.8 time penalties and overnight twelfth – was Capels Hollow Drift (Shannodale Sarco St. Ghyvan – Lucky Crest, by Lucky Gift xx), with whom Tom Jackson finished second here in 2022. Today, though, they looked the next level up even from that banner performance, and their 5.6 time penalties moves them from 13th to eighth.

“That was one of the best rides I’ve had,” says Tom. “He stayed traveling for me the whole way. This is his fifth five-star, and he just delivers every single time. Whatever you ask of him, he just delivers. Here is definitely tougher to ride, the terrain just adds a whole new level to it but I’m really happy with the way he picked up and finished really strongly.”

At thirteen, ‘Walshy’ has amassed a wealth of experience – along with that Burghley finish, he’s also twice been fifth at Badminton, and sixteenth on his debut there, cementing him as one of the great cross-country athletes of our sport.

“It’s such a privileged position to be with him now, with how experienced he is and how good he’s been for his whole career, that actually some of the time, as crazy as it sounds, through the combinations, you just feel like you’re going through the motions. He’s so with you and on it. And as long as you get him vaguely in the right place, he’s going to do everything to do the right thing.”

With that in mind, “I just really wanted him to come here and enjoy it. He’s had a really tough last year, and even the spring with the wet weather and going into Badminton at the beginning of last year, I said, ‘his ground is not wet ground’. He hates it. And he came out with sort of average time penalties for most horses. We thought, ‘oh, maybe it’s not too bad’. And then hated it again at the Europeans [last year] in terms of the ground. He always wants to do his job and jump, and he’ll never stop trying to do that, but just in terms of traveling at the speed you need to at these things, [he found it harder]. But today, he absolutely loved it.”

Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

It was a day of two halves for the French, whose first two competitors – Gireg le Coz and Luc Chateau – didn’t complete, but whose second two are in the top ten overnight. The last of them to go was Olympian and national stalwart Nicolas Touzaint, who piloted his experienced team ride, but five-star debutant, Absolut Gold HDC (Grafenstolz – Belle Meralaise xx, by Verglas xx) to 8.8 time penalties. That’s enough to see them retain ninth place overnight.

“I was lucky to go on late on the course, so I had time to see how it went. And the thing is, I have the best horse I could ever have,” says 2008 Badminton champion Nicolas, who is also making his own Burghley debut this week. “He’s 14 years old, but he’s never ran [a course] as difficult as this, so I didn’t know what to expect. I just listened to my horse. We form a really super partnership, so I believe in him, and he believes in me. Now that I know him a little better on these long distances, we’re going to grow on that, and I think he can be more and more performant with the time. Now we have a good bond, and now I know he can do it. He knows we can do it together.”

Alex Bragg and Quindiva. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Alex Bragg rounds out the top ten with Badminton podium finisher Quindiva (Quintender – Ruby Roller, by High Roller), who gave us our first clear round inside the time of the four today and climbed 32 places after dressage.

“This is a jumping track, and a jumping horse,” he grins. “That was a brilliant ride, and I was going for the time and I was just about on it every minute. She just kept going, going, going. I nearly stopped to have a beer because I thought it was so easy! She just kept delivering.”

Alex was full of praise for the game, elegant mare, who’s had an exceptional season proving her mettle at this level – and is one of the best showjumpers in the field for tomorrow’s competition.

“We all know that she’s a great jumping mare. She’s been super genuine, and she’s really taken to this sport now,” says Alex. “It’s taken time to build that confidence, but honestly, when you leave that start box, she’s just like a demon. She grows horns, and there is nothing — I mean, nothing — that’s going to stop her. And I’m just the lucky person to be sat on board steering. You have to work with that much scope. She can always jump herself into trouble, so you have to take a breath and not let the adrenaline take over too much. And remember, those drops after the fences are punishing if you come in too big. You can imagine she lands so far out. But she just kept galloping. I just haven’t got enough words to describe how pleased and how thrilled I am with the horse, and how happy I am for all of the team and the owners that stick by you when there are some days which are not so great.”

Quindiva finished fifteenth here last year with 14.4 time penalties, and picked up 7.6 at Badminton this spring en route to third place, and today, Alex felt she’d gained enough experience to really go for the time.

“Last year here, she finished with so much fuel in the tank and then Badminton again, I just felt like I was always protecting her,” he says. “And I felt if I was just brave enough to let her go a little bit at the beginning, then we had a really good chance of finishing inside the time anywhere. I mean, she’s fast, she’s neat. She does spend a lot of time in the air, but we train a lot on the technicality stuff, and you mustn’t underestimate — when you say the mare’s polite, it’s all about discipline and training. And we work so hard with our team on all the technical side, with my show jumping coach, Jeremy Scott –everything is down to being disciplined, straight and accurate, and then the horses can do their job, and it looks neat. So if you stick to those rules, honestly, it makes the job so much easier for them and then so much easier for us. The thing is, as well, this is only her second season at this level. How exciting!”

A bevy of very good cross-country pairs follow closely behind Alex after big climbs today – Alice Casburn and her homebred Topspin (Zento – Capriati xx, by El Conquistador xx) are eleventh, up from 48th, after finishing four seconds over the time, and Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail – Rock Me Baby, by Rock King) climbed from 37th to twelfth with their 4.8 penalties.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

In sixteenth place overnight is the best-placed of the four US combinations, Cosby Green and the eighteen-year-old former Buck Davidson ride Copper Beach (Radolin – Cloverballen), who looked a picture on course to add 12.8 time penalties and climb ten places.

“It’s such a relief,” says Cosby, who’s in her second season based in the UK with Tim and Jonelle Price, and has previously completed Pau and Badminton before her Burghley debut this week. “You hope to finish through the flags but you never really know, so to be safe and especially clear, I can’t have wanted anything else. I’m very emotional. I just wanted to know my plan — I know I’ve walked it so many times and I knew it, so I actually had a lot of calm over me. It was nice to just get out there, and he was beyond my expectations amazing. [It rode] exactly to plan, which I was really surprised. There was no surprises out there, and I knew the plan inside and out, and we were able to execute it.”

‘Sean’, in his customary fashion, bowled along with his ginger tail windmilling around – a trademark of the sweet, stalwart competitor.

“The tail got us all the way home over those jumps, I’m pretty sure!” laughs Cosby.  “He’s got a twinkle in his eyes still, and he’s such a good old man. I’m really impressed with him.”

At eighteen, Sean is the oldest horse in the field – but Cosby, with help from her mentors, who’ve each had horses still competing at five-star at nineteen, has adjusted how she works with him to keep him feeling in his prime.

“I’ve learned that less is more, and that kind of trusting that the horse knows what he’s doing with his eyes closed,” she says. “And just being able to have enough confidence in myself to trust that he is trained, he knows his job, and it’s all about maintaining and improving in slight little ways, and body fitness and physio and all that kind of stuff.”

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

One of the few riders to express excitement about riding Derek’s beefy course was Jennie Brannigan, but as she sagely pointed out, “you’d be excited, too, if you were sitting on a horse like this!” And true to form, her out-and-out cross-country machine FE Lifestyle (Leo von Faelz – Berina A, by Brandenburger), who is owned by Jennie’s longtime supporters Tim and Nina Gardner, attacked every inch of the course, leaving just some time on the table to take home 15.2 time penalties and climb from 40th to 19th.

“I was told to lick a stamp and send it, and that’s what I did,” grins Jennie, who finished twelfth with the gelding here last year after a tie-up scare the Monday before the competition. “He’s a beautiful horse, and it was really nice to come back with him in 100% health, because I was like, ‘Oh, that was a lot harder last year’ when he wasn’t quite right. So that was really wonderful. You could see why I was like, ‘Oh, I’m excited to ride him tomorrow’ because he’s just a brilliant cross country horse. I  mean, he’s definitely the best one I’ve ever had.”

Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Andrew McConnon made the trip over for his Burghley debut knowing that the first phase would be something to just quietly work his way through with Wakita 54 (Plot Blue – Werusa, by Padinus), because Saturday, he was sure, would be the day she’d shine. And shine she did: though he took some places steadier with the inexperienced eleven-year-old, they finished with a respectable 19.6 time penalties to move up from 57th to 29th.

“I’m very excited, and very happy with my mare,” says Andrew, who opted to take two long options – one at the Leaf Pit, where several riders made the same call. “I was 50/50 yesterday. Before riding, I was going to go direct. She was beautifully patient off the bank, which she can be a little gung-ho. So actually, I decided to go long there, and then the double of corners. I know that’s been the tricky fence, and I had a great shot in. Really nice jump. Second stride, she just pecked a little bit, and I knew that’s what was putting people on the second sjump. So I rerouted to the long option at B, and then she flew around the rest of the way. A bit slow and happy!”

“You never know on cross country,” he continues. “I mean, there’s always going to be things that don’t go to plan. I’m really proud of the decisions I made in the moment off of the Leaf Pit and then in between the two corners. I want to be competitive deep down, but I really love and trust my mare, and I knew that I was going to put her in a bad position to that second corner. So I’m thrilled that I went long. I’d of course like to go quicker, because I know she can, but I’m really happy. I’ve had her since a five year old, and I’ve been the only one to compete her. So I’ve produced her. I’m the only one that has to answer to time penalties, so I was happy to go a little slow.”

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

The time is always a tough catch at Burghley, but one pair with a great chance of catching it were Mia Farley and her full Thoroughbred Phelps (Tiznow – Boom Town Gal, by Cactus Ridge), who’ve gone inside the time at both their previous five-star starts in the US. They began their trip around the track looking absolutely on the money to do so again – despite a couple of serious long ones at fences two and three – but like so many of their fellow competitors, they had a skim-by at the second of the Rolex Corners, which allowed absolutely no margin for error. Theirs wasn’t, arguably, a real error, even: Mia opted to try a tighter inside line and a four-stride approach, and in the final stride, the line simply wasn’t there. With that behind them, she slowed the pace and let Phelps cruise home, taking 23.6 time penalties with their 20 jumping penalties but ultimately climbing two places to 34th.

“I didn’t have the best shot in and I really should have gone the long route,” muses Mia. “ButI thought it was fun after like minute four when I had a little more brakes! He’s very enthusiastic out there. He wants to do it, he loves what he does. I think we just need to control the love for the sport a little bit next time! I think I learned a lot about the track here, and him too, this was really just a fitness run for him so I’m excited to come back and be better. The terrain’s crazy. It was the busiest beginning of the course I’ve ever had, but the terrain is the biggest thing.”

Our fourth US pair, Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M, unfortunately didn’t complete the course after an enormously frustrating late mistake at the Dairy Mound, where ‘Chito’ left a leg and popped Hannah Sue straight out the side door. There was much to like about their earlier efforts, though, and we hope to see them back on this side of the pond soon.

Tomorrow sees us take 43 horses and riders into the final horse inspection at 9.00 a.m. BST/4.00 a.m. EST and then, hopefully, onward to the showjumping. That’s down from 65 starters, giving us a 66.2% completion rate with 32 clears, for a 49.2% clear rate.

We’ve seen horses finishing in brilliant form all day long, and the ground conditions here are among the best we’ve seen at any event, so we have high hopes for tomorrow morning – and we’ll be back bright and early to bring you all the news and updates from the inspection, and then from showjumping, which begins with the first group at 10.30 a.m. (5.30 a.m. EST), and follows on with the top twenty from 14.15 (9.15 a.m. EST). Until then: Go Eventing!

Our coverage of Burghley is brought to you by our incredible supporters, Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional products to keep your horse feeling their best at all times. They’ll even get on the phone with you to help you formulate a solid supplementation plan for your horse’s individual needs! We’d really appreciate your support of KPP, as they’re champions for our sport and beyond and are wonderful people to boot. Check them out here.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

Ears Pricked and Eyes On – Live Blog of All the Action from Cross Country Day at Defender Burghley

By on Sep 7, 2024 5:46 am -

The iconic Cottesmore Leap AKA the Hard Pass. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

Historic venue – check. Saturday – check. Formidable field of 5* combinations raring to go – check. All this can only mean one thing: it’s cross country day at Defender Burghley. Bring. It. On.

This year, as ever, we’re being treated to the typical test of bravery, scope, stamina, precision and control we’ve come to expect from Burghley, and Derek Di Grazia’s cross country course leaves no terrain or undulation unturned. Riders are going to need to be on their A game as they set out of the start box today, that’s for sure. Derek says the easy route is the straight route, but that’s easy to say. The whole shebang is a hard pass from me, although I’d be happy with a gallop ‘round the track taking my own version of a black flag alternative and avoiding every single fence, but that’s why I’m safely settled on my sofa in front of the TV, clattering away on my keyboard whilst the superstars of our sport are ponied up and waiting in the wings to bring us what’s sure to be a thrilling day of action out on the Burghley estate.

It’s an 11am start / 12 noon CET / 6am ET today with Britain’s Harry Meade kicking things off with the first of his three rides, Superstition.

🇺🇲 If you’re cheering for the US, these are the times you need to know:

📍 Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle – 7:31am ET.

📍 Mia Farley and Phelps – 8:12am ET.

📍Cosby Green and Copper Beach – 8:30am ET.

📍Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M – 9:10am ET.

📍Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 – 10:15am ET.

I could go through the whole field and pick out combinations of note but basically it’s all of them so here’s the full list of ride times for your perusal.

If you just can’t get enough info about this year’s competitors, then you’re in need of EN’s epic Form Guide, which you’ll find right here.

I’ll be bringing you live updates of all the brouhaha that Burghley brings throughout the day, but if you want to watch along, the only way to view all of the competition live and on demand is via a subscription to Burghley TV.

But first, a quick catch-up with what went down in the dressage:

Dressage Day One:
▶️ [Test-by-test reports]
▶️ [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report]

Dressage Day Two:
▶️ [Test-by-test reports]
▶️ [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report]

Here’s a look at how things stand in terms of the leaderboard as we head into cross country:

1️⃣ Heading up the chasing pack and in the lead overnight is Britain’s Ros Canter with Izilot DHI on a score of 19.9.
2️⃣ 2.1 points behind herself is Ros Canter with her second ride Lordships Graffalo on 22.
3️⃣ And 0.3 behind Ros, rounding out the top three as things stand, is Kiwi eventer extraordinaire Tim Price with Vitali on 22.3.

Click here for the full scoreboard.

But that’s all relative as the most quality field in recent history head out onto the biggest Burghley track we’ve seen for a very long time.

While you’re eagerly awaiting the first countdown of the day, check out what the runners and riders will be facing as they thunder along the track via the interactive course preview map, and if you want to know the riders’ thoughts on this year’s cross country offering, we’ve wrangled them together and given them to you here.

And when you’re done with all that, feast your eyes on all of EN’s Burghley content and mosey on along to our IG account for even more @goeventing.

Before we get down to the nitty gritty of things, a pop quiz. What’s the first rule of live updates? Refresh, refresh, refresh if you want to keep up with live updates.

Let’s do this thang ENers, and go eventing!

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

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11:58am

Update:

Harry was right and the flag penalties he was given with Annaghmore Valoner have now been removed, which puts him in 3rd. All three of his horses are in the top 15.

There are also two US riders in the top 20: Cosby Green and Copper Beach are in 16th and Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle are in 19th.

Here’s a look at the top 14:

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11:05am

And so cross country day draws to a close on the Burghley estate, and what a day it’s been. Action, excitement, riding masterclasses and a whole lotta super talented horses doing what they do best. Oh Burghley, you did not disappoint.

Here’s a quick look at how today’s action has impacted the leaderboard:

1️⃣ In the lead overnight is Britain’s Ros Canter with Lordships Graffalo on a score of 22.
2️⃣ 3.5 points behind is New Zealand’s – Tim Price with Vitali on 25.5.
3️⃣ And 4.9 behind them, rounding out the top three as things stand is France’s Gaspard Maksud with Zaragoza on 30.4.

Click here for the full scoreboard.

There are a couple of flag questions outstanding which we’ll bring you up-to-date on in our round-up report – Tilly’s fingers are frantically clattering across her keyboard as we speak – eyes on EN.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow… the Burghley 2024 winner will be crowned. The morning session of show jumping will start at 10:30am local time / 11:30am CET / 5:30am ET before we move onto the top-20 at 2:15pm / 3:15pm CET / 9:15am ET.

I’ll be back with live updates for the finale – don’t miss it.

If you need more, like, right now, click here for all the Burghley content you can handle.

What a day. What a sport. Go eventing!

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

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11am

Oh the drama continues – Harry’s been given a 15 at fence 28 – the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge. Hmmm, it’s not over ’til it’s over. Harry says in his interview that he thinks it’ll be taken off. Time will tell.

Tim is at the Boodles Raindance at 26 and heading for home. There’s a shout of ‘Go on Tim’ as he gallops under the Lion Bridge. He’s given this horse a superb ride and Vitali is lapping up this course. He drives to the last and is over and through the flags. How close is he? 3.2 time to add and into 2nd place. What a ride. What a day!

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10:57am

Harry’s continuing to deliver a brilliant round with his lovely mare. What an exciting talent she is. They catch the flag on the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge at 28 but all looks well. He kicks on for home. He’s got the luxury of time to balance for the Finale and they come through the finish flags. CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME!!! TWO CLEARS INSIDE THE TIME FOR HARRY!!! Wow!

Tim is also flying round the course with Vitali as they’re left as the only combination out on course.

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10:53am

🇳🇿 LAST HORSE ON COURSE: Tim Price and Vitali

Dressage Score: 22.3
Place: 3rd

Tim also takes Tom McEwen’s route at the Leaf Pit and makes nothing of it. Tim holds for the stride into the water at the Trout Hatchery which gives him a great balance for the next element and they go through the combination really smoothly. Another riding masterclass for us, what a lucky lot we’ve been today.

Harry’s really going for it, crouched low and flying around this track with his young mare answering every single question quite brilliantly. He’s clear through to the Raindance at 26.

Ros is balanced as ever through the Boodles Raindance at 26. They’re flat out coming to the Finale but Ros sets up and has a second to spare. CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME FOR ROS CANTER AND LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO AND INTO THE LEAD!!!

We’re hearing that Gaspard and Zaragoza have had their 15 penalties removed.

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10:50am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner

Dressage Score: 27.8
Place: 11th

Harry is clean and clear through the Leaf Pit and kicking on to give this lovely young mare a good ride round her first 5*. She jumps bravely into the Trout Hatchery at 10 and there’s another huge leap over the roll top into the water at the b element. Goodness me, they’re absolutely flying.

Ros continues her riding lesson for us, she’s bang on the time and really showing how a smooth round is how you stay on your minute markers. She’s the fastest of the day at the Dairy Mound and looks to be having the most foot perfect ride you could ever ask for. Beautiful.

Pippa is over the Finale and through the finish flags with her experienced campaigner. What a treat to see this legend of the sport in action. She’s carrying that 15 and adds 19.6 time.

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10:45am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo

Dressage Score: 22
Place: 2nd

Ros is up at the Leaf Pit. ‘Walter’ drops sweetly down and stays totally in balance as he easily makes his way through there. What a pro. Also Ros, but you’ve gotta love Walter. They’re foot perfect through Defender Valley at 8 – very calm and clear and collected, but of course deceptively quick. Ros comes through the Trout Hatchery in beautiful balance and absolutely shows all of us how that should be ridden. A total masterclass, of course.

Oop, Pippa’s another one to take the flag at the Trout Hatchery – 11a. Majas Hope clearly drifted there and they’re given 15 penalties. Pippa’s throwing everything at is as she clears the double of gates at 18. Onto the Pardubice and up Winners’ Avenue. Pippa’s brave through the Dairy Mound and kicking for home.

Meanwhile, Matt and Askari are over the Finale and through the finish. ‘Muffin’ looks to have really enjoyed his afternoon round Burghley and the pair have got big smiles on their faces.

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10:40am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope

Dressage Score: 29.6
Place: 17th

Majas Hope drifts down the hedgeline at Defender Valley but Pippa holds him straight and they go clear through that first real big question on course. Pippa aims for the straight route through the Leaf Pit but it doesn’t quite happen and she has to use all of her experience to wiggle her way through. They’re clear though.

Gaspard is still flying as he comes over the Finale and through the finish. He’s punching the air and absolutely delighted with his thrilling round. He is carrying those 15 penalties for the flag and has 3.6 time penalties.

Matt and Askari have picked up another 20 at 15b – up at Joules at the Maltings. We didn’t see it on screen though so I’m not sure what happened there. They’re now clear to the Cottesmore Leap.

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10:35am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Matthew Heath and Askari

Dressage Score: 31.9
Place: 27th

Matt and Askari are having a very sweet round so far. They’re very nice through Defender Valley for the second time. But then, oh dear. Askari doesn’t lock onto the b element on the way out and they drive by. That’s a shame.

Woah! Gaspard continues to keep us all on the edge of our seats as he makes a real meal of the b element at 16 – those massive corners. Boy, he was lucky there, but what a horse this is. She is ferocious. No surprise that he’s on track to be the fastest of the day.

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10:32am

🇫🇷 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II

Dressage Score: 26.8
Place: 10th

Gaspard is living life on the knife edge as he positively flies through Defender Valley at 5. Goodness me. That was very fast, very brave, and kinda risky. This mare is super talented though and takes care of things. He opts for the Tom McEwen route through the Leaf Pit and wastes not a scrap of a second. He continues to ride forward through the Trout Hatchery, taking the flag at 11a which comes up as being given as a penalty.

It looks like Susie has been given a flag penalty at 11a – that’s on the live scoreboard at the minute. Susie’s looking in good time as she comes to the Dairy Mound at 22 and 23 but oh no! The horse just wasn’t looking at the c element and they drive on by. How frustrating. She comes back round but there’s another refusal at 24 and she puts her hand up.

Ryuzo has come through the finish, clear with 15.2 time penalty and into 13th place. Good for them!

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10:28am

🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln

Dressage Score: 31.5
Place: 25th

They lose a little balance through Defender Valley at 5 but Susie sits up and supports her young horse. They drop cautiously down into the water at the Trout Hatchery but that helps Susie to pick up the line. They drift slightly and take the flag but look to be OK

Andrew’s brave through the Dairy Mound at 23 and heads towards home. They come over the Finale and add 19.6 time penalties. What a great experience to finish Burghley cross country. Great work.

Ryuzo goes through the Maltings at 15 very quickly and as well as any. What a ride he’s giving this horse. He balances for the double of gates at 18 and then it’s over the Pardubice and up Winners’ Avenue.

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10:25am

🇯🇵 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed

Dressage Score: 33
Place: 32nd

They’re hesitant off the drop at the Leaf Pit but Ryuzo gives his horse confidence and they head on down and over the arrowheads. They continue on clear to the Trout Hatchery. They pop through there and make the two strides very easily between the final two elements. Off they go!

Andrew continues to have a great ride and is clear up to the Rolex Corners at 16. He jumps in but then decides to take the longer route rather than risking that tricky striding to the b element.

Nicolas is close to home as he has a heartstopping jump into the water over the wave at the c element of the Boodles Raindance at 26. This is a very brave ride. He uses all the encouragement of his voice as he takes the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge at 28. He’s absolutely delighted as he clears the last and goes into 5th. What a round that was, everything cross country should be.

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10:18am

🇺🇲 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54

Dressage Score: 40.4
Place: 57th

Wakita gets a bit of a sticky jump over the first element at the Trout Hatchery at 10 but makes up for it with his knees up to his chin over the next roll top. Wakita’s looking very bold and Andrew’s doing a great job of settling him as they get their Burghley cross country underway.

Gemma continues to ride bravely as she makes her way through the Boodles Raindance at 26. She’s on track to be the fastest of the day. She steadies to jump the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge at 28 and can smell home. She punches the air as she crosses the line, just 2.4 time penalties and a fabulous round. She’s delighted as so she should be. Into second for them.

Nicolas makes a very tight turn to the B element at the Maltings at 15 and angles the c element. He’s really giving this horse the ride of his life. Wowza.

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10:12am

🇫🇷 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDZ

Dressage Score: 26.1
Place: 9th

Nicolas taps the rail at Defender Valley but it stays. The horse looks down into the ditch but Nicolas pushes on and they’re clear through there. They continue on clear to the Trout Hatchery and have a massive jump in. They go through there bravely and cleanly.

Wills is up at the Dairy Mound. They get close to the log but they clear that tricky combination and continue on their way. They come up to the Defender Finale and secure a first 5* completion for A Class Cooley. It’s been a great round for them.

Gemma’s on her minute markers as she comes to the Rolex Corners at 16. Chilli Knight does a great job to get his legs out of the way at the b element and they waste not a scrap of time there. Gemma’s brave through the triple bars at Keeper at 21. She’s really giving this horse a great ride and their partnership is so very clear as they boldly attack this course. She shouts ‘Come on’ as she heads towards home.

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10:07am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight

Dressage Score: 29.7
Place: 18th

Gemma’s quickly Defender Valley at 5 and is crouched low and going for it. They’re clear up to the Trout Hatchery and Gemma does a very good job of balancing him down the hill which results in lovely balance as they land. She keeps him on his line and really shows us just how to ride through there.

Meanwhile, Monica’s got a chance of being close to the time. They absolutely fly the penultimate fence – the official charity My Name’5 Doddie fence – and then the clock turns red. Just a few strides to the line, over the last and they finish with just 8.4 penalties and go into second place!

Wills takes the five strides between the two big corners at 16 after landing a little short over the a element. It comes up for them though and they gallop on.

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10:03am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley

Dressage Score: 30.6
Place: 19th

Wills leaps off the Leaf pit on the left-handed side and chooses the slower route through there. They’re in a bit of an awkward position for the final element but A Class Cooley makes it happen.

Rose and ‘Jack’ are slightly sticky at the Cottesmore Leap at 20, that was a heart-in-the-mouth moment. They tap at the top rails of the triple bars through the Keepers but they’re through and clear.

Monica and Artist jump the wide part of the corner at the b element at 16 but Artist is really carrying her forward and their relationship is paying off for them in buckets. She looks to be smiling all the way round and Artist is ears pricked and hunting out every flag. They jump conservatively through the Boodles Raindance at 26 but Jack is in a good rhythm and still looks to be enjoying his jumping. Rose is really riding nicely. He doesn’t get very high over the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge, but they’re nearly home now.

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9:58am

🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Monica Spencer and Artist

Dressage Score: 24.4
Place: 5th=

Artist is brilliant through the Leaf Pit. Monica slightly loses her balance coming into the final element but Artist is locked onto the flags and helps mom out.

Jesse continues to give us a riding lesson as he puts Cooley Lafitte on the exact lines and picks out the perfect spots to make the horse’s job as easy as possible. He chooses to take the slightly alternative route at Capability’s Cutting at 24, the carved hares. He’s looking to bring this horse home clear and with a whole bunch of great experience under his cinch. He comes home and looks up to the heavens as he crosses the line. An emotional finish. The whole eventing community was right with him all the way round.

Rose is also riding brilliantly and having a great round. She’s clear up to Joules at the Maltings.

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9:54am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Rose Nesbitt and EG Michealangelo

Dressage Score: 30.9
Place: 21st

Rose is easily through the straight route in the Main Arena at 4 and she gallops towards Defender Valley for the first time. She balances before the triple bar and they do a great job through there. Easy.

Jesse doesn’t look like he’s got his foot fully on the gas but this horse has a mammoth stride and they’re in a great galloping rhythm. They make light work of Joules at the Maltings. The horse twists slightly over the b element at the double of corners at 16ab as Jesse tries to hold for the stride. He’s sat in perfect balance though and there’s no doubt they’re flying through.

Just a note, apologies but I think I’ve been seeing the straight route at the Leaf Pit when in fact it hasn’t been. All those arrowheads look enormous to me and it’s not always easy to see everything in the moment.

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9:50am

🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte

Dressage Score: 41.1
Place: 61st

Cheg back after Sally Spickard kindly hopped in while I took a well-needed bathroom break!

Jesse sees a perfect line through Defender Valley at 5 and goes through there in perfect balance. There’s more excellent riding on show from Jesse as he puts Cooley Lafitte in the perfect spot through the Trout Hatchery at 10 and 11.

Meanwhile, Nadja’s in sight of home as she splashes through the water at 26 – the Boodles Raindance.

It’s been a wet end to Padraig’s competition, sadly. They had a similar problem to Gireg earlier, a bit too bold over the roll top into the water at 10b and he flies over Lady Ophelia’s ears and has an early bath. It’s come up as a horse fall but really, the horse just stumbled a little and both are on their feet and walking home, albeit a bit wet.

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🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Padraig McCarthy and Lady Ophelia

Dressage Score: 33.9
Place: 37th

Global Fision M really uses his footwork and scope to clear the triple-bar at the Maltings, what an athlete. She really isn’t going to be too far off the optimum time, all things considered, as she heads through the Boodles Raindance and the Defender Lion Bridge.

Meanwhile, Padraig was very quick to get back in balance after jumping down the Leaf Pit and makes his way through clear.

Lauren picks up around 18 time penalties and no jumping faults as she crosses the finish. What a round from this pair!

Padraig makes the second trip through the Valley look absolutely effortless.

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🇨🇭 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Nadja Minder and Toblerone

Dressage Score: 31
Place: 22nd

Nadja does a great job at Discovery Valley to work on balance and getting her line correctly, resulting in a great effort from Toblerone. Now I want chocolate.

Lauren Innes also has a great ride through the s-turn at the Maltings. And now a big cheer after clearing the second corner at 16, well-deserved as I’d also be relieved to get that one done!

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🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Lauren Innes and Global Fision M

Dressage Score: 42.2
Place: 63rd

Here we go now with Lauren Innes and Global Fision M, who will have the course to themselves for a short bit.

Lauren has a great trip through the straight route at the Leaf Pit and wow was so honest at 8 after a HUGE jump over the A that pitched Lauren slightly off balance. What a horse.

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9:28am

🇱🇹 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG

Dressage Score: 40.8
Place: 59th

Aistis Vitkauskas will now be the sole rider on course after the falls of Oliver and Jonelle. Aistis has routed here after unfortunately losing his qualification for the Olympics due to a Dangerous Riding elimination at Luhmühlen earlier this year, and will be out with a bit of a chip on his shoulder to make up for missing out on Paris. He’s run into some early trouble and has now retired on course at the Defender Discovery Valley. Not the day he will have wanted today.

This leaves the course vacant now as we await the next pair, Lauren Innes and Global Fision M.

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9:25am

🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera

Dressage Score: 37.6
Place: 51st

Oliver wheels his way through the Maltings, taking the left flag in the process.

And oh no! Oliver tried to make the distance to the second and very influential corner (16) after getting off his line and taking the left flag at the A. What a brave girl, Rosie, to try to make the second happen but unfortunately it’s just not possible and Oliver gets chucked off as she glances off the B and takes down the rail. They both look fine.

Jonelle Price has now also come off at the first arrowhead at the Leaf Pit, after Grappa Nera just dragged her front end and over-rotated slightly, pitching Jonelle off to the left. They’re both no worse for the wear. What a shame!

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9:23am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent

Dressage Score: 24.4
Place: 5th=

They look super confident at the start of the course and Oliver sure has his game face on. They’re clear up to the Trout Hatchery and very smooth through there. Oliver’s arms are going but Rosie doesn’t even take a glance outside the flags. Oliver’s in it to win it.

Oh no! Hannah and Chito have parted company. Chito leaves a leg at the log at the Dairy Mound and Hannah has no chance, she’s shot out of the side door. What a sad end to their competition but they’re both on their feet and look to be absolutely fine.

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9:18am

🇫🇷 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Gireg Le Coz and Aisprit De La Loge

Dressage Score: 25.3
Place: 7th

This pair look really impressive as they sail over the combination in the Main Arena at 4. Oh boy! The next time we see him he’s getting wet. The horse catches a leg going into the Trout Hatchery at 10a and the pair of them come down in the water. The horse is straight up and shaking the water out of his ears. Gireg’s quickly on his feet also and we see them walking off course.

‘Chito’ looks a little tired as he comes through the double of gates at 19, but there’s a bit of space for a breather up Winners’ Avenue coming up next for him.

Meanwhile Humble Glory is traveling beautifully, he looks so happy and comfortable and well within himself as he nears home. They have a great shot through the Boodles Raindance at 26. Way to put an early disappointment behind you and kick on to get the job done. The horse is still full of running as he comes to the finale and what a round it’s been. 8.4 time for them. What a pair for the future of the sport. Awesome.

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9:14am

🇺🇸 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M

Dressage Score: 30.7
Place: 20th

We haven’t seen a lot of Hannah, sadly, but I can tell you that she’s clear through the Pedigree Rails at 9 and is heading to the Trout Hatchery.

Sophia and Humble Glory have put that early problem behind them and the horse really shows his scope over the massive corners at 16ab. They get the perfect stride through the double of gates at 18 and seem to be having a ball out there.

Emma and Icarus are galloping on and really look to be enjoying their round. The horse’s ears and pricked and he’s still jumping boldly and bravely as he comes towards the end of his round. They opt for the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge at 28 and are almost home.

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9:10am

🇦🇺 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Sophia Hill and Humble Glory

Dressage Score: 36.9
Place: 50th

Humble Glory is fighting for his head as he comes down to the rails at Defender Valley at fence 5. He comes down on the fence and the frangible device is activated. What a shame for this pair at the start of their round. They come back round though and continue on with 11 penalties on her card.

There’s trouble for Emma and Icarus at Joules at the Maltings. They have a run out at 15a and Emma loses her stirrup. It takes her a minute to get sorted and come back round but they continue on their way.

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9:05am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Emma Thomas and Icarus X

Dressage Score: 39.1
Place: 54th

Icarus is very keen at the start of the course and they run into trouble at the Trout Hatchery. The balance just isn’t there to make the b element of 11 and they pick up a 20. They come back round and carry on.

Oh goodness, that’s a surprise. Caroline and ‘Cav’ run out to the side of the first of the Rolex Corners and Caroline quickly puts up her hand. What a shame for them, but best to save the horse for another day.

Alice and Topspin are through the finish and have picked up just 1.6 time penalties. What a round. What a very cool achievement for this young rider who’s really making her mark at the level.

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8:59am

🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier

Dressage Score: 25.4
Place: 8th

Caroline’ll be here full of confidence after her Badminton win in the spring, and she’s riding like a 5* winner. They’re quick into the Trout Hatchery and Caroline really shows us how that combination should be ridden. She drops into the water in a beautiful balance and puts ‘Cav’ in the perfect spot all the way through. Lovely.

Alice is having a great ride with her second generation homebred. They have a great line through the double of corners at 16 and make the enormous fences look small. Alice uses her voice to slow Topspin up for the double of gates at 18 and then crouches low and shoots forward for the Pardubice before galloping up Winners’ Avenue. Topspin leaps into the water at 26 – the Boodles Raindance – and they continue to storm their way along the track. They’re good on the time.

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8:57am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Alice Casburn and Topspin

Dressage Score: 36.6
Place: 48th

Topspin looks very strong at the start of the course, but this pair really know each other so well and Alice will have everything in hand. They’re clear through to triple bar at 13.

Tom hails a cab over the wave into the water at the Boodles Raindance at 26. They’re having a great round. They fly through the rest of the course and complete with 10.4 time. They looked quicker than that, to be honest.

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8:53am

🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Sarah Ennis and Grantstown Jackson

Dressage Score: 34.5
Place: 39th

Sarah chooses the straight route at the Leaf Pit and Grantstown Jackson is characteristically quick. There’s a miscommunication at Defender Valley at 8ab and they miss their stride at the corner alongside the ditch, almost going to jump the trees at the widest part of the fence. Sarah comes back round and continues on with that 20 on her card. She loses her steering through the Trout Hatchery and has to try and pick her way through. They pick up a 20 at 10b. It’s not their day, they have a drive by at 11a and Sarah puts up her hand.

Tom wastes not a smidge of a second through Joules at the Maltings at 14 and 15. They’re being bold and brave at every fence, although flirting with the flags somewhat in places. Cooliser comes back nicely for the double of gates and then Tom sees a stride at the Pardubice and they have an absolute flier. Up Winners’ Avenue for them.

Meanwhile Andy and Harthill Phantom have hacked round and completed with 20 on his card and plenty of time. An educational round for them.

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8:48am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser

Dressage Score: 31.2
Place: 23rd

Cooliser flies out of the start box, very keen to get on her job. Woah there girl! He takes a much lower line into Defender Valley and sets up that combination at 5abc perfectly.

om’s caught us out and has come up the other side of the Leaf Pit, but he’s gone the straight route and appears to have saved himself a few seconds. Full marks for his homework and a big fat A for creative course walking.

Will has been pulled up before the Dairy Mound. He’s got off and is walking his horse home. Everything looks to be fine, but time for them to call it a day.

Andy and Harthill Phantom continue to storm around the track and it culminates in a 20 at 16b, the Rolex Corner. He comes back round and continues on, hopefully a little slower.

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8:45am

🇳🇱 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Andrew Heffernan and Harthill Phantom

Dressage Score: 33.5
Place: 35th

Andrew’s horse is super strong as they set out and they’re fast and furious through Defender Valley at 5abc. Woah! He bounces through there. That was brave!

Cosby’s having a great ride and is almost home. What a round this has been. She clears the Finale beautifully and comes through the finish of her first Burghley. What an achievement and in such fine style.

Will is still going well and is hunting his way over the Pardubice at 19 and up Winners’ Avenue.

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8:43am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy

Dressage Score: 32
Place: 28th

Will’s horse looks a little suspicious at Defender Valley for the first time but Will squeezes and they come through clear. He has a look down the drop at the Leaf pit, but that’s not a bad thing and much better than being too brave and leaping off the top. Will has to work hard at the Trout Hatchery. His horse lands really steep after the drop into the water and Will sits right back. Ballycoog Breaker boy is really honest as they pick their way out of the combination on not much of a stride. They don’t get very high over the final element of Joules at the Maltings at 15c but it’s brush and they’re on such a good stride this time that it’s no trouble at all.

Copper Beach really stretches over the enormous corner at 16b and they make their way through the double of gates at 18 really nicely. She’s really riding brilliantly and having a great spin around the Burghley track. They’re not a million miles off the clock at the Dairy Mound. How exciting. Go Cosby.

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8:37am

🇺🇸 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Cosby Green and Copper Beach

Dressage Score: 31.6
Place: 26th

Cosby gets off to a confident start on her experienced campaigner and she comes quickly into the Trout Hatchery. She pushes through the straight route and Copper Beach leaves a leg at the b element on the way out, but it’s brush and causes no problems at all. They gallop on.

Tom is heading towards the finale, he clears the final fence and he punches the air and pats his horse. What an achievement for this young rider and a 5* debut horse.

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8:32am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Emily King and Valmy Biats

Dressage Score: 24.1
Place: 4th

Emily drops into the Leaf Pit and really looks to have a lot of control as she steers her way through the straight route. She’s straight and very much on it through Defender Valley. She doesn’t look to be in a hurry but with such a strong, powerful horse, who can get very strong, that would be her plan.

Oh! Things go wrong for them at the Trout Hatchery. They get a good shot into the second water but her reins are very long and she doesn’t see a stride to the brush corner at 11a. He stretches for it but there’s no chance of making the b element. She comes back round, jumps it and then decides to call it a day.

Tom meanwhile, is clear through to the Boodles Raindance at 26. This pair are in for a leaderboard climb for sure, they were last coming into today but Tom’s hunting his way round for a clear completion. Nearly there. The horse looks a little tired but Tom is supporting him all the way. Good for them.

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8:26am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Tom Bird and Cowling Hot Gossip

Dressage Score: 46.2
Place: 65th

They get off to a very confident start. Tom’s the youngest competitor in the field and this is a 5* debut for Cowling Hot Gossip. He’s clear through the Pedigree Rails at 9.

Meanwhile, Mia’s taken her foot off the gas after that 20 at 16 and is making her way home for a Burghley completion. She crosses the finish line with 23.6 time. A really unlucky mistake for her and so much expectation after her superb finishes at Maryland and Kentucky, but that’s eventing and they’ll be taking home a lot of valuable experience and will come back out all the stronger for it.

Zara makes a really good turn to the b element at the Rolex Corners at 16 and oh no! They get there on a half stride, Socks twists over the fence and Zara’s pitched out the side door. That’s so unfortunate and unlucky for her. Socks gallops off down the track to finish Burghley for himself.

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8:20am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Zara Tindall and Class Affair

Dressage Score: 36.8
Place: 49th

Zara’s down the drop at the Leaf Pit. She turns her way through the longer route and will be very relieved to have that fence behind her. It’s been such a bogey fence for her in the past. Socks is putting in some massive jumps at the Trout Hatchery and Zara is sitting right back. Boy, she’s got her head down and is really working hard. The crowd appreciate the spectacle and there are huge oos and aahs and a massive applause.

Meanwhile, Phelps hasn’t slowed down any and he’s already at the Trout Hatchery. Blink and you’ll miss this pair. They’re brave at Joules at the Maltings and have a tiny trip on landing and Mia pulls round to the longer route. Smart. All that speed and bravery goes against them at the Rolex Corners though. The line between a and b is very difficult and they don’t quite get there. They pick up a 20 and continue on. What a shame.

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8:16am

🇺🇸 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Mia Farley and Phelps

Dressage Score: 33.7
Place: 36th

Wow, Mia sets out on a brave stride and is saving seconds right from the start. They absolutely fly the first three giving us at home a fair few heart-stopping moments in the first few seconds of her round. So brave and bold. Go Phelps!

She’s super accurate through the Leaf Pit and gives us all a masterclass of superb cross country riding – right on her line, bold and brave, and a partnership working as one.

Meanwhile, Andrew’s clear through the first part of the Trout Hatchery but loses all momentum on the way out of the first part of the water and don’t make it happen at 11a. He wisely decides to pull up.

Lizzie is coming to the end of her round now. She’s taken a few longer routes but she knows her horse and is out to bank a great experience. She’s clear over the fences but has taken her time. What an achievement to finish Burghley on your homebred. Way to go.

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8:12am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Andrew James and Celtic Morning Star

Dressage Score: 40.9
Place: 60th

We have a save of the day at Defender Valley. Andrew loses his balance down the drop towards the ditch. He’s hanging almost upside down over the neck but somehow manages to right himself. They pick up a 20 at the b element but have to cross their tracks to come back it and pick up a second refusal at the same fence, so that’s 60 in total there for them. He seems to take it in good humor, as really, he could have been walking home from there, and carries on.

Ian’s 10 seconds up at the Dairy Mound. Wow, this really is looking to be an impressive round. Such a shame they’re carrying those 11 penalties.

Lizzie takes another long route at the Trout Hatchery, she really does have her own plan and has walked her own course for her horse. She’s now clear up to Winners’ Avenue.

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8:07am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Lizzie Baugh and B Exclusive

Dressage Score: 35.4
Place: 44th

Lizzie and B Exclusive opt not to drop down the bank at the Leaf Pit. She takes the a and b options instead of the drop – so two jumping efforts – and then goes bolding towards the short route for the way out and makes those two enormous arrowheads look very easy.

Ian and Master Point have cleared Joules at the Maltings. They take the flag at the Rolex Corners but are really motoring on. The Pol Roger table at 17 doesn’t slow them down any although they have to steady up for the double of gates at 18 before flying the Pardubice. They look really confident and have clearly put that early whoopsie behind them.

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8:04am

🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Ian Cassells and Master Point

Dressage Score: 32.4
Place: 30th

Ian has an early problem and activates a frangible device at the rains at Defender Valley. The horse doesn’t really focus and the safety device really did its job there. They put it behind them and go clear through the tricky Leaf Pit combination without a second thought.

Meanwhile, Declan has decided to put his hand up. The horse didn’t look up for the big corner at 16 and really didn’t take it on. They scoot to the side and walk home. Good decision and good horsemanship on show.

Max has come through the finish on his exciting young horse. What a round they had and so much valuable experience banked for future big Bs. Just 22 time penalties to add for them. Good work from both horse and rider.

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7:58am

🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Declan Cullen and Seavaghan Ash

Dressage Score: 35.2
Place: 43rd

Declan is clear so far up to the combination at Defender Valley at 8. The spotty pony is hunting for the flags as he makes his way through the Trout Hatchery and Declan’s really giving this homebred a super, confidence-building ride.

Max is having a great round and is clear up to the Cottesmore Leap. The horse looks very comfortable and within himself and to be enjoying his trip. They make the Dairy Mound at 22 and 23 look very easy.

Ooo Tim’s living a little on the edge as he makes a mistake at the Dairy Mound. Viscount Viktor is really brave and scrambles over. They take the flag and there’s a bit of a question there – a missed flag comes up on the live scoreboard, but honestly, they were lucky to make it through there at all. He’s sitting up and carrying on to give this horse the education of completing at Burghley.

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7:53am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry

Dressage Score: 28.9
Place: 15th

Max really rides well into the combination at Defender Valley. I’ve been so looking forward to seeing this horse go cross country since spotting him at the horse inspection on Wednesday. They really are making light work of this very difficult track.

Harry takes a pull coming into the final fence, but he’s got time to spare and HARRY MEADE AND CAVALIER CRYSTAL ARE CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME!!!

Tim has troubles at the c element of Joules at the Maltings at 15. He activates a frangible device. A little greenness coming out perhaps. There’s more problems at the Rolex Corners for this pair and they muddle the striding slightly between the two corners and pick up a 20 at the b element. They continue on though to bank the Burghley experience.

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7:48am

🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Tim Price and Viscount Viktor

Dressage Score: 29.5
Place: 16th

Tim is making nothing of this track with Viscount Viktor. They’re confident and clear through to the Trout Hatchery at 10.

Francis and Prince have put that wild moment at 16 behind them and are splashing through the water after the Boodles Raindance. They’re pedal to the metal and really look great. They’re almost home now. Prince looks like he could go again as he clears the last and comes through the finish flags. 22.4 time for them but what a round, and what a ride from Francis.

Harry and Cavalier Crystal continue to be smooth and slick and are hunting down the time. They’re clear through to the Lion Bridge at 27. Not far to go now.

Jennie Brannigan is home clear with 15.2 time penalties. What a fabulous round. William Fox-Pitt in the commentary box quite fancies having ‘Foxy’ in his barn. Us too, William.

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7:43am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal

Dressage Score: 31.3
Place: 24th

Harry’s clear through the Leaf Pit and then through the Trout Hatchery.

Prince is still looking strong at the Trout Hatchery but Francis is making it happen. Oooh, there’s a big moment at the Rolex Corners at 16a. The line’s not great and Prince absolutely throws himself over the massive corner. He uses all of his body to twist over the fence, takes out both red and white flags and looks to have actually made it through. Wow. That’s cross country.

Jennie’s going great guns and is making up time as she comes to the final part of the course. She’s on her way home and over the Boodles Raindance at 26. Her elbows are going as they splash through the water. She takes the fish at the Lion Bridge at 28 and they can almost see the finish flags.

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7:40am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain

Dressage Score: 34.7
Place: 40th=

‘Prince’ is brave off the drop at the Leaf Pit and there looks to be a little control trouble going on, but Francis knows this horse inside out. He goes the long route as he’d planned to do but Prince really does look enthusiastic and Francis has a whole lotta horse on his hands. There’s no better man to manage this guy though.

Meanwhile, Jennie gets a lovely jump at the rails at Joules at the Malthings – 14. It carries her through to the separately numbered but related 15abc. They squirrel through the flags at the a element of the Rolex Corners at 16 and make nothing of the second enormous corner at b. They’re clear through to the Rolex Grand Slam at 24.

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7:35am

🇺🇸 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle

Dressage Score: 34.7
Place: 40th=

Jennie gets a perfect bouncy canter into the combination at 5 – Defender Valley. ‘Foxy’ looks into the ditch but Jennie’s in the perfect balance and position to squeeze on through. They’re textbook through the Trout Hatchery at 10 and 11. Go Jennie!

Nicky is through the first water at the Trout Hatchery at 10 and 11. She’s crouched low and hunting round the track. But things fall apart at the double of massive corners at 16. It just doesn’t happen for them and they have a run out at the a element. Nicky opts to walk home.

Libby has a moment at the Lion Bridge – the fishing lodge before the water at 27. She has to adopt the safety position as Angel takes a flier and they really are scrabbling for a finish, which they so deserve based on this round. She’s ridden brilliantly and Angel has been clever at every fence.

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7:30am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Nicky Hill and MGH Bingo Boy

Dressage Score: 40.7
Place: 58th

They’re another combination to slide down the bank to the ditch at the b element of Defender Valley at 5. It’s a bit heart-stopping but Nicky sits back and they jump through clear. They drop off the Leaf Pit and take on the long route. It’s a huge stretch but Bingo Boy brushes through and they waste no time there.

Libby’s riding with everything she’s got through the combination at Keepers – 21ab. They really look like a confident pair and to be thoroughly enjoying their Burghley.

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7:26am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality

Dressage Score: 36.1
Place: 46th

They pick their way through the combination at 5 – Defender Valley – and ‘Angel’ really shows off some clever footwork. They come back round for the second time to take the fences at 8 and get an absolute flier over the big log. Libby balances down the slope and they get a great shot at the big corner alongside the ditch. Superb. It looks like this horse has walked the course. There’s more enormous leaps at the Trout Hatchery which prompt oos and ahhs from the crowd. Angel’s really enjoying her first Burghley and Libby’s along for the ride.

Austin and Colorado Blue are over the last and through the finish with just 4.8 time penalties. He’s a little disappointed with the time but very pleased with ‘Salty’.

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7:22am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Richard Jones and Alfies Clover

Dressage Score: 36.3
Place: 47th

For the last time, we get the pleasure of seeing Alfies Clover hunting round a 5*. I’m already sniffling. What a horse this is, what an eventing horse, what an absolute ambassador for our sport.

Unfortunately, we’re not going to get to enjoy this guy as things don’t go to plan and they have a really unfortunate 20 at Defender Valley. It really is unlucky and they just don’t quite make the line to the angled brush after the ditch. A real, real shame. Richard puts his hand up. The end of an era. But this doesn’t take anything away from all the great sport this horse has brought us over the years. We love you Alfie!

Meanwhile, ALEX BRAGG AND QUINDIVA ARE HOME CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME!!!

What a round. Foot-perfect, confident, supremely talented mare given a fabulous ride round the world’s toughest track.

Austin and Colorado Blue are clear to fence 26 – the Boodles Raindance water. They can smell the finish flags now.

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7:18am

🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue

Dressage Score: 33.9
Place: 37th

Austin has an early moment at Defender Valley – fence 5. He stumbled slightly on the slope down to the ditch after landing over the rails at a. They have a sticky kind of scramble over the ditch but Austin holds everything together and kicks on. A heart-in-the-mouth moment for them but no harm done. They’re such an experienced combination and will put that right behind them as they continue on the course.

Alex is having a really confident ride round here. They are flying. The fastest time of anyone so far at the Rolex Grand Slam at Capability’s Cutting. A beautiful ride through there.

Oh. Phil heads towards the Cottesmore Leap but Harry’s looking tired and it doesn’t happen. They fall backwards slightly and land in the ditch. It’s down as a horse fall but Harry landed on his feet. They’ll be checked over by the medical/vet team before they walk home.

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7:14am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Alexander Bragg and Quindiva

Dressage Score: 35.1
Place: 42nd

Alex has put his brave pants on and goes straight at the Leaf Pit and makes it look very simple. He continues on clear through to the Trout Hatchery at 10 and 11.

Phil is at the Rolex Corners at 16ab and takes another long route. He’s obviously going for the finish but all these long routes will add up. He waws carrying a 15 flag penalty which we didn’t see on screen but it seems to have been taken away now.

Felix opts for the fish in the water at the Lion Bridge – 28 – on their way home. They cross the finish with just 12 time penalties to add.

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7:08am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Phil Brown and Harry Robinson

Dressage Score: 39.9
Place: 55th

There’s an early problem for Phil at Defender Valley at 5. They have a little slip after the rails and slide down the bank towards the ditch. Harry jumps the ditch big and Phil’s thrown out of the tack. He lands back in but he’s lost his stirrup and it takes a while to get himself sorted out. They navigate through clear though. Phil takes the long route at the Trout Hatchery – it’s a very long way round but a sensible decision given that moment earlier.

Meanwhile, Felix is up at the double of gates at 18. He makes light work of that. He’s having a lovely round so far. He gallops over the Pardubice at 19 and up along Winners’ Avenue. Cartania makes nothing of the Cottesmore Leap and Felix rebalances for the white triple bars combination at Keeper – 21ab. He’s straight through there and wastes not a second of time. There’s a tiny moment at the Dairy Mound when Cartania takes a flier but Felix slips the reins and they continue on.

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7:04am

🇨🇭 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Felix Vogg and Cartania

Dressage Score: 28.8
Place: 14th

We meet Felix at the Leaf Pit. He’s careful off the drop and takes the alternative route. Cartania is galloping along and eating up this track, she’s such a star. They come to Defender Valley for the second time and, like Tom, Felix adds a stride before the b element to give his horse the best shot at the left-handed corner alongside the ditch. Felix is tipped forward as he drops into the water at the Trout Hatchery, but it’s all go for his core and he’s straight back upright and clear through the combinations there – fences 10 and 11.

Tom is beautifully through the Dairy Mound at 22 and 23. He’s on the target time! He pops the Raindance combination at 26 and Tom gives his horse a little squeeze towards home. He’s still bang on the minute markers. The horse is really responding, galloping happily and within himself and jumping brilliantly. What a treat this round has been. He crosses the finish line and goes into the lead with just 5.6 time penalties. Superb.

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6:58am

Early drama for Luc. He comes into Defender Valley at 5 very quickly, the horse looks down into the ditch at the b element and shoots off sideways. Luc’s stirrup is broken. No choice but to walk home.

Meanwhile, Holly’s had a very unfortunate 20 at the Dairy Mound. A shame so close to home. She continues on though and gets home. Holly looks pleased with her horse as so she should. A really unlucky penalty in an otherwise superb round.

Tom absolutely flies the Cottesmore Leap at 20 and navigates the white triple bars combination at Keepers – fence 21.

🇫🇷 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Luc Chateau and Viens Du Mont

Dressage Score: 41.7
Place: 62nd

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6:54am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift

Dressage Score: 28.6
Place: 13th

Capels Hollow Drift is brave off the drop at the Leaf Pit and he takes the alternative, slightly but not much smaller, triple brushes. They’re looking smooth so far. He adds a stride on the turn between the a and b element at Defender Valley at 8ab. A fraction of a second lost but he set his horse up for success and banks a bit of confidence for later in the course. They get a huge jump into the water at the Trout Hatchery and they continue on confidently through the first water.

Holly and Bally Louis look to be gaining confidence as they make their way round. Holly really is riding brilliantly and the relationship this pair has is really coming into play.

Dan is already into time as he jumps the Dairy Mound at 22 and 23. Oh dear, they have a run out at 23b, the angled brush cabin. He comes back round and clears it.

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6:50am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Holly Richardson and Bally Louis

Dressage Score: 35.9
Place: 45th

Holly’s looking very confident at the start of her round. She gets a big jump over the ditch at the b element of Defender Valley at 5 and puts her horse on a beautiful line through there. She’s riding brilliantly. They take on the Leaf Pit and Holly sees the perfect distance. She loses a stirrup over the enormous arrowhead on the way out but she’s soon got everything back together.

Meanwhile, Bella and Highway are clear through the Lion Bridge. They take the fish in the water at 28 and are on their way home. They come over the last and are clear with 25.6 time penalties. Awesome.

Dan’s as the Trout Hatchery. He balances the horse at the top of the hill, giving the horse every chance to jump the fences well. Blackthorn Cruise gets a big pat as they gallop away. Oh, the horse stumbles slightly on landing over the vertical rails at 15b – Joules at the Maltings. That causes a run out at the c element. He comes back round and jumps is and continues on. He gets a great shot through the double of gates at 18ab, clearly that earlier problem hasn’t knocked the horse’s confidence any.

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6:45am

🇳🇿 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise

Dressage Score: 33.3
Place: 34th

Dan opts for the longer route at the Leaf Pit at 7 and looks to be confident as he gets into the meat of the course. He’s easy through Defender Valley for the second time.

Meanwhile, Bella is clear through 19 – the Pardubice on Winners’ Avenue.

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6:40am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Bella Innes Ker and Highway II

Dressage Score: 38.6
Place: 53rd

It’s Bella’s 30th birthday today – Happy Birthday Emma! What a way to celebrate.

They’re already at the Leaf Pit and drop down well. She opts for the longer route there and looks very comfortable. Those fences are still huge, despite being the alternates.

Oh no, Nicole has had trouble at the Rolex Corners at 16ab. They’re not quite on their line at the first corner and don’t make it through the flags at all, really. She comes back round and makes it through on the longer route but there’s 20 penalties on her card. And oh, there’s more trouble at the double of gates at 18. The horse clips the fence, Nicole flies out of the tack, she tries to hang on but gravity is against her. Her air jacket’s gone off and she steps off the side of the horse. A shame for them but that’s eventing.

Emma and Jeweetwel have made it round! She punches the air as she comes through the finish. 20 penalties and a fair bit of time, but a Burghley finish.

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6:35am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Nicole Mills and Fearless W

Dressage Score: 32.6
Place: 31st

Nicole is on her way at her first 5*. She’s clear through the rails at 9 and is setting up for the Trout Hatchery. They look to be very much on the same page as they navigate through 10ab and 11ab.

Aaron and Friendship are home and clear. What a great experience for them. They’re a bit over the time but the horse has finished looking really good. Burghley experience banked.

Emma has a real moment at the Maltings. The horse leaves a leg and she’s pitched forward. She sits back up but there’s no chance of making the next element and now she needs to work out another route there. There’s a bit of a lack of control going on. It all comes to a head at 16 – the Rolex Corners. She jumps the first but the line’s not there and they go on by the second.

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6:28

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Emma Hyslop-Webb and Jeweetwel

Dressage Score: 37.7
Place: 52nd

Emma’s off and is brave through Defender Valley at 5abc. She’s got the bit between her teeth, that’s for sure. She continues clear through the rails at 9 and makes her way to the Trout Hatchery. It’s a little hairy through there as her reins get a bit long, but they hunt their way through and ride forward.

Meanwhile, Aaron is clear through to 15abc – Joules at the Maltings. He comes back for the gates at 18ab and then looks to very much enjoy the Pardubice at 19. Up Winners’ Avenue for them.

Ooo, Susie has a moment when control eludes her slightly and she heads for the crowd. Excitement for the spectators this morning. They continue on to the Lion Bridge and take on the fish in the water at 28. They can smell the finish flags now. She gallops along and gets close to the last, a heart-in-the-mouth moment but they’re home and clear. What a great experience for this young, talented mare.

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6:25am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Aaron Miller and Friendship VDL

Dressage Score: 33
Place: 32nd =

Aaron gets a confident start and makes nothing of the first combination at 4 in the arena. He continues on clear to Defender Valley at 8ab. He puts a curve in before the corner at b and they’re looking to be enjoying their Burghley so far.

Meanwhile, the riding lesson continues with Susie Berry. She tackles Joules at the Maltings at 14 and 15 in a similar way to the Leaf Pit, almost as separate fences. No troubles for them there. She navigates the new combination at 18ab – the gates in the stable yard – and then flies the Pardubice on Winners’ Avenue.

________________________________________________________________________________

6:20am

🇮🇪 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Susie Berry and Irene Leva

Dressage Score: 40.3
Place: 56th

Susie’s quick at the start of the course and is already at Defender Valley at 5abc. They get a huge jump over the angled brush and gallop on. They’re bravely down the drop at the Leaf Pit and Susie gives us a riding lesson over the triple brushes. She rides them almost as separate fences and gets a great shot. Big pats for Irene Leva.

Susie’s tipped forward over the big log at Defender Valley for the second time at 8ab as they jump right out down the slope but she sits up and they’re straight over the massive left-handed corner. Onward.

She’s at the first water now, the Trout Hatchery at 10 and 11. They’re bold through there and there’s more masterful riding from Susie. They’re going great guns so far.

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6:15am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Matthew Heath and Golden Recipe

Dressage Score: 43.7
Place: 64th

Golden Recipe is keen out of the start box and Matt’s got a lot on his hands here, for sure. He hangs on through the combination at 4ab in the arena and comes to Defender Valley for the first time. But all that power goes against them and they have a run out at the c element. They come back round but Golden Recipe is just too keen for the job today. They have another problem at 8ab back at Defender Valley, Matt struggles to hold his horse and he puts his hand up.

Pippa’s up at the Trout Hatchery at 10/11. Wow! Great save Pippa! She’s having a real moment. Maverick flies over the brush on the way out and Pippa flies out of the saddle. She’s had a right bump on the nose. Her stirrup’s got caught over the saddle and she clings on as she tries to right herself and her tack. But Pippa’s a pro and uses all of her decades of experience to get everything back in order and carry on. There’s been time lost there though. Anyone else would have been eating dirt for sure.

And things come to a head at the Rolex Corners at 16ab. She’s pulled up.

________________________________________________________________________________

6:10am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick

Dressage Score: 28.3
Place: 12th

Pippa’s on her way with Maverick and look to mean business as they leap out of the start box. They easily clear the combination in the arena at 4. She kicks on at the dreaded Leaf Pit and Maverick takes it on. Superb.

Harry’s right round at the Lion Bridge at 28. He takes the fish in the water and is flying to the finish. He clears the Defender Finale and has given us a great trailblazing round. He’s clear with 10.8 time.

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6:05am

🇬🇧 NEW STARTER OUT ON COURSE: Ros Canter and Izilot DHI

Dressage Score: 19.9
Place: 1st

Our current leaders are out on course.

Isaac’s come out of the start box and seems to have his head in the game as he gallops past the crowds and flies the first three. The Main Arena’s buzzing but Isaac’s got his ears pricked on the flags and they go through the first combination at 4.

But oh no. Things don’t continue in the same way and Isaac’s eye’s taken and he has a drive by at Defender Valley – fence 8ab. Ros comes back round and jumps the alternative but then puts her hand straight up. Not Isaac’s day. A shame but every event is experience in the bank for the future.

Meanwhile, Harry’s having a fabulous run. He’s clear through to the white triple bars at 21ab and looks to be eating up the course. He’s on his way down to the Dairy Mound and isn’t a million miles over the time. They make that combination look easy.

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6am

🇬🇧 FIRST HORSE OUT ON COURSE: Harry Meade and Superstition

Dressage Score: 32.1
Place: 29th

And we’re off! Harry has left the start box and is on his way!

They come into the first combination at fence 4 in the arena and fly straight through. Next up is Defender Valley for the first time. Harry makes that tricky combination look very easy – over the rails, no problem with the angled ditch and then over the angled brush and off along the track.

And now, the Leaf Pit.

Woah, those brushes are huge, but Superstition stretched right over and went straight all the way. They sure did look big, even for this class combination.

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Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Sep 7, 2024 12:01 am -

By time time you read this, it’s likely Burghley cross country day will be underway already, but in any case: WELCOME to the biggest day at “Big, Bad, Burghley!” We can’t wait to see how today shakes out on what is arguably (or, maybe not) the toughest cross country course in the world.

I mean, just look at this. Look at it!

Photo via Sarah Ennis on Facebook.

Safe to say, we’re feeling good about watching, maybe not so good at the prospect of riding. But as Monica Spencer, who unfortunately is not tall enough to plank the iconic Cottesmore Leap as pictured above, said yesterday, “I’m terrified, but I’m sure once I leave the start box, I’ll find some bravery!”

In all seriousness, we’re wishing everyone safe rides today. As we all know, safety is never guaranteed in high-risk sports like these. The biggest priority is getting our horses home safely and confidently — I think most riders will tell you that the rest is nearly icing on the cake, especially when bearing in mind those we have lost and those who are currently recovering from injuries. Let’s always remind ourselves to do right by our horses, and to let this guide our decisions and our mentality as we take on life’s challenges (even if those don’t include a Burghley cross country ride).

U.S. Weekend Events

Five Points H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. (NJ): [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer]

CDCTA Fall H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

Saturday Links

Check out the data-packed Form Guide put out by Equiratings ahead of today’s cross country and tomorrow’s show jumping at Burghley. Want more back stories on each horse and rider? Study up on our own Form Guide here.

Medal Or Not, Grooms Deserve Recognition Too

Burghley Young Event Horse Winner is Tipped to Go All the Way

U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team Clinches Team Gold at Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Nominations Open for US Equestrian’s 2024 Pegasus Award and Lifetime Achievement Award

Reframe the Way You See Distances

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

It may be the final days of summer, but it’s still HOT HOT HOT out there in most areas. We’ve been obsessing over the Equilibrium Quick-Chill Sheet, which leverages water-activated conduction technology to effectively dissipate heat from your horse’s body, promoting optimal comfort without the hassle of traditional soaking methods. Easily reactivated with water, it offers a reusable, eco-friendly cooling solution that can be used multiple times, making it ideal for competitive environments, remote locations, or even during travel restrictions like hose pipe bans.

Video Break:

Go back to Burghley 2015 and ride around cross country “between the ears” with William Fox Pitt and Fernhill Pimms:

Liz Halliday Update 9/6: Progress and Optimism

By on Sep 6, 2024 8:19 pm -

Liz Halliday’s team has posted a new update on her progression as she recovers from a head injury sustained in a fall at the AECs last week. Today, the team stated, physical therapists were able to manually sit Liz upright for about 20 minutes. While Liz is not fully awake, she has shown positive progress with an ability to track movement with her eyes and extended periods of eye contact.

“We know this is going to be a day by day to full recovery but from every doctor we have talked with, they are optimistic and her fighting spirit is certainly coming through each and every day,” the update reads.

From this point forward, further updates on Liz will be made public on her website here. We can anticipate the next update to come on Monday.

Please continue to use #KeepFightingLiz and send messages of encouragement to be read to Liz as she continues to wake up.

[More Liz Halliday Updates]

Cruise Around Derek di Grazia’s Defender Burghley Cross Country Course

By on Sep 6, 2024 5:34 pm -

It’s time to take a deep breath and take a gander at what Derek di Grazia has up his sleeve this year for his third year in residence at Defender Burghley’s iconic CCI5* offering.

This year’s track has everyone, including us, buzzing about its dimensions and technicality — but of course, it wouldn’t be Burghley without a fair amount of sleep loss and pants-soiling. One thing about Derek, though, is that his courses are generally received with respect and a clear understanding that he’s set out a track that allows horses to read the questions well.

That doesn’t mean the riders aren’t doing a good bit of hand-wringing, particularly about some very tall, tall, arrowheads set at the bottom of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (an iconic fence in its own right), among other questions on course. You can catch up with what they’ve said in our Riders React round-up here.

And if you’re wanting to see the course close up with Derek di Grazia as your guide, don’t forget there’s a full preview video on Burghley TV!

Saturday’s track features an optimum time of 11:14, with 30 fences set across 45 jumping efforts. The general direction of the course is the same as its 2023 predecessor, but all of the combinations have been changed and the single fences have also been relocated to different parts.

“You’re not going to get a site like this anywhere in the world,” Derek di Grazia said of the land here. “The terrain — the undulating terrain — it just makes for being able to set a very unique course here.”

And indeed it’s true. There is a LOT of terrain on this piece of ground, making it a grueling fitness test as well as a mental test with an unrelenting series of questions to answer. It’s a day that will require mental fortitude from horse and rider and quick thinking to put each horse in the best position to succeed.

Photo via CrossCountryApp.

One new combination on course this year is actually situated in the Main Arena for the first time ever. The MARS Equestrian Arena Brushes question comes early at fence 4 as the first combination, featuring a large double brush and an option of two narrow brushes to be jumped directly or on the alternative route. Not much trouble to expect here, but the first bit of the course has earned plenty of buzz for its intensity (really, just the first bit?), so this combination will be key to injecting confidence and rhythm into each pair.

The Holland Cooper Leaf Pit comes at fence 7 on course and features *those* triple arrowheads that have any rider who’s not at least 7 feet tall quaking in their tall boots.

“The riders really have to make sure they keep going, keep the revs up, especially as you head up [the slope to the BC element], you start to see how big the jump is. They need to be able to get across this jump to be able to keep riding forward [to the DE brush],” Derek described. And of course, not least of the challenges here is simply getting down off the Leaf Pit neatly — as Derek put it, “the horses, you don’t know when they come here if they’re just going to step off or if they’re going to leap off,” and there’s not a huge amount of time to get right on the line to the big brush.

That said, many riders have intimated that they’re at least considering going long here, and while Derek’s alternative routes tend to be friendly in the sense that they mostly allow a rider to keep some semblance of rhythm, they actually seem to be *quite* long this year and as a result very time-consuming. And with an 11+ minute optimum, you’re not going to want to be out there having your horse galloping for much longer than that. Safety is key though, so I expect we’ll see plenty of alternatives used.

By the way, Derek refers to this Leaf Pit monstrosity as “a fun fence”, so…there’s that.

Another question that caught my eye is the Defender Dairy Mound, which comes at fences 22 and 23 this year. Late on course, riders will be managing stamina and trying to squeeze every ounce of maneuverability out of their horses, and this question certainly challenges both of these.

Any cross country course is a study in power and skill — a horse cannot simply be powerful and scopey; they must be quick-footed and quick in the mind, as well as willing to listen to direction. This question, which concludes with a relatively unassuming log followed by a steep downhill and a sharp turn to the final element, could catch out a tiring pair that loses the ability to turn quickly, and with the left door open so wide this fence could be a late heartbreaker.

I’ve really barely scratched the surface of this test for tomorrow, so I encourage you to check out the full preview on CrossCountryApp above or here, as well as the video walk-through on Burghley TV.

Ride times for tomorrow are available here. We’ll have Cheg Darlington on live blog duty to accompany you through the whole day, so stay tuned for much more from Burghley, and best of luck to everyone riding. Be safe, be clear, and keep those britches clean! Go Eventing.

Our coverage of Burghley is brought to you by our incredible supporters, Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional products to keep your horse feeling their best at all times. They’ll even get on the phone with you to help you formulate a solid supplementation plan for your horse’s individual needs! We’d really appreciate your support of KPP, as they’re champions for our sport and beyond and are wonderful people to boot. Check them out here.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [Cross Country Preview] [EN’s Coverage]

“Monstrous Bushes” at “Big Bad Burghley” – Riders React to Defender Burghley Cross Country

By on Sep 6, 2024 4:44 pm -

My, that’s a big b(r)ush. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

OK, so I’ve taken a little creative liberty with that headline, but what’s a missing ‘r’ between friends? In case you’re wondering, the consensus is that Derek needs to trim his bush (sorry, not sorry), particularly in the Leaf Pit area [Fence 7abc].

Richard Jones says the triple brushes at the bottom of the drop are “bigger than anything I’ve ever seen in a five-star” and Matt Heath declares that he’s “never seen so many monstrous triple brushes in my life”.

“Unjumpable” has been uttered once or twice and there’s very much a feeling that the majority of the riders will choose a longer route there, although the options are almost as formidable albeit on slightly more forgiving lines.

For those that do plough ahead and take them on, and of course we (and course designer Derek di Grazia) hope they will, there’s been speculation that they won’t be jumped well. But in this totally stacked field, which is being heralded as the strongest in recent history, those riders at the top of the pack will surely give them a darned good go, and will perhaps even make them look easy. Tom McEwen certainly thinks so.

Aside from the big brushes out there, what else has got the riders talking? Well, there’s no prizes for guessing the buzz words: “big”, “intense”, “massive”, “brave”, “imposing” – everything we expect from Burghley, as Jennie Brannigan sums up very nicely:

“This is what eventing is about, this is eventing, this is the sport. Everyone knows it: big bad Burghley.”

Meanwhile, Derek’s singing away to himself, just under his breath, ‘I like big brush and I cannot lie…’ (probably).

Anyway, we’ve wrangled the riders and asked for their thoughts on what they’ll be facing as they head out of the start box on Saturday.

Which empathetic soul snagged her sneakers and took a run ‘round the track, “to put myself through what the horse is going to go through”?

Who was most succinct in his assessment?

Which young rider is in denial?

Who’s broken out the ‘F’ word?

And who’s being kept up at night by something “hard and huge”?

All this and more down below. Dive right on in and go eventing!

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

🇬🇧 Ros Canter – Izilot DHI – 19.9 – 1st – Lordships Graffalo – 22 – 2nd

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ros is in it to win it against herself as things stand going into cross country, with ‘Isaac’ sitting in the lead and ‘Walter’ just 2.1 points behind in second. How does she think the course will suit each of her guys?

“It looks pretty intense at the start to me. I think certainly for Izilot, the narrow passageways into the main arena, that’s the kind of thing that would unsettle him. If I can get him out of Discovery Valley, the Leaf Pit, back through Discovery Valley, I think he’ll settle and I’ve got every faith in his jumping ability, Walter’s jumping ability, and obviously Walter’s galloping ability. I’m sat on two great horses, so I’ve got to go out and attack.”

🇳🇿 Tim Price – Vitali – 22.3 – 2nd – Viscount Viktor – 29.5 – 16th

Tim Price and Vitali. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Tim had a “wee spin round on the bike” and came back to us with “it’s decent”, “proper”. Succinct.

🇬🇧 Emily King – Valmy Biats – 24.1 – 4th

Emily King and Valmy Biats. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Never mind hunting ‘round to the finish flags, Emily’s hoping ‘Val’ doesn’t hoof it home.

“I think it’s a proper track, a really good test. The going is amazing so I think it’ll give them a fair chance. I think you’ve got to get stuck in early on. To me, some of the biggest questions are actually in the first quarter of the course. Mine’s a really bold horse so I need to make sure I come with enough attack and ride it well enough, but actually not go too over the top because he might just make his way back [home] to Chester! I think you really need a bold, brave horse for this type of course. I think you need to get stuck in the beginning and then try and navigate your way round.”

🇬🇧 Oliver Townend – Cooley Rosalent – 24.4 – 5th=

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Oliver thinks that Burghley has a feel of Kentucky given that Derek is the designer for both, but he’s not complaining – Cooley Rosalent took the Kentucky crown in the spring, so that surely bodes well. Only time will tell.

“It’s serious. It looks, and this isn’t a complaint, but it looks more and more like Kentucky every year, which is bound to happen with the same course designer. [Cooley Rosalent’s] jumped around some big tracks before, and I’m just going to ride her positively and try and look after her as best I can, hope she learns a lot along the way, and hopefully we come home with a good result. The terrain’s the same but the fences seem to get bigger and bigger and narrower and narrower. It’s a serious, tough cross country course.”

🇳🇿 Monica Spencer – Artist – 24.4 – 5th=

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Does Monica like the look of the course?

“I mean, like’s a strong word! I’m terrified! But I’m sure once I leave the start box I’ll find some bravery.”

🇫🇷 Gireg Le Coz – Aisprit de La Loge – 25.3 – 7th

Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Gireg’s planning on using the benefit of his later draw to see just how much trouble the dreaded Leaf Pit causes before he commits to a solid plan.

“I think I’ll go the direct route everywhere, just to see for the Leaf Pit at the beginning because it’s really difficult. I have time to see other riders go before me, so if it causes too much trouble then I’ll go around maybe. But except that, I’m happy to sit on a horse like him.”

🇳🇿 Caroline Powell – Greenacres Special Cavalier – 25.4 – 8th

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Caroline and ‘Cav’ won Badminton in the spring, so they’re totally good with a massive track. But there’s one fence on her mind as she contemplates the task at Burghley, you guessed it, the Leaf Pit.

“The Leaf Pit’s pretty beefy, I haven’t quite made up my mind what I’m going to do there. The whole way round it’s just quite relentless. If we can take each jump in each section as it comes, there’s plenty of places to put little breathers in.”

Caroline also put a shout out to one of her girls at home who was kicked in the face on Thursday and was operated on on Friday. “Speedy recovery Allison, don’t be too long! Bad way of getting time off!”

🇬🇧 Pippa Funnell – MCS Maverick – 28.3 – 12th – Majas Hope – 29.6 – 17th

Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Pippa made her debut at the top level almost three decades ago, with Bits And Pieces at Badminton in 1997, so you’d think she’d seen it all when it comes to cross country fences. Apparently not.

“I’ve never seen such big arrowheads in my entire career.”

🇬🇧 Tom Jackson – Capels Hollow Drift – 28.6 – 13th

Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tom’s got a shout out for the Burghley team, for the amazing ground not just out on course, but in the warm ups too.

“I mean, there’s a lot to do. I think it’s a very fair test in that it’s fairly obvious what we’ve got to do, but that doesn’t make it easy because there’s some really big, tricky combinations out there. And the thing is here that if you make a marginal error, or the horse does, then you’re going to end up with penalties, so you’ve just got to be on it all the way around. They’ve done an amazing job with the ground. I mean, I can’t believe even all the warm ups, it’s just phenomenal. So big thanks to the Burghley team because that is very much appreciated by all of us riders, I think.”

🇨🇭 Felix Vogg – Cartania – 28.8 – 14th

Felix Vogg and Cartania. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Felix is feelin’ curious.

“It’s a bit higher than Badminton, but it will be interesting. I’ve only walked it once, but I think it’s very clear, like always with Derek. I have no idea how it will ride and how the profile will be, the up and down, but so far, it will be interesting.”

🇬🇧 Max Warburton – Deerpairc Revelry – 28.9 – 15th

Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Max seems undaunted by the task ahead and will be taking the Pony Club ‘kick on’ approach.

“It’s big, we’re at Burghley obviously. But it’s all there in front of you to jump and we’ve just got to kick on.”

🇬🇧 Gemma Stevens – Chilli Knight – 29.7 – 18th

Gemma Tattersall and Chilli Knight. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Wash your mouth out, young lady! Gemma’s broken out the profanities because “big” just won’t do.

“Have you seen the Leaf Pit?! Big ‘the F word’ jumps. There’s not much else to say. You’ve got to be accurate, you’ve got to be fast, you’ve got to be bold, you’ve got to be straight, brave, completely and utterly nuts to do this.”

🇺🇸 Hannah Sue Hollberg – Capitol H I M – 30.7 – 20th

Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Hannah’s having sleepless nights about something “hard and huge”. OK, context is everything:

“It looks like Burghley. It’s hard and huge. The Leaf Pit is kind of keeping me up at night right now. The beginning is a lot to do, and then hopefully you can just stay upright all the way home. I’m looking forward to it on this horse.”

🇬🇧 Tom McEwen – CHF Cooliser – 31.2 – 23rd

Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Bucking the trend and “100%” looking forward to taking a spin ‘round the behemoth of a track, Tom’s gone all out and given EquiRatings a run for their money with a bold prediction that three combinations will be clear inside the time.

“I think the course is great. I think those skinnies are bloody massive and there’s plenty of other big fences out there. But do you know what? It’s a great track. I actually think it flows very well, and honestly, I can see some of the stellar five-star cross country horses actually make it look really good and fun, and actually cruising around with the time, to be honest. I think it’s another stellar track for Burghley.”

🇬🇧 Matt Heath – Askari – 31.9 – 27th – Golden Recipe – 43.7 – 64th

Matt Heath and Askari. Photo by Libby Law.

Burghley’s no dressage test, that’s for sure, and Matt sees the scoreboard being “shattered” on cross country day.

“I don’t know whether it’s as big as ‘19, 2019 I thought was massive, [Captain Mark Phillips’] last year — I walked out of that thinking he’d got five years of ideas left and decided to pack them all into his last year. But I think it’s the second biggest that I’ve come across, if not challenging the biggest. The only difference is that 2019 was quite a solid track, the fences were all quite solid; there is a lot of brush out there this time. I’ve never seen so many monstrous triple brushes in my life. I think it’s very intense early on as well. I can see the scoreboard shattered on Saturday, not with a dangerous track in any way, shape or form, I think it’s a great track, but I think it’s going to cause a lot of influence.”

He’s one rider who is planning on going straight at the Leaf Pit despite those “monstrous brushes”.

“My plan A at the moment, on both horses, is to go straight. I think that the long route is very long, and it’s still very big. All the long routes all the way around, they’re not much smaller, anywhere you go. Normally we’re used to the long routes taking quite a lot of time but they can be quite kind and forgiving and give riders an opportunity to get horses home, but I don’t feel like the long routes out there do that for us, I think it just takes more bloody time to be honest.”

🇬🇧 Will Rawlin – Ballycoog Breaker Boy – 32 – 28th

Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Will is approximately 12 feet tall and even he thinks the triple brushes at the bottom of the Leaf Pit are enormous.

“Burghley is just so much bigger! Particularly in the first couple of minutes, it’s very intense, and if you’re on a horse that could get a bit brain-fried, then this is a course that could do that, particularly down at the [Leaf Pit], those brushes are huge. I’m a tall guy and I can barely see over the top of them.”

🇮🇪 Ian Cassells – Master Point – 32.4 – 30th

Ian Cassells and Master Point. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Ian’s taking a leap of faith at his first Burghley with a sink or swim metaphor. Hopefully neither, Ian, really.

“It’s my first time here, never walked it before, so I’m literally going in the deep end. I think it starts off quite nice to the arena. I think you want to get the horses nice and settled and into a good rhythm. A lot of combinations, very fast up to the first water, and then I think it allows them to take a breath a little bit with a little bit more galloping fences, and really like settle into your rhythm. I really think it’s important to be efficient and take a little pause, but save the horse at the start.”

🇬🇧 Nicole Mills – Fearless W – 32.6 – 31st

Nicole Mills and Fearless W. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

All the riders here are at least a little on the crazy scale, but Nicole gets extra points for actually running the cross country course. Seriously.

“I ran it last night. I did, I found it quite hard! I thought, I’ve got to put myself through what the horse is going to go through! Yes, it’s big. I mean, I have nothing to compare it to because I’ve not ridden at five-star before and not ridden here before, only in Pony Club. So, yeah, it’s big. I think there’s probably a couple of long routes I might take on first glance, but I plan to walk it another five times, at least, probably not run!”

This pair are making their 5* debut at Burghley, so that’s a few more points added to her crazy tally.

“Burghley is massive and maybe it was a brave choice to come here for our first five star, but he’s a real jumper, like, he’s super scopey and really careful. I’ve just got to make sure I manage him correctly tomorrow [Friday], so that he’s not super wild when he comes out the start box.My first feel was that actually up to the Trout Hatchery, it’s like throwing everything at you, and then I feel like I might be able to get a bit of a breathing space after that. But yeah, I shall be taking deep breaths around the first nine fences, that’s for sure.”

🇳🇿 Dan Jocelyn – Blackthorn Cruise – 33.3 – 34th

Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dan’s thinking of sneaking out in the night with some shears.

“I just couldn’t believe the size of those arrowheads in the Leaf Pit. A lot of people honestly thought, have they not finished trimming them yet? It’s a real Burghley track out there — it’s tough and demanding all the way and you’ve got your little whoop-de-dos in the ground.”

🇺🇲 Mia Farley – Phelps – 33.7 – 36th

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Sally Spickard.

[Interviewer] “Like it?”
[Mia] “I do.”
[Interviewer] “Good. All the Americans have been very positive.”
[Mia] “Well, we might be in denial!”

🇮🇪 Austin O’Connor – Colorado Blue – 33.9 – 37th

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Austin’s a very cool customer, and a 5* winner, but he admits to being terrified. We don’t believe you, Austin.

“It’s proper big, terrifying Burghley. [Colorado Blue’s] in good order and I wouldn’t want to be sat on anything else at this point.”

🇺🇲 Jennie Brannigan – FE Lifestyle – 34.7 – 40th=

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Big. Enormous. Massive. Pah! Jennie’s living the dream and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world than at Burghley going eventing.

“I love it. The hardest event in the world, but I love it. I wouldn’t want to be on any other horse. I just think it’s the hardest event in the world. Everyone knows, it’s the best event. To me, this is what eventing is about, this is eventing, this is the sport. And this is why, as a kid, I wanted to do it. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else competing at any other show this year. This is it for me. Everyone knows it: big bad Burghley.”

🇬🇧 Francis Whittington – DHI Purple Rain – 34.7 – 40th=

Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ever the horseman, Francis plans to ride off feel, although he’s very certain about his plan to go long at the Leaf Pit.

“I’ve walked it twice now, and on my second walk, I’m clear I’m going to go long route down off the Leaf Pit. It’s quite an imposing fence, I mean, the dimensions on that look crazy ridiculous. The ground, the terrain in front of it — there’s so many variables, and you’re at fence six. Mentally, if it does go wrong, it’s not far back to the stables! So if you’re going to walk the course earlier on in the day and watch some rounds on Saturday, I’d stay near fence five. The thing we have about Burghley, it’s an accumulative thing, isn’t it? So somebody might have an issue later on around the course, but it will be down to an accumulation of knocks; you’re taking out of that bucket, and as a rider you’re trying to make sure that you put some goodness back into that bucket where you can. It’s not necessarily a course that you ride off your watch, you’ve got to ride off what you feel.”

🇬🇧 Alex Bragg – Quindiva – 35.1 – 42nd

Alex Bragg and Quindiva. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Alex’s plan is to keep his eyes firmly between the flags and not get distracted by the beauty of the estate.

“It’s amazing. I mean, he [Derek di Grazia] does build some amazing courses with the help of the team, and Burghley is just stunning, so I’m going to try and concentrate and not just enjoy the scenery on the way around. It looks magnificent so let’s see let’s see where we are on Sunday.”

🇮🇪 Declan Cullen – Seavaghan Ash – 35.2 – 43rd

Declan Cullen and Seavaghan Ash. Photo by Eventing Nation.

Declan’s feeling a little peaky.

“There’s no cameras on me, but I am pale. Yeah, it’s big. It’s what we expected. Hopefully my horse is pretty good. He’s generally been a very honest soul. My wife actually backed him and broke him while she was expecting our child. He’s as quiet as a lamb; he’s honest and straight but it’s Burghley, anything could happen here. My lack of experience at this level, plenty of experience at four star, but this is when I step up.”

🇬🇧 Libby Seed – Heartbreaker Star Quality – 36.1 – 46th

Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Libby tells it as it is.

“It’s big isn’t it?!”

🇬🇧 Richard Jones – Alfies Clover – 36.3 – 47th

Richard Jones and Alfies Clover. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This will be Alfies Clover’s last ever 5*, sniff. What a great ambassador for the sport this guy has been throughout his long career and what a joy it is to watch him hunting around the biggest cross country courses in the world, which we get to do one final time. Here’s what Richard thinks of those notorious triple brushes at the Leaf Pit.

“I don’t think dressage will be too relevant, in fact, I’d say dressage will be probably not relevant. The brushes off the Leaf Pit look bigger than anything I’ve ever seen in a five-star, any five-star I’ve ever done, nearly verging on unjumpable. I’m sure on Saturday they will be jumped, but not by many, not the direct way, well.”

Some riders have requested a triple brush to be put into the warm up — in preparation for the enormous ones at the bottom of the Leaf Pit.

“I think if you’re doing your homework in the warm up, it’s probably too late. I certainly won’t be getting stressed jumping in the warm up, there’s enough to jump out there.”

🇬🇧 Emma Hyslop-Webb – Jeweetwel – 37.7 – 52nd

Emma’s very sensibly, and rightly, leaving her ego in the start box as she sets out on her round.

“It’s a very well built course, I thought. With him only being ten, there will be a couple of places that I’ll go long and it will be very much riding one of those rounds for the horse, not for my pride, you know, go straight everywhere, and I’m a warrior, and all that. It will be very much a round for the horse.”

On that sage note, all that’s left to say is kick on and go eventing!

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A Family Affair for Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH in 5* Debut at Defender Burghley

By on Sep 6, 2024 3:00 pm -

Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH. Photo by Pan Cunningham.

Irish rider Declan Cullen wryly refers to himself as “the grandfather” this weekend, not only earning the title of eldest rider at age 56 but also laying down a healthy dose of “if I can do it, so can you” inspiration in making a long-anticipated CCI5* debut at Defender Burghley.

Teaming up with the very special, splashily-colored Seavaghan ASH (Glenhill Gold – Davys Instructions, by Safety Catch) makes the weekend that much more meaningful for Declan, who also campaigned the 15-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding’s sire, Glenhill Gold, to the 4* level. Glenhill Gold was actually intended to go to the 5* level, but a change in FEI qualifications and the institution of athlete categorization meant he wasn’t able to get the amount of MERs needed in time to achieve the goal.

“We were qualified for Badminton 2012, we were actually qualified in 2010 [as well]. FEI changed the rules, we couldn’t go,” Declan explained. “As an amateur rider, [with] only two horses, I had more qualifications to do, and that boat sailed, and we missed it. He was getting on so then he was retired, and now I’ve had his son, which we bought as a foal. We produced him on, you could say, patiently — he’s now 15. But we were qualified last year to go to Luhmühlen. He took a wee bit of a virus. This year, we’d go back to Luhmühlen but I run my own Horse Trials called the Clare in Ireland and it was just clashing with that. And so we said, okay, let’s bite the bullet [and go to Burghley].”

That chasing of an always-elusive goal of getting a horse to an event like Burghley has had to balance with the other realities of life. Declan and his wife, Becky, run their own business in Cullen Equine Solutions, and Declan is also a nutrition expert working for Pegus Horse Feed. Becky is a 5* rider in her own right, having done two of the three phases of Badminton in 2004 with Wee Hot Toddy and is now a respected coach and mentor while maintaining her riding alongside. For the Cullens, that trip to Badminton “lit a fire” and spurred them on to make a return one day.

Seavaghan Ash was purchased as a foal, along with several other foals sired by Glenhill Gold, and he’s been produced by Declan patiently and tactfully as a true member of the family. “He is Mr. Laidback. He should be at the household calvary, just standing [at Westminter].He will not move. He is idle, but [he has] a great temperament and [is] a great soulmate. He’s very special, very special for everything that we’ve done. I can recall, as a four year old in March time riding around the muddy fiends, and that horse has never had a lead. He’s never had anyone to show him how to jump ahead or jump a ditch. He’s done it all on his own back. He’s been amazing.”

Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH. Photo by Pan Cunningham.

Declan and “Cassidy” scored a 35.2 on Thursday, a very respectable debut 5* score that tracks in line with their typical averages at the 4* level. Declan admits he felt he got a bit of “the yips” (known in sports as a temporary abandonment of one’s skills that ordinarily would come naturally) as he headed in for his test. “To be honest, I’m pleased the way he went. He was fabulous, I’d say. But of course, it’s a different deal when you go inside and you have the tension and following Max [Warburton’s] test and the applause. Yes, I got a bit of the yips…I didn’t really ride as I did outside. So I left it — I left marks there. What luck, it’s my first five star, I’ve left it late in life to tackle this challenge, so I’m happy.”

“Late in life” is truly a relative term when it comes to eventing, and Declan keeps his gratitude for this special horse and an opportunity he’s been dreaming of for so long close.

“It was something we’ve been looking to do a long time, and there’s so many years I was going to retire,” Declan mused. “I was going to quit — financially, motivationally, horsepower. It is a very expensive sport that we’re in. We all question the effort and the reward of all the disciplines, dressage and show jumping and eventing. We just don’t seem to get the same reward and to keep going, it’s a credit to all the riders, all the owners that do it. So what kept me going? I believed he was a five-star horse. I hope he goes to prove me that, and that’s why I’ve stood the journey.”

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