Harry Meade and Et Hop du Matz. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
World number one Harry Meade will be the first rider to go at Defender Burghley 2025 (4-7 September) on his own and Mandy Gray’s Et Hop Du Matz – and the last, on Dinah and Stephen Posford and Juliet Carter’s Annaghmore Valoner.
As the only competitor with three horses entered for the Lincolnshire CCI5*, Harry’s rides have been drawn 1, 24 (Cavalier Crystal, owned by Charlotte and Peter Opperman) and 60. There are 60 entries in total, but no rider is asked to carry supposedly unlucky number 13.
The 2024 Defender Burghley champions, Ros Canter and Archie and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo, will set off late in the day as number 53.
There are five former Burghley-winning riders in the 2025 field: Piggy March (2022) has been drawn 23 on Maidwell Mavericks’ MCS Maverick, while Caroline Powell (2010) is number 30 on High Time V, owned by Ruth Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West, Tom Craig and Annabel Jenks. Tim Price (2018) and his 2024 Burghley runner-up, Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali, secured number 40 in the draw. And Oliver Townend (2009, 2017 and 2023) and Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent are number 50.
To see the complete drawn order for Defender Burghley 2025, please visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk/competition/cci5
A full preview of this year’s cross-country track will feature shortly on Burghley TV, which will broadcast every moment of the action from Defender Burghley 2025.
To find out more about Defender Burghley (September 4-7 2025) and to purchase tickets and hospitality, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
Defender Burghley: [Website] [Tickets] [Entries] [Burghley TV]
