Burghley Horse Trials 2026 as it happened: review every day’s action

Wednesday: first horse inspection

Hello and welcome to the Horse & Hound live blog from Defender Burghley. I'm Pippa Roome, magazine and eventing editor at H&H and I'll be your main guide through this week on the blog, with help from my friends and colleagues.

We’re less than 15 minutes away from the start of the trot-up and the excitement is building.

We are expecting 49 horses to trot-up, with late withdrawals including Laura Collett with Bling and Switzerland’s Felix Vogg and Cartania.

The ground jury, who inspect the horses alongside the veterinary delegate, are France’s Xavier Le Sauce, Ireland’s Joanne Jarden and Britain’s Sandy Phillips

It's raining here at Burghley, which isn’t ideal as everyone likes to put on a nice outfit for the trot-up and get a smart photo of them and their horse!

The horses come forward in number order, but riders with two horses trot them both up together. So all the two-horse riders will present first.

The very first down the runway will be US rider Caroline Pamukcu, a Burghley debutante. She brings forward her original entrant HSH Tolan King and also HSH Blake, who was re-routed after he tipped Caroline off at the tricky fence 17 at the World Championships in Aachen last month.

It was Aachen and Caroline’s loss, but Burghley’s gain as Blake is a genuine title contender here.

Caroline Pamukcu looks smart in a green striped trouser suit. Her two rides HSH Tolan King and HSH Blake are accepted.

Tim Price, a former winner here, is next with Global Quest and Falco. He spoke to H&H yesterday about the decision to bring Falco here after competing him at the World Championships. Tim’s rides both pass too.

The first grey forward is Ballyneety Silver Service, who was so impressive across country here last year with young British rider Holly Richardson. He passes, as does stablemate Bally Louis.

Ireland‘s Susie Berry then presents the mare Clever Trick and John The Bull, who are both accepted to start the competition. Susie is wearing a red and white checked shirt from a local shop in Stamford.

Tom Jackson is the last of the two-horse riders. No problems for Hawk Eye or United 36. United 36 is one of the favourites – he’s a smart 10-year-old who went brilliantly for fourth at Badminton in the spring.

Mary Edmundson, a first-timer here, looks very damp in a long dress as she presents Lionel II, who is accepted.

Another long dress follows – worn by US rider Cassie Sanger, who is based with double Burghley winner Ros Canter. She and Redfield Fyre made a great debut here last year with a strong cross-country round. No problems for them and they pass.

New Zealander Clarke Johnstone’s ride Domasco looks spicy and a bit of a handful, but he’s accepted.

Joseph Murphy presents the experienced grey Calmaro for Ireland and they are through.

Gemma Stevens then comes forward, sensibly wearing a hat, though it‘s perhaps more for sun than rain. Chilli Knight passes. She had a great win in the CCI4*-S at Scone Palace last week on Cooley Park Muze and will want to keep up that form here, after the disappointment of elimination at the World Championships with Flash Cooley.

Young Brit Tom Bird is up next, with Cowling Hot Gossip – he’s gone well across country here previously – and they are accepted.

Jack Pinkney is set to make his Burghley debut after presenting Claragh Olala successfully.

Alex Bragg brings forward Jaeger Master, who went well at Bramham in June – always a good set-up event for Burghley – and he passes too.

Another for New Zealand – Tayla Mason with Centennial, who was bred by her mother Sonya. Tayla is in loose pink trousers with built-in pink braces. Oh – Centennial to the holding box.

Max Warburton passes with Deerpairc Revelry, a promising young pair for Britain.

And then a young Swiss rider, Nadja Minder, with the 19-year-old Toblerone, who is also sent to the holding box.

France next, with Benjamin Massie and Filao De Perle, who passes.

Simon Grieve follows, with a big smile on his face and sunglasses despite the rain. He presents Autograf, with whom he finished in the top 20 last year. He’s accepted.

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell, winner here in 2010 with Lenamore, wears a stylish plum hat and long pink coat to trot up High Time, who passes.

We’re on to Emma Thomas with Icarus, who were in the top 20 on their debut here a few years ago. He’s talented but can be tricky. He is accepted.

Australia’s Samuel Jeffree and Santoro pass to set up their debut Burghley start.

Harry Meade is next – he has two horses, but because he initially entered three, the two he has remaining are middle and end of the draw (his first horse Superstition having been withdrawn), hence why he didn’t come forward with the other two-horse riders at the beginning. Et Hop Du Matz and Cavalier Crystal are accepted.

Could this be Harry’s chance finally to win a five-star?

Yasmin Ingham is next – it’s the 2022 world champion’s Burghley debut and she rides Goliath Du Loir, who is from the same stud as her top horse Banzai Du Loir. He passes.

Jesse Campbell presents Cooley Lafitte, who was in the top 20 here a couple of years ago. They also represent New Zealand and are accepted.

Sam Watson then trots up Ballyneety Rocketman, for Ireland. Sam is the co-founder of the equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings. His ride looks very excited to be here but passes.

Jonelle Price is wearing a stylish white coat – I hope she doesn’t trip and fall in the mud – to present Chilli’s Midnight Star, by the great Chilli Morning. Another pair for New Zealand safely through the inspection.

For anyone watching, there aren’t nearly as many stallions as the graphics suggest… I don’t think there are any stallions in this field, actually.

Michael Owen’s ride Monbeg Darwin is another who is quite het up but he passes.

Matt Heath’s ride Benedict Radau is accepted, for the horse’s British five-star debut.

Then Centennial returns from the holding box. The holding box vet – who can talk to the rider and physically inspect the horse – makes the usual report to the ground jury and veterinary delegate. Tayla Mason re-presents and they are through. Phew.

Nadja Minder is back from the holding box with Toblerone, too. Relief there too as he’s accepted and she gives the ground jury a thumbs up.

Sarah Bullimore is up next – according to EquiRatings, she’s the favourite, with the home-bred Corimiro, who went clear across country in the time at Badminton this spring, but lost a podium place in the showjumping. He’s just 10 years old. No problems for them. Sarah seeks a first five-star win.

Arthur Marx is next, for France, with Church’Ile. I saw him out course walking earlier with compatriot Benjamin Massie and Swiss rider Robin Godel. Church’Ile accepted.

Tom Strawson then presents Public Address, who went very well here last year on their debut. Tom works full-time in property and is a big hunting man. He looks a little anxious but Public Address passes.

Green trousers, green patterned jacket and pink top for Tara Dixon, daughter of the great Karen Dixon. Master Smart is accepted too.

Kate Rocher-Smith wears a blue and white floaty dress and long boots to present Dassett Select. Big smiles from her as she makes her Burghley debut and the horse passes.

Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint are next – our 2024 Badminton runners-up who had a run-out at the Trout Hatchery here last year. Lucy is taking a sabbatical from working full-time in marketing to make the most of her horse of a lifetime. "Paddy" passes.

She’s followed by another for Ireland, Austin O’Connor with Sixmilewater, who is accepted for his second Burghley start.

Stop press. Late withdrawal of one of the favourites – David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed. We’ll try to find out more and bring you the news.

Anthony Clark comes next, with Ballinaguilkey Fortunus, a grey, and he passes. It’s Anthony’s Burghley and five-star debut.

Jennie Brannigan of the US, with FE Lifestyle, is accepted - they’ve had a couple of good runs here.

Next we see US-based Aussie Ema Klugman with Chiraz, who passes.

Robin Godel of Switzerland presents Dealer De La Bride for his Burghley debut and they are through. Robin retired his championship stalwart Grandeur De Lully CH at the World Championships last month.

Another grey next – D’Artagnan, who impressed with third at Bramham for Wiltshire-based US rider Tiana Coudray. He looks very smart as he passes.

Final two...

Katie Magee presents Treworra, who was fifth at Badminton in the spring and went well here last year bar a run-out in Defender Valley. He passes.

And the last up is Will Coleman – who led the US to team bronze at the worlds with Kentucky winner Diabolo. He rides Very Dignified here and they are accepted.

Phew! That was a whistlestop tour.

So sad to lose David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed with their late withdrawal.

Everyone who presented passed, so there will be 48 starters.

Check out our trot-up report, full cross-country course pictures and dressage times on our website.

And I’ll be back here tomorrow ready for the dressage, which provisionally starts at 10am. Bookmark the page!

Thursday: dressage

Hello and welcome back to H&H’s live blog from Defender Burghley (or welcome if you didn’t join us yesterday). I’m Pippa Roome, magazine and eventing editor at H&H. Looking forward to bringing you all the action today.

Check out the dressage times here.

And find out below who the H&H team think will win this week…

H&H team predictions... who will win Burghley 2026? - YouTube

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Our first pair in were Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Tolan King, for the US. Caroline is a Burghley first-timer and this horse has completed the US five-stars at Maryland and Kentucky.

I chatted to Caroline at Kentucky last year about returning to eventing after having a baby. Caroline’s daughter is called Blake – yes, the same name as her top ride, HSH Blake, who comes at the end of the field – which was something she used to her advantage in the run up to Paris when no one knew she was pregnant. If she felt sick, she’s say it was Blake, which people thought meant she was nervous about the Olympics.

This 11-year-old horse isn’t as flash as Blake, but he performs a forward, tidy test to score 34.4.

World number one Tim Price and Global Quest are the second pair into the arena, for New Zealand. This horse was produced by the late Georgie Campbell – Tim puts it nicely by saying he rides him in her honour.

Tim is one of two riders in the field who have won here before – he was victorious in 2018 on Ringwood Sky Boy.

As with Caroline Pamukcu’s pair, this horse would be considered Tim’s less strong contender, with Falco coming tomorrow and Global Quest being more inexperienced. But Tim rides in a lovely soft way and guides him through a consistent test to score 32.1.

Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service – known as Butler – are the first British pair to perform. This grey really caught the eye on the cross-country here last year with a speedy round and finished 14th after a disappointing showjumping.

Find out more about Ballyneety Silver Service.

This pair from Yorkshire score 38.3.

Our reporter in the mixed zone this week, speaking to riders, is Martha Terry. She talked to pathfinder Caroline Pamukcu, from the US, about HSH Tolan King…

“When I came over here in 2022 and was based with Pippa Funnell, we didn’t bring him – he’d arrived in my yard in 2021. We were just trying to sell him, even for $20,000. I sent him to three separate professionals, being like, ‘You should take this one. He will be nice’,” said Caroline, who counts Cassie Sanger’s Burghley ride Redfield Fyre among the horses she has sourced, produced and sold.

“HSH Tolan King was just one of the ones I couldn’t sell. So I went to the investor and I was like, ‘We have so much money into him. Why don’t we just kind of kick on and let me show him up the levels a bit and see what we have?’ And it was so worthwhile. He’s a bit quirky of a horse, but he digs deep and he’s kind of the underdog, which is cool.”

Asked why she thinks the 11-year-old didn’t sell, Caroline added: “He wouldn’t be the American type of horse. He’s blood. He’s a little small. For me, he’s very fancy, but they love that sort of Dutch stamp of horse, the big, flash jump. But they wouldn’t really want the ones that are a little bit the underdog.”

Ireland’s Susie Berry and Clever Trick have done their test – it’s a first Burghley for this mare and there’s some tension in the canter, which affects their mark (40.5).

Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye move into second at this early stage, on 34.1. This horse was produced by Nicola Wilson and then by Kristina Hall-Jackson before Tom took over last year. He went well here last year bar an unfortunate run-out at the Trout Hatchery.

We hear from Tim Price now about Global Quest, the horse he took over from the late Georgie Campbell…

“He was her favourite horse. I helped her a little bit with him back a few years ago, and she absolutely loved him. I have the privilege of riding him after her so it’s been very much in her honour. She always wanted to get to five-star with him, so I’m doing that on her behalf. He’s a lovely horse, a great cross-country horse.”

Tim went into some detail about the horse’s character and how he’s building the partnership.

“He has a level of anxiety. Georgie used to have inconsistency and she used to get frustrated, and that's something I always refer back to. Me being bigger and stronger, and perhaps more like, ‘It’s like this, mate,’ because I know what I’m doing, has not always been to the benefit of him and I. He just gets a little upset and then he goes in his shell. Then he’s a little bit creaky and everything’s a bit forced. You lose the balance and the impulsion.

“So as I’ve gone on, I’ve got him a lot fitter, a lot lighter and his body stronger with all the work behind the scenes. And then in terms of approaching the actual test, we have a solid session in the morning, but I don’t come in and and say, ‘It’s like this’. I want him to him to show himself off, not me to say, ‘This is what you should do’, to try and achieve that little bit more softness and cadence and things that aren't that natural to him.

“Today I tried to run smoothly and it comes at the cost of a few crisp changes, transitions, and the changes are small, but they’re clean. But in the past, I’d really say, ‘And change’, and then he’d throw his head down and go, ‘Why did you do that?’ So I just want to show him the way, and then over the next couple of seasons, try to show him that he could be much better and really good.”

It’s really fascinating to hear this insight and how a rider like Tim develops a horse over a number of seasons towards the end goal.

Meanwhile British first-timer Mary Edmundson has done her test, the final rider before the coffee break. Mary’s mother Debbie rode at Burghley and was a junior European gold medallist.

Mary and Lionel II have some expensive mistakes, finishing on a score of 41.

Here’s a picture of our current leader from H&H photographer Peter Nixon…

Enjoy some moments from yesterday‘s trot-up – H&H’s video whizz this week is Lucy Elder.

Burghley trot-up - YouTube

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US rider Cassie Sanger is the first rider after the coffee break, with Redfield Fyre. She’s just 21 years old and based wth Ros Canter. This pair were 17th here last year.

I chatted to Cassie’s groom Meigs Rutherford at Badminton this year and found out what she’s learnt from Ros’s system.

Cassie scores 38.1 – this wouldn’t be the easiest phase for this horse and there was a slight lack of impulsion and connection, though Cassie rode a professional test. She’s building great experience for the future and will look forward to tomorrow with Redfield Fyre.

There’s a request over the loudspeaker that there’s no clapping for our next pair, Clarke Johnstone and Domasco.

New Zealand rider Clarke hasn’t been here for 15 years and he’ll want to turn his luck around after it was so unfortunate that his ride at the World Championships, Rocket Man, had a nosebleed about a third of the way into the cross-country course and he was pulled up.

Clarke’s so tall – he looks like he could join his toes under the horse’s tummy! His height means he looks elegant, though.

He slightly fluffed the last flying change which was a shame. His final mark is 34.5.

Another pair for Ireland now – the experienced grey Calmaro with Joseph Murphy. He was ninth at Kentucky 2022 and 12th at the 2023 Europeans; this is the horse’s first Burghley.

Calmaro was originally produced by Laura Collett.

Joseph has a tricky time with things falling apart in the canter and ends up scoring 41.4.

Cassie Sanger said after her test that she now has a good system training with Ros Canter and Ian Woodhead for working Redfield Fyre…

“We will work quite hard on the flat and then take him to the gallops the next day and then he’s actually become quite good at working on the flat the day after he does his fitness work – which you wouldn’t always think with a horse like him, who struggles with the strength and balance, but his brain needs to switch on and off with it. We’ve just kept him really happy and only had one big session here this week,” said Cassie.

The US rider only warmed Redfield Fyre up for 15 minutes before her test, having worked him in a dressage saddle this morning, stretching him and making sure he was really loose.

“He likes to hang on the right rein a bit and so I just have to be there to support him with my legs and my body and say, ‘No, you can hold yourself.’ It’s just kind of keep daring him to try a little bit more each time. We keep it a bit shorter so that we will get the best out of him in the ring. He’s now really good in a big atmosphere. A couple years ago we would have been like, ‘Oh gosh, he might explode’, but not any more. He’s a workman. He likes to go in there and tries.”

Cassie has not had an easy build-up to Burghley, with a fall in the under-25 World Championships at Millstreet with Fernhill Zorro, who then put down a few weeks later after an accident in the field.

She said: “I was going for it at the end at Millstreet, seeing sliding into first place and all of a sudden hit the ground, and so it was 100% my fault. The confidence has been at a low this year. I would not say it’s been, by any means, a great year for me. But at the same time, you learn more from your mistakes and it’ll teach me for this, and hopefully I can keep everything together.”

New leader! Gemma Stevens scores 29.6, the first to break the 30-barrier, with Chilli Knight. This horse has never found dressage easy, but he really puts his best foot forward today and tries hard.

Gemma needs a boost after her unfortunate elimination in the World Championships in Aachen – she spoke about picking herself up after that disappointment to our reporter at Scone Palace, Becky Murray, last weekend.

No big blips in young British rider Tom Bird’s test, but Cowling Hot Gossip isn’t a natural dressage horse. They’ll look forward to Saturday after scoring 45.6.

British first-timer Jack Pinkney produces some nice work with Claragh Olala, a 12-year-old by OBOS Quality 004, but other parts are less polished for a final mark of 38.1.

Jack is the last one before lunch. We’ll bring you some thoughts from lunchtime leader Gemma Stevens before we head off for a short break so hang on in there for that…

After her test, Gemma Stevens, our lunchtime leader on Chilli Knight, said: “Dressage is not his forte. He can’t trot. I just said, We’ve done our best shuffling. But the one thing he makes up for the fact that he can’t trot is the fact that his heart is always trying his best.

“Today I really had him on the side. I didn’t quite have him at Badminton. He was a bit behind my leg there. We made some really stupid mistakes and had the worst score we’ve ever had.”

“We razzed him up a bit here before he went in, which is not a normal thing for a five-star event horse. But it really worked. He stayed in front of my leg and was much better.

“I actually tried it out this morning, when Ian Woodhead was like, ‘Come on, let’s do it because what can it hurt?’ He’s so reliable in the arena, and at Badminton he was a bit of a monkey and dropped off me. He’s an old boy now. He’s such a little cutie, he knows his job so well and only does what he’s going to have to do.

“So we razzed him up a bit out here, gave him a couple of little touches with the whip and he's actually very sensitive, so it works. And then I gave him a pat. I’m not telling him off, I’m just trying to razz him up a bit, and it really worked because then he didn’t drop me off my leg. He stayed lovely in front of me, kept his frame in front of me and was really nice to ride.”

Gemma said there is little risk in this warm-up strategy because Alfie isn’t a horse who will blow up in the arena.

“The worst thing he’s going to do is spook at a flower pot. He’s not going to get goey or whizzy. He’s not really like that in the dressage.

“He’s goey cross-country, but dressage is dull. Jumping is much more fun and galloping fast, which is what he loves to do. He obviously absolutely loves it when we come to these big ones because he knows that I’m not going to have the handbrake on. When he goes to other events, he knows I’m going to have a handbrake on, and he gets a bit cross with me, to be honest. He’s going to be well happy.”

Thanks for joining us this morning! We’ll be back just before 2pm ready for the afternoon action.

Hello everyone, welcome back.

We have a lovely picture of this morning’s leader Gemma Stevens after her test to share with you…

Our first pair this afternoon are Alex Bragg and Jaeger Master. The sun has really come out here and the horse is gleaming. Credit to all the grooms here who do such a fantastic job having the horses looking and feeling their best.

This horse finished ninth in the CCI4*-L at Bramham in June. I had a really fascinating chat with Alex there about how he’s worked on changing the horse’s dressage warm-up and jumping balance since he’s had the ride.

We’re back to back with former rugby players in this part of the draw – Alex was a semi-professional player (and he was also a farrier before turning to eventing) and Jack Pinkney, the last before lunch, also wanted to be a rugby player. We’ll have a story on Jack coming up on our website later this afternoon.

Some problems in canter are expensive for Alex and Jaeger Master – they finish on a score of 35.3.

New Zealand‘s Tayla Mason is up next with Centennial – this is her first Burghley, though she’s contested two Badmintons with this horse finishing sixth this year, and Maryland last year. She will have been disappointed not to be selected for the World Championships in Aachen and will be out to prove herself here.

Centennial was home-bred by Tayla’s mother Sonya. I interviewed Tayla for H&H magazine after her Badminton success this year and she told me a bit more about “Chase”. and their journey…

“I competed to advanced in New Zealand on a thoroughbred called Lucy With Diamonds – one of my mum’s horses that I stole off her – but other than that I’ve gone through the grades with Chase and it’s been a learning curve for both of us,” she said. “Our bond is really strong. We came over to the other side of the world together and there’s a whole lot of hurdles to overcome with that. He has been and is a fantastic horse for me.”

Chase’s biggest attribute is that he really wants to do the right thing “and he’s a competitor and tries hard”. As with most top horses, he comes with his quirks.

“He’s always been twitchy,” said Tayla. “When he was two, he got a stick caught in his mane and we had to cut it out and after that we couldn’t brush his mane for about three years.”

Tayla and Centennial put in a tidy test – nothing to write home about, but no major errors – and they pull in a mark of 36.

Need a quick rundown of key storylines this week to impress your friends? H&H’s Lucy Elder has you covered!

What are the big storylines for Burghley 2026? - YouTube

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Max Warburton and the grey 12-year-old Deerpairc Revelry make a really pleasing picture in the arena – they are our cover stars on the issue of H&H magazine out today.

This pair have finished in the top 25 here twice – including 18th with a double jumping clear on their debut in 2024 – and are a promising young British pair to watch.

Their test goes well for a score of 31.2.

Some thoughts from Alex Bragg after his test on Jaeger Master…

“For his first five-star, especially in the big atmosphere of Burghley I was pleased. It wasn’t perfect. He went into the main arena and go quite lit up – not naughty, just nerves, and he becomes hypersensitive. So I tried to get into canter and he stopped dead because he spooked at the scoreboard and I really thought I could be in trouble here.

“But I got up the centreline, stuck to my plan, didn’t get tense myself, and he tried so hard to stay with me and listening. So although it wasn’t the best work that he can do, and he did make an expensive mistake in the counter counter and the change, I was pleased. I think there’s a future there for a really magic test at this level in this atmosphere, so that’s the positive that I’m taking.”

Alex talked about bringing the horse to Burghley for his first five-star.

“The intention was probably to do another four-long and then go to Badminton, but he went so well at Bramham and that was his second four-star long with me. When you feel a horse is ready, there’s no point running their legs off for nothing. So we thought we’d come here. We have the option possibly to go to Blenheim as a back-up, but if you missed this and he went so well at Blenheim, you’d always be regretting that we didn’t give it a go.

“Burghley’s magic. It’ll be on top of the ground because of the the summer we’ve had. I’ve never seen grass look so green for months, so they obviously have done an amazing job on it.”

Alex talked about what’s required for hores to shine at five-star, especially over Burghley’s tough terrain.

“I think it comes down to grit, whether they’ve got the heart and that mentality that they will just keep going and they’re not going to give up, and that makes a true Burghley five-star horse. I’m hoping this guy will have it. I know in the last few minutes of the track, I’m going to need to be the one leading the show and he’s going to need so much support from me, but I’m ready there.”

Boom! Switzerland’s Nadja Minder provisionally scores 29.5 with the 19-year-old Toblerone, the oldest horse here, to take the lead from Gemma Stevens, by just 0.1 of a penalty.

The top three is now Nadja, Gemma with Chilli Knight and Max Warburton on Deerpairc Revelry.

Some thoughts from Max Warburton on his strong test, which scored 31.2 for third right now…

“It was a real clear round test. He tried very hard and he was quiet in his brain, same as he was in the warm-up.

“I think his his canter is probably a little bit better than his trot at the minute. His frame comes out a little bit more. He’s got a fantastic big overtrack in his walk, but he comes a little bit off the bridle in it, which is a shame. That loses a mark or two. But overall, I was thrilled with how he’s gone.”

France’s Benjamin Massie is in the arena, with Filao De Perle – a horse by Upsilon, who was a prolific four-star winner with Tom Carlile a few years ago. Benjamin is another rider looking for redemption after the World Championships, where he fell with Figaro Fonroy on the tricky ground between two triple brush arrowheads at fence nine.

He scores a provisional 36.4.

Popular British rider Simon Grieve is in the arena with Autograf, known as Buster, who was 18th here last year.

I interviewed Simon at the start of this year and he was really interesting talking about his mindset and approach to big events.

Disappointingly, the canter becomes a bit messy; they score 44.1.

Some thoughts from new leader Nadja Minder, with her long-term partner Toblerone…

“The highlight was definitely the trot extensions – on the grass, he just floats along, which is always very special. He’s just a horse that comes in these arenas and presents himself more. You can really feel that in these trot extensions. Also the changes are just so easy with him. I would need to do something very wrong not to get it right with him.”

Nadja only has a small 20x40m arena at home in Switzerland so she trains on grass most of the time.

“I think it’s very healthy for them and good for the balance. It’s a benefit for eventing definitely, and probably other disciplines should try it too.”

Nadja also attributes the fact Toblerone is still competing at 19 to the fact he was a late starter in the sport and then had a quiet time during Covid-19, so he has not actually competed a huge amount.

“He’s also not a flashy mover, he just gets the job done and doesn’t use himself up much,” said Nadja, adding she turns her horses out in groups by day and at night they come into individual stables but with access to a paddock so they can go in and out as they wish.

We’re in a short break now and the action re-starts at 3.10pm.

I’m going to head off now briefly and interview Jess Elliott, who is grooming for Austin O’Connor here – we’ll bring you that piece later today here on the H&H website.

I'm leaving you in the capable hands of H&H dressage editor Oscar Williams to take you through the next few tests.

Thanks Pippa! We’re about to get back underway. I’ll be taking you through the final six combinations of the day, starting with Caroline Powell and High Time. But can anyone match Nadja Minder and Toblerone’s leading score of 29.5?

Caroline – a former Burghley winner on Lenamore – produces a mostly clean test on High Time to slot into provisional fifth on 33.9, with the only real blip coming in the rein back. But High Time is a great jumper so she'll be hoping to move up the leaderboard over the next two stages.

Next in is Emma Thomas and Icarus, who looks quite hot and has worked himself into a bit of a lather.

Fun fact: before becoming a professional eventer Emma wanted to pursue a career as a forensic anthropologist.

“I love bones,” she once told us. “It was always a childhood dream to be an event rider, but I wasn’t especially good. I had quite young horses and wasn’t anywhere near juniors, young riders or anything like that.

“I think bones are really cool – just the way they develop and work while people are alive. The forensic bit comes in because you can tell so much about a person, the way they lived, their diet and their lifestyle from their bones after they're dead, even thousands of years later. It’s a bit creepy, but I do love it,”

Icarus looked quite excitable for Emma there, scoring 40.5 with a few tense mistakes – well ridden.

Here's some thoughts from Caroline Powell on her test on High Time...

“He can act as though he’s had baked beans for lunch sometimes and be a bit hot, but today he’s just getting better and easier and nicer.

“He’s a long way from being the finished product, but at the moment he’s absolutely loving his work – it’s an absolute pleasure to be able to put the work into him.

“He’s a high-class horse, and he loves this. The dressage is the most difficult stage for him.”

On coming back to Burghley as a past winner, she added:

“Each time you come here, you’re on a different horse and there’s different questions out there – it doesn't get any easier.

“You still get the Saturday morning nerves. But it’s nice to know you’ve been round and done well, and to come here on a horse that’s a good jumper and is learning all the time – it’s a real honour.”

What a lovely horse Samuel Jeffree’s Santoro looks, with three quality paces – though the 14-year-old gelding was a little fidgety in the contact during the stretch in canter on a 20m circle, and made a costly mistake in the walk. The pair scored 39.6.

Next in is world number two Harry Meade on Et Hop Du Matz. The pair are a little slow to settle in the first halt but are picking up a lot of 6.5 and 7s from the judges through the early work.

Oh no! A mistake in the medium walk with the 12-year-old gelding breaking into a jog, and they’re a little fraught going into the canter too. It’s unravelled a bit in the changes as well.

They score 39 – Harry looks disappointed.

Former world champion Yasmin Ingham and Goliath Du Loir are next in and score 32.7 to edge into the top five.

One to go, Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte.

But first here’s some thoughts from Emma Thomas on her test on Icarus...

“I think that’s as much as I could have got out of him today. He was very excited to be here – you know, Burghley’s his favourite place.

“I actually think I get more nervous year on year, because I just don’t want to screw up. When you come here the first time, you’ve got nothing to put that result against.”

"Icarus has endless stamina and endless enthusiasm – I’ve never been able to pull him up successfully at the end. He’s tricky and he’s a handful, but he never runs out of enthusiasm.”

Harry Meade caught up with out reporter Martha Terry to talk through his test.

“I had him a little bit too fresh and exuberant. He can dry up slightly when he goes into an atmosphere, so I wanted him fresh, and I tried to warm up in as big a canter as possible. He was a little bit too bright in there and that manifests itself in some contact issues, and also in the changes – I didn’t quite get them right.

“But every event is a learning event – unless you’ve got the ingredients where you feel it absolutely worked perfectly, you try and tweak your plan accordingly. I had a hypothesis, and it didn’t really work.”

Looking ahead to cross-country, Harry picked out three fences worth keeping an eye on.

“I think the Dairy Mound will be interesting to see how that rides – it’s a long pull up there, a steep slope, a very wide table, and then a real acceleration. There’s still some variety in how you ride it if you go the straight route.

“The Leaf Pit is very straightforward compared to previous years, but it’s right at the end, so that makes a big difference – if you’ve had a stop earlier on, arriving there changes everything.

“I think the Trout Hatchery, particularly, will come up thick and fast – what happens on the first element affects the second and third. It’s our way through.”

Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte round out the day’s action with a 38.3. They had a mistake in the first medium trot with the 14-year-old gelding breaking into canter and a further mistake in the walk.

And here are some thoughts from a delighted Yasmin Ingham, who’s making her Burghley debut and sits fifth overall on Goliath Du Loir after the first day of dressage.

“I was delighted with him. He’s only a young horse, and to come into this huge atmosphere in the main arena is definitely quite daunting for a lot of horses – he handled it like a pro.

“He would normally be a little bit flighty in the dressage, so for him to go in there and be completely onside with me from the start was a really nice feeling. I felt like I could really ride him and go for every mark.

“There’s still so much more to come in the dressage phase, but for where he is in his career, I was just delighted with that.

“He’s only 10, so I believe he's one of maybe three 10-year-olds in the field – completely inexperienced at this level. But he’s an out-and-out cross-country and jumping horse, so I believe in a few years he’ll be a real top contender.”

That’s a wrap on the first day of dressage at Burghley, here’s how the top five stands:

1. Nadja Minder (SUI) – Toblerone – 29.5
The Swiss rider heads the leaderboard, edging out Gemma Stevens by the narrowest of margins.

2. Gemma Stevens (GBR) – Chilli Knight – 29.6
Just 0.1 behind Minder, keeping the top two extremely close going into cross-country.

3. Max Warburton (GBR) – Deerpairc Revelry – 31.2
Rounds out the podium places after dressage.

4. Tim Price (NZL) – Global Quest – 32.1
The horse he now rides in tribute to the late Georgie Campbell, who produced him up to four-star – Tim is carrying out her long-held ambition of reaching five-star with the gelding.

5. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) – Goliath du Loir – 32.7
Making her Burghley debut, Yasmin was delighted with how her horse handled the atmosphere of the main arena, and is hopeful the daunting cross-country course will feel smaller the more she walks it.

That’s it from us on the live blog for now – but there’ll be more stories to come this afternoon and evening, and we’ll be back for the second day of dressage tomorrow, just before 10am.

Friday: dressage

Hello and welcome to the second day of dressage at Defender Burghley. I'm Pippa Roome, magazine and eventing editor here at H&H. Looking forward to sharing all the action with you.

Let's start with some thoughts from the H&H team about yesterday’s test and what we’re looking forward to today…

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Our first pair in today are Sam Watson and Ballyneety Rocketman. Sam’s one of the big thinkers in our sport as co-founder of EquiRatings, the data analytics company. He’s also not a bad rider! He was a team silver medallist at the 2018 World Championships; his father John was also a world silver medallist for Ireland.

This pair were 20th at Badminton in the spring and 13th here last year.

It’s been wet here overnight and this morning but has stopped raining now.

Rocketman is not too rockety today – he’s on the quiet side and also had some expensive problems with the flying changes. Sam scores a provisional 40.5 to get us started on the second day of dressage.

Jonelle Price is up next, with Chilli’s Midnight Star – this horse is a former H&H cover star as he featured when we did an Access All Areas at home with Jonelle and husband Tim a few years ago.

This pair were 12th at Badminton in the spring and the horse makes his Burghley debut. Jonelle’s best result at Burghley is third in 2016 on Classic Moet, who went on to win Badminton with her in 2018.

As his name suggests, Chilli’s Midnight Star is by Chilli Morning, a five-star winner himself in 2015 with William Fox-Pitt at Badminton.

They score 36.2.

Michael Owen heads in next, with Monbeg Darwin – the horse made his five-star debut at Badminton in May, finishing 28th.

He scores 38.3.

Some thoughts from Sam Watson after his test – he was worried about how Ballyneety Rocketman would behave after he was very excited at the trot-up.

“The trot work was the best it has been for sure, so that’s going the right way. This is his fourth five star, so he’s done Burghley before, he’s done two Badmintons, and I worried after the trot-up – because he hasn’t exploded quite that much before – that he had got to know where he was.

“But he started the test really nicely. The second to last change was an absolute car crash. It was a shame to put that big an error into a test. At this level riders shouldn’t be letting that happen, but you’ve got to take the progress in terms of looking forward.”

Sam is pleased that there has been some rain and thinks those wetter conditions will suit his horse.

Matt Heath and Benedict Radau score 40.5 – a horse making his British five-star debut, having completed the French five-star at Pau last year, while Matt is an experienced Burghley rider.

The on-paper favourites come in next – Sarah Bullimore and her home-bred Corimiro (known as “Milo”), out of her 2005 European Championship ride Lilly Corinne, by Amiro Z.

I spoke to Sarah about that breeding process earlier this year and she said Milo’s delivery wasn’t straightforward.

“I had to break the bag and if we hadn’t been there, he might have been deprived of oxygen,” said Sarah.

Corimiro struggled to suckle, showing signs of being a “dummy foal” – who doesn’t properly wake up at birth. He perked up after 24 hours at Rossdales, where they tried the Madigan squeeze, which recreates the natural transition to consciousness.

They had some good work, especially in the initial trotwork, but some disappointing moments where he still just looks a bit green a level and they score 33.6 to go into sixth at this stage.

Some nice insight from British rider Michael Owen after his test…

“I might look relaxed, but inside I’m not, no. It’s my 13th Burghley, so I should be more relaxed. But it never gets any easier. In fact, the more you do, the more I think you’re aware of what could happen. You’re not as naive as when I was younger,” he said.

France’s Arthur Marx and Church I’Ile are in the arena next – he’s by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz, like Ros Canter’s star Lordships Graffalo. Arthur and Church I’Ile seek their first cross-country clear in nine five-star runs, but did manage a fast round at Badminton with just a frangible breakage on their jumping scorecard.

Arthur scores 37 to go into 15th at this stage.

We have a short break now until Tom Strawson at 11.10am. Meanwhile we’ll bring you some thoughts from Sarah Bullimore just as soon as our reporter in the mixed zone, Martha Terry, has a chance to speak to her.

Sarah Bulllimore spoke to us after scoring 33.6 for sixth at this stage with Corimiro. She was pleased with her 10-year-old horse, but disappointed with the mark…

“I’m chuffed to bits with him. It’s a big atmosphere in there and he’s a young horse and he just copes effortlessly with that. He thinks everybody’s there for him and even coming out of the arena, he’s quite happy to walk out on a long rain. The final halt in the arena, he stands absolutely motionless and you can drop the reins and pat him.

“He’s such a good boy and did everything right with no mistakes. Yes, bits can always be better, but yes, I am a little bit disappointed with the marking. I think they could have been a little more generous, but it is what it is and it’s not a dressage competition.”

Sarah also spoke about starting as the favourite, according to EquiRatings.

“It’s probably an added pressure that don’t really need, and there’s been an awful lot of media hype. But we’ve been so busy day to day at home – we’ve been really short-staffed and we’ve had a girl off sick for several weeks – so it’s been a bit of a difficult build-up.

“So it’s been nice to get here, feeling quite exhausted, and relax. In a way that stress has taken away from all the media hype – it’s just been stressful in its own way. So it kind of balances out, doesn’t it?”

Tom Strawson and Public Address (known as “Brian”) in the arena as the first pair after the break – they finished 21st here last year.

Tom’s an interesting chap who doesn’t really class himself as primarily an event rider – I interviewed him before Badminton this year.

Public Address is a cheap ex-racehorse, who cost less than £2,000, proving you don’t have to spend big bucks to get a five-star horse if you have the skill to produce one.

Dressage isn’t this pair’s favourite phase and the changes are a particular pinch point. They finish up with a mark of 40.1 provisionally.

Tara Dixon – daughter of multi-medalled British rider Karen – in the arena now on Master Smart, a nod to the Smart horses her mother rode such as Get Smart. I chatted to Tara at Bramham last year about working with her mum.

This is Tara’s second Burghley and she’ll want to turn her luck here around after having three refusals quite early on course last year so being eliminated.

Dressage wouldn’t be the easiest phase for this pair and they land a 39.5 provisionally.

Kate Rocher-Smith is in the arena now – I was actually in Pony Club with Kate! She rides Dassett Select at her first Burghley, having completed Badminton with him last year too.

Sadly he jogs in the walk, which is expensive. He's a smart looking horse, though, with lots of promise.

Kate pulls in a provisional score of 43.6.

Next in is Lucy Latta, the young Irish rider who finished second at Badminton in 2024. She and RCA Patron Saint haven’t really been able to frank that form since, which is frustrating – they missed Burghley that autumn and Badminton the following spring with little health issues, then managed to get here last year but had an unfortunate late run-out at the Trout Hatchery.

Lucy has taken a sabbatical from her career in marketing to make the most of this horse of a lifetime. She’s trained by her cousin, five-star rider Esib Power.

Lucy and Paddy start out well but drop some marks in canter, finishing on a provisional 36 for 12th at this stage.

A nice comment from Tom Strawson on the difference between thoroughbreds and warmbloods…

“It’s the difference between a Ferrari and a Peugeot. It’s quality, isn’t it? I always say when you go hunting on a thoroughbred, to go faster, you just have to just let your fingers go a bit. On a common horse, you have to kick.”

Austin O’Connor – a five-star winner at Maryland 2023 on Colorado Blue – is in next on Sixmilewater (“Buster”), for Ireland. It’s a third five-star for this horse after Burghley last year, when they had 20 jumping penalties at the Maltings, and Badminton this year.

I chatted to his groom, Jess Elliott yesterday – she said: “He just keeps getting better every time and he’s stronger. Fitness-wise, in his canter work, we’ve got him exactly where we would want to be.

“On his last prep runs, Austin has put him up the gears a bit more and asked more of him, and he just keeps going. Sometimes he’s a bit of a bull and takes the rein and Austin’s like, ‘Whoa’, so we need just to keep between the flags and we’ll be fine.”

Find out more about Jess’s interesting career in grooming and Sixmilewater’s prep for this test here.

Austin and Buster receive a provisional score of 38 for 18th place at this stage.

Some thoughts from Ireland’s Lucy Latta after her test on RCA Patron Saint, which scored 36…

“He’s been doing really good tests all year, so I am a bit disappointed with the mark. He held his breath a little bit and was just not as soft as I would have needed him, but he did try. I would have liked to have done a slightly better mark, but he just get a bit anxious today on me, and that’s how it goes.”

Lucy also talked about taking time out from her job in marketing to focus on horses…

“It’s been so nice to have the time to dedicate to the training and everything. It’s been a really fun summer. We’ve got a couple of youngsters as well now so I’m loving it.

“It’s certainly much easier in terms of not trying to juggle 10 different things in the run-up to a five star. You just have more time to focus on whatever it is that you need to do and focus on to get there. It’s always a bit nerve wracking, the run-up to a five-star, especially the week before when you’ve done all your hard training and then you just want to get there now – it’s always a bit nerve-wracking whether you’re working or not.”

Lucy said she definitely plans to take a full year out and then she will assess what she does next.

The final pair into the arena before lunch are British five-star debutants Anthony Clark and Ballinaguilkey Fortunus. Anthony is just back from the veterans European Showjumping Championships in Denmark, where he picked up team bronze and seventh individually on another horse.

This Irish-bred is a 15-year-old grey by Fortunus.

They score 38.4 for 23rd at this stage.

We’ll be back just before 2pm – our first rider after lunch is US competitor Jennie Brannigan.

Meanwhile we’ll have a report on this morning’s action for you soon and my colleague Oscar Williams is down at the Burghley young event horse five-year-old final, so watch out for an update from there on the website, too.

And we’re back! The final afternoon of dressage is just starting.

Let’s start by hearing from Yasmin Ingham, who did her dressage yesterday.

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Jennie Brannigan, from the US, is the first rider in this afternoon, with FE Lifestyle. They’ve had two good runs here and were 12th in 2023, as well as 13th at Kentucky this spring.

Jennie is a really interesting rider – I loved interviewing her a couple of years ago. We talked a lot about growing up in the sport and maturing as a rider and a person, taking the knocks and learning to be resilient.

Jennie and “Foxy” score 36 to sit equal sixth with Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint.

US-based Australian Ema Klugman is next in, on 13-year-old grey Chiraz. Ema is a lawyer and this is her first event in the UK.

Chiraz, who was produced in the UK by Nicola Wilson up to two-star, made his five-star debut at Kentucky this year, finishing 23rd with two stops.

The marks really drop down in some of the flying changes – we’re seeing a one and a two among the marks – and they finish up on 38.7 for 25th at this stage.

Some quick thoughts from Jennie Brannigan after her test on FE Lifestyle. Jennie has been in Europe since the week before the World Championships as she was the travelling reserve for the US team and has been based at Alex Tordoff’s – “It feels like home, I love it.”

“It’s kind of a windy, blustery day and I’ve been working on keeping the lid on in the canter, so I think maybe my trotwork lacked some brilliance. But it was the best behaved he’s ever been in the canter, so I’ll take it.

“It’s my third trip here, so it’s pretty awesome, and I couldn’t be on a better cross-country horse. So I’m looking forward to it. Burghley is number one to me. It’s the pinnacle of the sport.”

Robin Godel is next in – he’s a 28-year-old Swiss first-timer who has great championship experience and will benefit from the fact he trains with Burghley expert Andrew Nicholson, the Swiss team cross-country coach.

Robin retired his great championship campaigner Grandeur De Lully CH at Aachen.

He pilots Dealer De La Bride here, a 13-year-old and they score 39.7 for 29th at this stage after some expensive mistakes in the walk particularly.

Tiana Coudray is next in, on the smart grey D’Artagnan. They were third in the CCI4*-L at Bramham this year and were listed for the World Championships. US rider Tiana has been based in the UK for many years; she lives in Wiltshire.

A 10 from Xavier Le Sauce for Tiana’s mid-test halt! That’s the first 10 we’ve seen.

Some errors in the changes on the diagonals at the end, but it’s still among the best tests we’ve seen so far today – a provisional 33.8 for seven, just behind Sarah Bullimore from this morning.

Here’s a quick pic of our best pair from this morning, Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro.

Katie Magee and Treworra – fifth at Badminton in the spring – take to the arena next. This horse went very well last year with just an annoying run-out in Defender Valley near the end.

My colleague Oscar spoke to Katie’s groom earlier, so we’ll have that story for you later.

Katie is 44 and only made her five-star debut at Pau 2024, so there’s hope for everyone who strives to get to this level a little later in life. She trains with Nicola Wilson, who is a superb guide for her through these big five-stars, with all her experience.

Some tightness and mistakes in the flying changes cost Katie and “Wilf” – they score 36.3 for 17th at this stage, which will be frustrating after they broke the 30-barrier here last year.

US rider Will Coleman is last before the break on Very Dignified, a former ride of Ireland’s Robbie Kearns who is in her second season with Will. This mare was a reserve for the World Championships; Will of course rode his Kentucky winner Diabolo there and led the US to bronze.

Five-star debutante Very Dignified – known as “Dora” – wears a nose net.

Will rides a really skilled test, but all the canterwork is a bit tight, with mistakes in the flying changes, so he finishes up on 33.2 for sixth.

Tiana Coudray admits she had “a bit of a disaster” getting up to the arena yesterday and D’Artagnan behaved like a “spaniel on speed”.

“I thought this is it, our weekend’s over. They literally make you walk past the cross-country jumps and then you hit the hill. And with that, he was three strides up the hill and into the warm-up at about 700 meters a minute. I was like, ‘Oh my god!’”

Tiana’s tactics to combat this? Good old-fashioned bribery.

“We actually put a fly mask on, which we felt might slightly block out the noise, and we led him each side and we were just force feeding him polos – like, ‘Look here, look here, look here’ and every time he started to look, polos. He was bright enough when he got up here, probably just from remembering yesterday, but the tactic worked.

“He was such a good boy in there. If anything, he was maybe a little bit too quiet, which meant he missed some changes, which on another day he wouldn’t have. But look, we will take it. He was obedient. He was listening.”

We hear from US rider Will Coleman, talking about coming to Burghley with five-star first-timer Very Dignified.

“I thought about submitting myself for a psychiatric evaluation upon arriving here, but we do feel that she’s a horse that has five-star qualities and that she’s ready to contest one. This season it was either Burghley or Pau and I think in some ways Burghley will suit her better.

“It’s a big ask and a big challenge, but we do feel like she at least is worthy of giving her a shot. It’s my job to look after her out there tomorrow and make sure that she leaves a better horse than she arrived, and maybe not to be so result-driven. But I want to go out there and give her the best ride I can and see how she copes. We’ll learn a lot about each other.

“She’s an aggressive fighter mentality. She’s an alpha female and she has a lot of spirit and a lot of blood in the way that she goes cross-country. I’m hoping that she brings that to the course tomorrow.”

Burghley was Will’s first five-star in 2003 when he was 20. He finished 26th on Fox In Flight.

“I really had no idea what to expect. I came here and I think fell in love with eventing because of this place. I just think it’s an amazing piece of property and it’s kind of the crown jewel of our sport. It represents all the things that makes eventing so special.

“It’s always a privilege to come and ride here. I probably haven’t gotten the chance to do it as much as I would have liked over the course of my career, but hopefully we can come back again with her, or maybe with a couple others. It’s one of my favorite events, and always will be.”

We’re back into two-horse riders for the final session and we kick off with Holly Richardson. Her second horse, Bally Louis, was 22nd here with a cross-country clear on his Burghley debut in 2023, although it hasn’t been such plain sailing for them since.

Yorkshire rider Holly has a first-class degree in biomedical science.

This pair provisionally score 41 for 38th.

Tom Jackson and United 36 come in next – he’s a very promising 10-year-old, who was fourth at Badminton in the spring. Tom himself has been second here at Burghley, on Capels Hollow Drift.

Tom presents this horse in a really modern frame with his nose slightly in front of the vertical and the connection feels consistent compared to other tests we’ve seen. A late first change is costly, but scores a 9 from Xavier Le Sauce for canter half-pass… and a bounce through the final change, too. He’s green in the changes, but very promising.

He scores 33.1 provisionally for sixth place at this stage with four still to go.

US rider Caroline Pamukcu is in next, on Kentucky runner-up HSH Blake, who has been re-routed here after tipping Caroline off across country at the World Championships in Aachen.

A former Pan Am Games champion, this black horse is flash on the flat and he’s still only 11.

Caroline is trending in the lead through the trot and walk, but the first change wasn’t correct and scored a four and two fives. She’s pulling back marks through the canter but the following changes aren’t flowing, which is a pity.

Caroline and Blake finish up on a provisional 32 for fourth, with three still to go.

Here’s what Tom Jackson had to say after his test…

“He’s been quite feral the whole week. But actually, he really stayed with me and focused on what I was asking,” said Tom, who said the horse certainly remembers his strong performance at Badminton and the razzmatazz of that event.

“He definitely turned up here on Tuesday and thought, right, I know what we’re doing. It's amazing how they know. They go to short formats and one-days all the time, and but once they’ve done a bit more and they’ve done a few of these, they really do know when they turn up.

“He just is into everything and notices if a leaf has fallen off a tree four miles away. So he’s been swinging his head around all over the place for the past two days. But I got on to ride this morning and he knuckled down so I thought, ‘Oh, good, we’ve got there.’”

Tom is a father of two and his second child Wilf is quite a small baby – he said his kids are being pretty good about letting him have good sleep, but his lorry is falling apart in places and was leaking last night, which isn’t ideal.

Ireland’s Susie Berry follows Caroline with her second ride, John The Bull, and scores 36.7 for 21st at this stage.

Tim Price and Falco are the penultimate pair to go. This 17-year-old horse has been everywhere and done it all – five-star winner at Pau, runner-up at Badminton, Paris Olympian, double world bronze medallist four years ago, recently at the World Championships in Aachen.

Tim spoke to me earlier this week about deciding to bring Falco here after Aachen and why this might be the horse’s final five-star.

They lead through the trot and canter, but there’s a lack of impulsion in the canter – the changes are a little short behind and then the last change was costly. Their provisional mark is 30.5, for third.

We hear from Caroline Pamukcu, who now sits fifth on HSH Blake.

“He’s so lovely to ride. Anything I wanted to do in the arena, he was giving it to me. If I wanted to go a little more forward here or a little more shoulders in here, he was like, ‘Okay, yes, mom, no problem.’ I love that sort of feeling. He’s so professional. It doesn’t matter where in the world you go, he gives me 200%. I’m lucky to ride him.”

Caroline talked about her fall at the World Championships.

“It’s heartbreaking for me. I hate to let my country down, especially my teammates. I had to put a lot of pressure on Boyd Martin and Will Coleman – my job at the end of the day as second out was to be a good, consistent round, give them feedback, and silly me to fall at minute five. But hopefully I’ll put that behind me, make my country proud and redeem myself in a way here.”

Harry Meade is the last rider in, on Cavalier Crystal, who’s been third here three times.

Things unravel in the canter when the mare throws in an unplanned change and Harry has to bring her to a stop to get it together again. Overall, the contact and connection are lacking and they provisionally score 38 for 27th.

So, our top 10 after dressage are:

1. Nadja Minder (SUI) on Toblertone 29.5
2. Gemma Stevens (GBR) on Chilli Knight 29.6
3. Tim Price (NZL) on Falco 30.5
4. Max Warburton (GBR) on Deerpairc Revely 31.2
5. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) on HSH Blake 32
6. Tim Price (NZL) on Global Quest 32.1
7. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) on Goliath Du Loir 32.7
8. Tom Jackson (GBR) on United 36
9. Will Coleman (USA) on Very Dignified 33.2
10. Sarah Bulllimore (GBR) on Corimiro 33.6

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A few thoughts from Tim Price, who now sits third on Falco.

“He’s such a cool horse. We got a redemption from a couple of few weeks ago at the World Championships where he was just on his ear, fresh, loving life a little bit too much. It was good fun. There were still a couple of mistakes, which cost you, and the judges are staying pretty dried up. I don’t think they had any gin and tonic at lunch, so it’s annoying.

“But he was really good. I’m happy with him. He loves his job, and he’s got a big smile on his face, and he thinks he’s the best. So it’s good fun to be with him.”

That’s the end of our live coverage for today – do check out our lunchtime dressage report, this lovely catch-up with 52-year-old first-timer Anthony Clark and an update from the five-year-old Burghley young event horse final this morning.

We will have end-of-day dressage reports later, plus an interview with a groom and a report on the four-year-old Burghley young event horse final, so do pop back for those.

Tomorrow, cross-country starts at 11.30am so we’ll be here shortly before that for a jam-packed day.

Saturday: cross-country

Hello and welcome to cross-country day at Defender Burghley.

I'm Pippa Roome, magazine and eventing editor here at Horse & Hound.

I'll be guiding you through today with our live blog, with help from my colleagues Oscar Williams, Martha Terry and Lucy Elder. We’re all here on site at Burghley doing our different jobs on the H&H coverage.

Let's kick off with some thoughts from our team on yesterday and what we’re looking forward to today.

Today & Tomorrow: Friday’s highlights and hopes for Saturday’s cross-country - YouTube

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Our first pair out on course, starting at 11.30am, are US pair Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Tolan King. These first riders have two horses, so Caroline’s better placed mount, HSH Blake, comes towards the end of the day – hopefully she can get useful information from this first round to take forward to her performance on Blake.

Caroline is a Burghley debutante. HSH Tolan King has five-star experience from Marlyand and Kentucky.

We’ve just heard Burghley first-timer Mary Edmundson has withdrawn Lionel II, as well as Tayla Mason having pulled out Centennial last night.

Caroline is halfway round, she’s jumped the Stable Gates at the bottom of Winners’ Avenue – she’s taken all the direct routes so far. At the Defender Dairy Mound (fence 9abcd) she did five strides and four – the five from the trailer to the log looked quite tight and we’ll probably see some go on four there.

Tim Price is starting on Global Quest, sixth after dressage.

Caroline Pamukcu took the long route at fence 16abc, the second part of Joules at the Maltings – HSH Tolan King was fighting and she landed without enough control over the arrowhead at 15b to go to the triple bar on the direct route.

She then also went to the long route in the Trout Hatchery after jumping into the second pond directly – but then jumped the string and retired.

Tim Price is through the Pedigree Ditches at fence 14abc with Global Quest and clear so far.

Holly Richardson is starting, a young British rider, on Ballyneety Silver Service, who was quick here last year.

Tim Price successfully takes the direct route through Joules at the Maltings (fences 15ab and 16abc), where Caroline was forced to the longer alternative at the second part, fence 16.

Tim also has no problems through the Trout Hatchery, a fence he spoke about earlier in the week.

He then takes the long route at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (fence 24abcdef) and it was a bit hairy, but makes it through clear.

Tim is a little behind time coming through the arena and he pushes on up to Lambert’s Sofa and the Defender Finale.

Tim Price and Global Quest, our first finishers, finish 12 seconds over the 11min 20sec optimum time – 36.9 is their overnight score.

Meanwhile Holly Richardson is clear through the direct route at the Trout Hatchery. There is a query about a flag penalty on her scoreboard at fence 7c, the Boodles Raindance angled table.

A run-out for Ireland’s Susie Berry at the Defender Dairy Mound (fence 9abcd) – Clever Trick didn’t lock onto the corner at the final element. Susie then retires.

Holly Richrdson is still going well and clear through Defender Valley at 22abcd.

Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service do a good job through the direct route at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (fence 24abcdef).

This will be a good check on how achievable the time is, as they are a fast pair.

Tom Jackson is setting off on Hawk Eye, 13th after dressage.

Holly Richardson makes the time, easing down – our first clear in the time. So, it’s do-able, but no one should be complacent because Ballyneety Silver Service is a fast horse.

Meanwhile Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye at Boodles Raindance – they get close to the first angled house and it’s a bit up and down, but they are through.

We can confirm that question mark over the flag penalty for Holly Richardson has been removed so Holly definitely stays on her dressage score.

Meanwhile Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye have come down Winners’ Avenue and are through the LeMieux Stable Gates at fence 12ab,

The one after Tom, Mary Edmundson, has withdrawn, so he has the course to himself for a while.

Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye are copybook at Joules at the Maltings (fence 15ab and 16abc) and super through the Trout Hatchery at 19abcdef too.

Hawk Eye kicks the flag on the corner at the direct route coming out of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Tom looking every inch the top professional rider during this round.

Young US rider Cassie Sanger, Ros Canter’s protegée, sets off on Redfield Fyre – this pair really impressed in this phase here last year. Cassie is the youngest rider at 21.

Cassie is further off the first angled table at Boodles Raindance than Tom, so it’s more comfortable and she then has to move Redfield Fyre up a little to the second table.

Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye finish with 12 time-penalties.

Some thoughts from our first finisher, Tim Price…

“I was so happy with him. We’ve done a couple of five-stars, but nothing compares to a track or a place like this.

“He had all those elements that I just discovered today – helping me when the going gets tough, growing another leg, jumping from a standstill, taking a big distance like it’s nothing. He's got the scope to burn, and speed across the ground.

“I think it was a great go for his first time at this competition. But we’ll improve.

“There were places I needed to be a little bit patient, and still come quite close to the time. Either the time is going to be got all day, or he is a fast horse – it's thrilling.

“He just launched the brush at the Leaf Pit, which was unexpected, and that put us right out into a spot I didn't anticipate being in. It made the next stride incredibly short – if I had my time again, I'd probably just squeeze up on four. It was just really hairy down to the next bit. Five seconds of messiness, but the other eleven minutes were super.

On if he enjoyed the experience: “The enjoyment is bringing the horse round in a good way, coming home, and then going back through it in your head. At the time, I don’t know what's going through my head – I don’t know if I’m enjoying it.

“I probably had to implement Plan B about four or five times. But the beauty of him is it wasn’t that bad, really – just a few things took a bit of riding.

“All the riders have been talking about this week is lines – Derek builds such a lovely line, so typically you can get in well and just ride it. But it wasn't like that at all. We had to ride from centre stance in lots of places – even if you got in well, even on the right line, it took a really assertive, correct, disciplined, strong ride.”

Cassie Sanger is clear through Joules at the Maltings.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone has started on Domasco, who sits 15th after dressage.

Cassie has a moment at the Trout Hatchery, Redfield Fyre drifts left a bit after the big hanging log and takes down the corner at the angled brush third element. We’ll see whether she ends up with a flag penalty for that.

Here’s what Holly Richardson had to say after her clear in the time…

“I just sat down with the plan and stuck to it – I had plan Bs if it started going wrong. But he just kept answering the question perfectly, and I kept sticking to my plan.

“You don’t really have time to think about it – you just start thinking about the next fence as soon as you land over the one before. Even when you’re nearly home, doing the second-to-last, you’re thinking about the last fence. You can’t enjoy it too much, because you’ve got to keep going all the way.”

Cassie Sanger had an issue at the corner at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, plus it looks like her flag penalty at the Trout Hatchery is confirmed, too. But she’s continuing – it’ll be good to see her hopefully finish and build confidence again after a fall at Badminton.

Clarke Johnstone is clear through the Trout Hatchery with Domasco.

That confidence building finish isn’t to be for Cassie Sanger. She’s been pulled up before Lambert’s Sofa, fence 27. A shame, but it’s a decision made for safety and welfare reasons.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy is already away and through the Defender Dairy Mound at fence 9abcd with Calmaro.

Gemma Stevens has started on Chilli Knight, lying second after dressage. They won the Bicton one-off five-star in 2021.

Read about Gemma’s dressage test

Clarke Johnstone and Domasco pull up in the arena at the MARS Equestrian Stables, fence 26abc, after not being able to make it to the third element.

Tom Jackson talks about his round on Hawk Eye.

“I’m really happy with Hawk Eye. It’s his third five-star and his first clear. He was unfortunate at Badminton to have a stop – delighted we could show everyone what he’s made of today.

“It rode as it walked – I think that’s what I take away for the next horse. Although they’re very different, it gives you reassurance that if you stick to your plan, hopefully you’ll be all right.

“You always want to do as well as you can – we’re all competitive; we all want to come here and be on the podium. It’s the same whether you’ve done it multiple times or not at all – that’s what you’re striving for.”

Joseph Murphy and Calmaro go well through the Trout Hatchery, Defender Valley and the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit.

Young Brit Tom Bird is away on Cowling Hot Gossip, 47th after dressage.

And Gemma Stevens goes clear through the Pedigree Ditches at 14abc.

Joseph Murphy finishes with 28.4 time-penalties on Calmaro.

Gemma is through Defender Valley, sits tight at the final element. She‘s really riding for this and making it happen.

She had a very dodgy moment at the half moon brush at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, he wasn’t really locked on but he took it on and the over the corner too. They are through the arena, the final combination.

Here’s Tim Price after his round on Global Quest

First home on Burghley cross-country day | Tim Price & Global Quest - YouTube

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Gemma Stevens finishes in the time, three seconds inside. She has a provisional flag penalty from that corner at 24f but I think that will probably be taken off.

Assuming she loses that flag penalty, Gemma will be either first or second overnight, depending on how our overnight leader Nadja Minder gets on. It’ll be a nail-biter tomorrow as Chilli Knight isn’t always a superb showjumper.

Tom Bird gets close to the final corner at the Trout Hatchery at fence 24 and is clear.

The flag penalty has gone from Gemma’s score. Phew.

Jack Pinkney, the first British first-timer we’re seeing today, is through the LeMieux Stable Gates on Claragh Olala – she kicks the flag at the first gate but that shouldn’t be a problem.

Tom Bird takes the long route out of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, which isn’t super time consuming.

Jack Pinkney had a tricky time at Joules at the Maltings, but makes it through the direct route.

Tom Bird and Cowling Hot Gossip finish clear, 38 seconds over the time – it’s all great experience in the bank for this rider, who was an under-25 world team gold medallist for Britain at Millstreet in July.

Joseph Murphy, after his round on the experienced grey Calmaro…

“I had myself convinced I wasn't going to go, but one of my owners, Richard [Ames], was adamant that he needed to run.

“I’m grateful to him now. I’m a fast rider by nature and competitive, and it’s a bit disappointing when you’re not able to be in the mix. But the draw was a positive, and what an exceptional horse he is.

“He had little bits and niggles through the last couple of years, and he just missed the cut for a few championships. Hopefully, today it’ll show everyone how brilliant he is.”

Up-and-coming British talent Max Warburton has started on Deerpairc Revelry, fourth after dressage.

They have a really good ride through Boodles Raindance at fence 7abc, perhaps the best we’ve seen there.

Meanwhile Alex Bragg is also on course with Jaeger Master and clear up to and through Joules at the Maltings.

Jack Pinkney completes his first Burghley cross-country round with Claragh Olala. They have 16.8 time-penalties but it’ll be an ooh la la feeling to get through that finish.

Alex Bragg and Jaeger Master fall at the Trout Hatchery – the horse clambers on the hanging log in with his front leg and falls in the water, but he and Alex are both quickly up on their feet, which is a relief to see.

Switzerland’s Nadja Minder is starting on Toblerone – they are the dressage leaders. They’ll have to go inside the time to stay ahead of Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight – can they do it?

Meanwhile Max Warburton is smooth through the Pedigree Ditches at fence 14abc.

A balanced ride through Joules at the Maltings (fences 15ab and 16abc) for Max Warburton. He adds a stride to the angled brush and is a bit stilted to the final corner.

Nadja Minder is clear through Boodles Raindance, the distances are a touch awkward in that combination.

Overnight leader Nadja flies through the Defender Dairy Mound on four and three strides, perhaps the first pair to do only three strides to the final corner.

Max Warburton goes long at Defender Valley, just rebuilding confidence after the Trout Hatchery and being sure after a run-out here last year.

Toblerone leaps high over the open corner at the Pedigree Ditches.

Max Warburton is good through the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit and finishes 37 seconds over the time with Deerpairc Revelry – that’ll let a good few pairs get ahead of them with faster rounds but we’ll see what happens.

And Benjamin Massie has started with Filao De Perle – another rider looking for redemption after the World Championships as he fell at fence nine there when acting as the French trailblazer on Figaro Fonroy.

Toblerone didn’t really see the corner in the Trout Hatchery but he was honest to jump it for Nadja Minder. A good ride through Defender Valley for them, though. She’s down on time, though.

Benjamin Massie is neat through the LeMieux Stable Gates at the bottom of Winners’ Avenue.

Nadja is through the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, it‘s a touch hairy and she adds a stride before the final corner and takes out the flag.

Nadja jumps through the final combination, the MARS Equestrian Stables in the arena.

But the time is punitive for Nadja – 33 seconds over and they finish on 51.7.

A really gutsy effort from the young Swiss rider and the super game 19-year-old Toblerone – but Gemma Stevens takes over as our overnight leader

Here’s what Gemma Stevens had to say after her round:

“Honestly, it felt like a rollercoaster. This way round is so up and down – it just feels like you’re constantly climbing or going downhill, round a corner to another humongous fence, round a corner to another humongous combination. It’s relentless.

“I kept being down on my minutes, and I was like, ‘I’m never going to get a time.’ Then I managed to claw it back, and then I was down on the next one, and I clawed it back again – I went round the whole course like that.

“We had a serious dodgy moment up the Leaf Pit. He just said, ‘It’s okay, I’ve got you – I’m just going to try my hardest.’ He then leapt as far and wide as he possibly could over that corner.

“I’m really sorry to all the people down there, because there was a lot of swearing – and then a lot of telling him how much I loved him on landing. But that’s what partnership’s about.

“He should never have jumped that fence. I don’t know how he did it – unbelievable.

“He’s only 16 hands, just a little guy, but he never stops trying. When he gets to a big one, he grows a pair of wings – this whole new little man comes out.”

Gosh what excitement.

Frenchman Benjamin Massie is coming home on Filao De Perle, he’s clear but over the time. He has 10.4 time-penalties.

We have a tiny pause now, built into the timetable to allow for catching up if there are any delays. We suggest running to the loo, grabbing a sandwich… even a glass of wine if you’re having that kind of day?

We re-start at 1.05pm with Simon Grieve.

I caught up with Simon Grieve’s groom Mags Hill last night – she’s 67 years old and has worked with horses for 50 years.

A few thoughts from Max Warburton after his round on Deerpairc Revelry…

“It was slower than we’d all hoped. I felt from about halfway, he started to make a little bit of a noise – his wind was maybe not as great as we all thought. So we’ll probably go now and have a little trip to have a look at that, see if we can get that a bit better for next year. He’s still only 12. He’s made a trip around a very, very big five-star, so overall we’re over the moon.

“It’s tough. You had to be patient and stay on those outside lines, and then commit. A little bit towards the end, he got quite long and strung out. I had to make sort of a different plan at the Defender Valley [where he took the long route out], which cost again a bit more time. But it was at that point a case of getting him home safely and getting getting the job done.”

Simon Grieve starts on Autograf. They are 46th after dressage and finished 18th here last year.

Simon looks determined. They have a miss at the step up at Boodles Raindance and manage to fit in three strides rather than two to the second angled table – a lucky moment but they are away.

Caroline Powell starts on High Time, who was eighth here last year. She starts in 12th place. Caroline is a former winner here, having landed the title in 2010 on Lenamore.

Simon has a slightly messy ride at Defender Dairy Mound but they are through, though there is a query over whether they will get a flag penalty there and also at the Fairfax & Favor at Keepers combination that follows.

Simon Grieve being active to make it happen at Trout Hatchery and they are well through.

Caroline Powell has a run-out at the corner at Defender Dairy Mound. The horse jumped out of her hand at the initial trailer which then led to the problem at the final element.

Simon is flung forward as Autograf pitches on landing over the arrowhead at Defender Valley (fence 22cd) but hangs on.

Caroline Powell has pulled up and retired after her run-out at the Defender Dairy Mound.

Great ride through the direct route at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit for Simon Grieve and he’s through the final combination in the arena.

Meanwhile fellow Brit Emma Thomas is starting on Icarus, a talented but sometimes headstrong horse. She takes the long route at Boodles Raindance at 7abc, the first person we’ve seen do that.

Back with Simon, he’s finished, 47 seconds over the time. We wait to find out whether his flag penalties stand or are removed.

Samuel Jeffree from Australia is next to start, on Santoro.

Emma Thomas is continuing her quest for a fourth consecutive Burghley completion with Icarus. She touches a flag at the open corner at the Pedigree Ditches – we haven’t got the best angle but I don’t think that’ll be penalised.

Thoughts from Nadja Minder, our dressage leader who has droppped down the order with some time-penalties…

“He’s such a five-star warrior now. It was hard work – I had to use a bit of kicking and elbows and everything to make it happen, but he helped me out so many times. I wish I’d given him a better ride, but it is what it is.

“He’s incredible how he’s not impressed by anything – he just pricks his ears, looks for the flags, front feet up, back feet up, and on we go.

“He started five-star eventing three years ago, so it’s not like he’s 19 and has seen everything a couple of times already. We try to keep him heavily motivated and do the minimum amount of training we feel he enjoys and is necessary for him.

“I originally thought last year was going to be his last time, and then he did that so well and was 100% after, so we thought, let’s prep him for another go. We’ll see – but we probably won't see him out many more times.

On what put her over the time, she added: “He’s very adjustable, but he’s not the quickest off the fence – and he’s the kind of horse who, when he feels like he’s getting to his limit, he saves himself. You can be kicking, but he’s not going to go crazy fast until he can’t anymore. He’s always saving something. That’s why he makes it home most of the time.”

Aussie pair Samuel Jeffree are the first pair to be penalised at Fairfax & Favor at Keepers, with a run-out at the second part.

Simon Grieve’s flag penalty queries have been removed so he’s got a jumping clear.

Emma Thomas also has some flag penalty questions on her ticker, but she is through Defender Valley and not far from home.

Harry Meade has started on Et Hop Du Matz, 34th after dressage.

Australia’s Samuel Jeffree is showing as eliminated for missing a jump during his problems at fence 10abcd, but he is currently still continuing round the course.

Emma Thomas finishes, 36 seconds over the time. We’ll see what happens with her flag penalties – she’d love to get another clear here, something she hasn’t achieved since her 2023 debut here, when she was 18th.

Harry Meade ends up on a bad spot at the log at Defender Dairy Mound with Et Hop Du Matz and stops, puts a hand up and looks like he‘s retiring, then carries on and goes to the long route.

Yasmin Ingham is away with Goliath Du Loir, seventh after dressage. This is Yas’s first Burghley, although she’s been world champion, and it’s this horse’s five-star debut.

Harry Meade is through Joules at the Maltings.

Yasmin goes well through Defender Dairy Mound on four and four strides.

Harry has a run-out at the corner on the direct route of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit and has retired, although he does go and jump the long route corner. Not what we’re used to seeing from Harry.

Meanwhile Jesse Campbell has started and is already through Boodles Raindance with Cooley Lafitte.

Yasmin rides very well through the Trout Hatchery, giving this young horse a confident, encouraging guide.

Jesse Campbell is clear through the Defender Dairy Mound on four and four strides, which is the preferred striding now. A flag comes down so we’ll see if that will be penalised.

Yasmin goes nicely through the direct route at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit and the last combination in the arena. She’s not super fast but both horse and rider are having a very useful first Burghley experience. Yas seeks a first British five-star finish – she’s jumped round Badminton, last year, but wasn’t able to present Rehy DJ the next day.

Sam Watson has started for Ireland with Ballyneety Rocketman, who was 13th here last year.

Yasmin Ingham finishes, 35 seconds over the time, with Goliath Du Loir.

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell goes well through the Trout Hatchery.

Sam Watson’s Ballyneety Rocketman had to stretch over the trailer at the Defender Dairy Mound and nearly came down on landing, then possibly had a flag penalty at the final corner element.

Jesse has flag penalties all over the place on his provisional score card and he takes the longer route out of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit.

Jonelle Price has started, for New Zealand, and is through Boodles Raindance well on Chilli’s Midnight Star, who sits 20th after dressage.

Another Kiwi, Jesse Campbell, has finished, with 33 seconds-worth of time-penalties. We’ll see what happens about his potential four flag penalties – I imagine at least some will be removed.

And good news for Emma Thomas, whose flag penalties have all been removed.

Sam Watson has a hairy time at the Trout Hatchery and ends up running out at the final corner in the water.

Michael Owen has started, on Monbeg Darwin. They are 29th after dressage.

Sam Watson has retired after his problem at the Trout Hatchery.

Jonelle Price is carrying a couple of potential flag penalties.

You’ll notice there are a lot of these flag penalties going on – basically if there is any doubt, the query is raised and then in most cases it’s confirmed there’s no penalty. But it’s better that way than people being marked clear then suddenly finding they have penalties.

Jonelle Price takes the right-handed alternative at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, too – that long route isn’t super long so it’s proving quite popular.

Britain’s Matt Heath is starting on Benedit Radau.

Michael Owen is through the Joules at the Maltings combination.

And Jonelle Price finishes, she has 10.8 time-penalties and some time-penalty decisions pending.

Jesse Campbell has had all his flag penalties removed.

Monbeg Darwin has a little trot in the Trout Hatchery but he is clear through there under Michael Owen.

Matt Heath is clear through the Defender Dairy Mound.

Michael Owen heads to the long route out of Defender Valley after a bit of a fumble over the ditch at 22b and then the alternative out of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, taking a flag at the final half moon brush.

Sarah Bullimore starts on home-bred Corimiro, 10th after dressage. It’s the horse’s Burghley debut.

Matt Heath has a run-out at the open corner at the Pedigree Ditches (fence 14abc). He then steers to the long route.

Yasmin Ingham on her debut Burghley round with the 10-year-old Goliath Du Loir…

“It was incredible, honestly – coming here to my first Burghley, the horse’s first five-star, at 10 years old, is incredibly daunting. But I don’t know why I was worried, because he’s just such a star – so honest, such a genuine personality, and we have a great partnership.

“We’ve had him since he was five, so coming here, it’s like all of those years producing him, and to get to this point is just such a special feeling.”

On her first Burghley experience, she added: “It was so big and so intense throughout – literally until you get to the end, you’re still working so hard.

“At the beginning, his eyes were on stalks – he was looking so much at the crowd. Then, by about minute three, he put his head down and got stuck in.

“I actually spoke to Gemma Stevens before I went out, and she said, ‘Just be patient on your lines, trust your lines, trust your partnership, but just get it done.’ She was so positive, which was so helpful – I really needed that.

“He's really proved that he’s got that five-star shine to him, so I’d love to aim him for Badminton in the spring, and beyond from there.”

Sarah and “Milo” go very smoothly through Boodles Raindance, then have a potential flag penalty at the corner out of Defender Dairy Mound. Nicely through Joules at the Maltings.

Matt Heath is clear through Defender Valley, but they then have a run-out at the corner at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, their second problem at a left-handed corner.

France’s Arthur Marx starts on Church I’Ile, who is 23rd after dressage.

Catch up on the main morning action here, if you’re just joining us.

Sarah Bullimore going well through the final combination and her flag penalty has been removed.

But she falls at the last! She was flying trying to get as close to the time as possible, looking like she’d be a few seconds over. Overshot the turn to the last, got to it, he jumped and twisted and Sarah comes off.

What a drama.

Let’s get back on track. Tom Strawson has started on Public Address and is already down Winners’ Avenue.

Arthur Marx is through the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, taking the direct route.

Tara Dixon, young British rider and daughter of the great Karen Dixon, pops through Boodles Raindance on springs with Master Smart.

Arthur Marx has finished on Church I’Ile. They have some possible flag penalties, but are clear otherwise.

Tom Strawson is through Defender Valley with Public Address. They are having a cracking round, as they did last year when they finished 21st. Great to see them back after the horse tied up at Badminton in the spring.

They take the longer route at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit.

Kate Rocher-Smith, British first-timer, has started on Dassett Select.

Tara has to sit tight after being a long way off the corner at the Pedigree Ditches at fence 14abc.

Tom Strawson finishes on Public Address, with 21.6 time-penalties and a clear jumping round. Great work by this British amateur rider, who works full time in property and only has this one event horse (he also does lots of hunting, hunt rides, he’s a former point-to-point champion…)

Tara’s now in some sort of muddle at the Trout Hatchery. Not sure what happened but there was some ending up under trees and not seeming to know where to go.

Kate Rocher-Smith misses the corner off the Defender Dairy Mound, but it looks like a deliberate decision so she won’t be penalised.

Kate Rocher-Smith rides really well through Joules at the Maltings.

Here’s what Sarah Bullimore had to say about her fall…

“He just got a bit strong coming for home. He is strong anyway – a couple of places out on the course he got a bit strong, and then I got him back, and it was just running for home.

“We had a lovely shot to the second-last, and then coming around the corner, you couldn’t really see the last fence. I said Whoa, and he knew he was coming to the finish, and just went a little bit numb and said, ‘I’m keeping going.’

“He wouldn’t really turn – I tried to come a little bit wider to give us more room to shorten him, but he wasn’t really having it.

“Up until then, he was amazing – there were some really short distances, and he’s a massive striding horse, so I did think, I hope I’m going to have the control. But he was absolutely fabulous. I think we put the right number of strides in everywhere I’d planned.”

Kate Rocher-Smith has had a fall, I only glimpsed it but it looked like perhaps a stumbly moment in the Trout Hatchery.

Tara Dixon is eliminated – she missed a fence during her muddle at the Trout Hatchery.

A slight pause. No one on course – Tara Dixon has been pulled up after missing that fence, Kate Rocher-Smith has fallen.

Lucy Latta is next to start, at 2.40pm, for Ireland.

We see Kate Rocher-Smith standing up and leading her horse Dassett Select around.

This is what our next starter, Ireland’s Lucy Latta, who is only 5ft 2in tall, told me about RCA Patron Saint when I interviewed her after her runner-up placing at Badminton in 2024.

“I can’t ride horses in a strength battle – I have to train them to be responsive and listen to aids that aren’t as strong as other riders’ signals. Across country, Paddy is attentive, in front of your leg and gallops – he’s in no way lazy – but he’s not strong, which is a blessing as if he wanted to take the reins, he could.

“He’s incredibly brave, but also very measured, which is unusual. A lot of really brave horses can be wild or overjump fences, which gets you into trouble in technical lines, but he doesn’t do that. He reads the questions across country well, which makes my job a lot easier.

“He gets confidence from doing things well and loves getting a pat and being told he’s doing a good job. He’s very relaxed. Esib [Power, Lucy’s cousin and trainer] said he's the only horse she’s ever seen walk to the cross-country start box at Badminton on a loose rein and I was like, ‘Oh, that's not normal?’ The atmosphere actually helps switch him on.”

Our overnight leader Gemma Stevens…

Gemma Stevens leads Burghley cross-country - YouTube

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Lucy Latta has started on RCA Patron Saint, for Ireland. She was 17th after dressage and could make big gains if she can come home inside or close to the time.

RCA Patron Saint kind of skids over the trailer at the Defender Dairy Mount and Lucy does well to get it back together to get through the rest of that complex.

Austin O’Connor, Irish five-star rider, is next to start on Sixmilewater.

I spoke to Austin’s groom Jess Elliott earlier in the week.

We hear from Tom Strawson, who jumped round clear on Public Address…

“He’s just so genuine and tries his heart out – gives me 120% every single time. He’s a fantastic animal. He’s not a typical racehorse – he failed as a racehorse, and I’ve got other thoroughbreds at home with far bigger engines. What makes him so good is that he’s the most honest horse you'll ever come across.

On how the course rode: “I loved it – I was probably blowing as much as him at the end, and I thought I was fairly fit, so I had to work fairly hard. But if you don’t get a thrill out of that, then I think you need to give up horses.

“I’m a bit agricultural, but hopefully effective – I don’t care what it looks like as long as I have a zero on the scoreboard at the end. As a French rider once said to me, if you’re relaxed and not flapping about, you’re probably not trying hard enough – and that’s probably quite true.

“I went out a little bit steady, really, and I realised about three or four minutes in I was about 30 seconds behind and thought, I need to make up time here. I probably could have gone a bit quicker, but he was tired at the end, so I had to really give him the ride home.”

RCA Patron Saint gets completely hung upon the hanging log at the Trout Hatchery but somehow the horse lands on his feet rather than falling. Lucy Latta then swiftly re-routes through the long route. They don’t have the smoothest time at Defender Valley either.

We then see Lucy walking around in the area of the following triple brush and looking down, maybe RCA Patron Saint is a little sore and she’s just checking him. The scoreboard suggests she was eliminated at the Trout Hatchery, so perhaps she was pulled up… we’ll see what’s happened there.

Austin O’Connor is through the Defender Dairy Mound on Sixmilewater.

British first-timer Anthony Clark – an older debutant at 52 – is next to start, on Ballinaguilkey Fortunus is our next starter.

Anthony Clark takes the long route at Boodles Raindance, fence 7abc.

Austin O’Connor goes well through the Trout Hatchery.

We are hearing that Lucy Latta managed to double down and jump element c of the Trout Hatchery twice, so she’s eliminated and that’s why she was pulled up. That’s gutting for the young Irish rider – she’s never quite managed to consolidate that second at Badminton 2024.

The USA’s Jennie Brannigan is about to start on FE Lifestyle, seeking a third Burghley completion. She was 17th after dressage and it’s all to play for for anyone who can get near the time at this stage. We only have two inside the time so far.

Austin O’Connor takes the long route out of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit.

Anthony Clark drifts a bit left at the corner at the Pedigree Ditches and has a run-out. Come on Anthony, we’re rooting for you…

Austin O’Connor is through the final combination in the arena and home with Sixmilewater. They rack up 23.2 time-faults.

US rider Jennie Brannigan clear through the Defender Dairy Mound at fence 9abcd with the chestnut “Foxy”.

Anthony Clark at the Trout Hatchery and he takes the long route here, just wanting to get the completion on his five-star debut.

US-based Aussie Ema Klugman is starting on the grey Chiraz. She’s also a first-timer and probably here to get round rather than be super competitive.

Anthony Clark goes to the long route out of the Defender Valley but the horse just dries up in front of the log trailer up the hill and he puts his hand up. That’s such a shame.

Jennie Brannigan then goes well through the direct route there on FE Lifestyle.

Jennie Brannigan takes the direct route out through the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit and is through the main arena combination, having to work a bit now as FE Lifestyle starts to tire slightly. She’s home, with 11.2 time-faults.

Swiss debutant Robin Godel starts on Dealer De La Bride. He’s 36th after dressage, but again, there are big gains to be made here for fast rounds. Nicely through Boodles Raindance.

Ema Klugman takes the longer route out of the Trout Hatchery with Chiraz.

US rider Tiana Coudray starts on D’Artagnan, who sits 11th after dressage – Tiana was brilliant explaining how she’d had to bribe this grey to behave after an exciting ride up to the main arena area earlier in the week.

Robin Godel and Dealer De La Bride end up straddling the corner in the final pond at the Trout Hatchery, but somehow get off it with the horse the right way up.

Tiana Coudray has a run-out at the corner off the Defender Dairy Mound. There’s a good bit of shade in that area now, which may be playing a part and his boldness over the log perhaps caught him out.

Ema Klugman has finished – she’s very slow, more than two and a half minutes over the time – but possibly clear, there‘s a questionable flag penalty.

Tiana Coudray ends up in the middle of the oxer at the LeMieux Stable Gates with D’Artagnan so I think that’s the end of her round. The fence will be quickly deconstructed to free the horse.

Katie Magee is just starting – she was 19th after dressage on Treworra. My colleague Oscar talked to her groom Ruth Asquith earlier in the week. It’s a really emotional piece as Ruth was groom to Nicola Wilson (Katie’s trainer) at the time of her life-changing fall.

Katie Magee and Treworra are neat through the Defender Dairy Mound.

Robin Godel has finished, with 20.4 time-faults and a missed flag at the Pedigree Ditches at fence 14.

US pair Will Coleman and Very Dignified are starting. They were ninth after dressage so are well in the mix.

Katie Magee adds a stride to the triple bar at Joules at the Maltings and Treworra helped her out to the corner. And it’s on to the direct route through the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit.

Holly Richardson and Bally Louis are starting. This is Holly’s second horse after a clear in the time on Ballyneety Silver Service.

Katie Magee finishes, just six seconds over the time for her first Burghley jumping clear – she’s thrilled with that.

Austin O'Connor on whether he thinks new five-star ride Sixemilewater could replace Colorado Blue as a team prospect: “I think I'm probably more encouraged with him today. But I don’t think I’ll ever find a replacement for Colorado Blue – that’s like saying Ros finding a replacement for Lordships Graffalo. You're not finding a replacement for a horse like that – it doesn’t happen. But I think he could end up being a very good competitive horse.”

Will Coleman takes the longer route away from the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, he’s having a really great round with the inexperienced Very Dignified.

Britain’s Tom Jackson has started on United 36, who was eighth after dressage so is another who can end the day near the top if he has a fast clear.

Will finishes with 14 time-faults, a pleasing result for a young horse.

Tom Jackson takes the flag at the Defender Dairy Mound with United 36, but looks like that should be judged clear.

Holly Richardson and Bally Louis have had a 20 penalties at the Pedigree Ditches at 14abc.

Jennie suffered a fall at Morven Park the weekend before Maryland last year, after her ride Kismet flipped over in the start box. She still rode at Maryland with a “shattered ankle” and a bad knee, but almost a year on, she said she’s still feeling the effects.

“I didn’t break my tibia and fibula like a normal person – I broke some bone that’s crazy hard to break and heals horribly. They told me I might have a limp for the rest of my life.

“I haven't been able to trot my horse up since – Philip Dutton trotted him up for me at the other two five-stars. So here I thought, why don’t I let my groom Isabel Turner trot him up? She’s the one who’s done all the hard work. I think it’s probably the first time a groom’s run a horse up at a five-star, and if anyone deserves it, it’s her.

“It was a horrible winter, to be honest – I was extremely depressed. It was nine weeks non-weight-bearing; I couldn’t use a scooter or anything because my knee was blown out, with fractures in my knee as well. It was just really hard. I’ve broken a lot of bones, but this was the first injury I haven’t been able to come back from faster than I would have liked.

“It’s been a tough, tough thing to be injured and in pain all the time, walking the course. This is the first time [walking the course again] – at Maryland I golf-carted around, at Kentucky I walked it once and biked the rest. I’ve walked this one myself four times, and I’m very lame now. I’m hoping to get the hardware out, because I’ve got screws in my joints – it’d be nice to be able to run one day again.”

US rider Caroline Pamukcu is out on course with HSH Blake. They were fifth after dressage so are gunning for a podium place after cross-country.

Aargh – Tom Jackson and United 36 fall over the corner in the Trout Hatchery but they are quickly up on their feet.

Holly Richardson has finished on Bally Louis, she has at least a 20 and perhaps some flag penalties as well as some time-faults but she’s seen the finish flags twice today so well done her.

Caroline Pamukcu is through the Defender Dairy Mound with HSH Blake.

Tom Jackson is leading United 36 away from the Trout Hatchery.

Ireland’s Susie Berry and John The Bull have started. They were 22nd after dressage.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, 2024 Olympians and Kentucky runners-up, go neatly through Joules at the Maltings.

Susie Berry adds an extra stride between the two houses at Boodles Raindance.

Caroline Pamukcu has a bit of a hesitant ride through the Trout Hatchery but finishes positively over the corner with HSH Blake and goes well through Defender Valley.

Tim Price has started on Falco, the Badminton runner-up who was third after dressage. A fast round would put them second overnight.

Falco is extremely clever at Boodles Raindance, pats the ground up the step and flies over the houses.

Caroline has eight time-faults and she will be up there going into showjumping.

Katie Magee shares her thoughts after her great round…

“The support was brilliant – I could even hear people shouting our names. We didn’t put the ears on Wilf (Treworra) because he loves crowds.

“I didn’t get the shot I wanted at the top end of the course, going to the first triple brush, but him being him, he’s got so much scope – he stayed on the line and turned himself inside out for me.

“He’s 17.2hh, but incredibly polite – he gallops, but he comes back to me. He’s so brave and bold. I think he's a true five-star horse.

“He just floats round, covering the ground, and I’m never really fighting him, which is very rare in a horse as brave as him. It’s a lovely feeling, and I suspect I’ll really miss it when I don’t have him anymore.”

Harry Meade is our final starter, on Cavalier Crystal, who has been third here three times. He has a good ride through the difficult distances – a short one stride and then a long two – through Boodles Raindance.

Susie Berry has retired at Joules at the Maltings.

Tim Price is smooth through the Pedigree Ditches and then has to ride through Joules at the Maltings. He’s bidding to have two horses in the top six overnight.

Falco refuses at the hanging log drop at the Trout Hatchery – he really does just stop dead. That’s a huge surprise. Tim retires there.

Our top three overnight are definitely Gemma Stevens (Chilli Knight), Tiim Price (Global Quest) and Holly Richardson (Ballyneety Silver Service).

Harry Meade is on course and could go fourth if this goes well.

Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal are through the Trout Hatchery on the direct route and he goes right on the alternative route out of the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit. Harry is leaning forward, cutting his corners on this mare.

Harry Meade, our final rider of the day, finishes with Cavalier Crystal. He’s 12 seconds over the time for 4.8 time-penalties and he slots into seventh.

Top 10 after cross-country

1. Gemma Stevens (GBR) on Chilli Knight 29.6
2. Tim Price (NZL) on Global Quest 36.9
3. Holly Richardson (GBR) on Ballyneety Silver Service 38.3
4. Katie Magee (GBR) on Treworra 38.6
5. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) on HSH Blake 40
6. Nadja Minder (SUI) on Toblerone 42.7
7. Harry Meade (GBR) on Cavalier Crystal 44.4
8. Max Warburton (GBR) on Deerpairc Revelry 46
9. Tom Jackson (GBR) on Hawk Eye 46.1
10. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) on Goliath Du Loir 46.7

Full results

What an exciting, eventful cross-country day at Defender Burghley. Thank you for joining us.

We’ll have a raft of stories rounding up the day on the H&H website this evening and then we’ll be back here on the live blog in the morning for the trot-up, which is at 9am.

Sunday: trot-up

Good morning! Welcome to the final day of Defender Burghley.

I’m Pippa Roome and I’ll be guiding you through this morning’s trot-up and then the final showjumping action, with a little help from my colleagues.

Here’s our current leader Gemma Stevens talking about her cross-country round…

Gemma Stevens leads Burghley cross-country - YouTube

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We’re not aware of any withdrawals yet, so we’re expecting 28 horses to come forward to trot-up.

Hear from the overnight leaders

What happened to the leading contenders who didn’t finish?

Tim Price is first forward with Global Quest and they sail through – they sit second overnight.

Holly Richardson was the only rider to complete on two horses yesterday. She presents Ballyneety Silver Service, clear in the time yesterday for third at this stage, and then Bally Louis, 27th after one run-out, who both pass.

Tom Jackson now presents Hawk Eye, who holds ninth after 12 time-faults on the cross-country. He too passes.

After some rain, it’s now sunny here at Burghley.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy brings forward the grey Calmaro, 28.4 time-faults yesterdy for 24th, and he passes.

Our overnight leader is next up – Gemma Stevens with Chilli Knight. She seeks her first Burghley title with the horse with whom she won the one-off Bicton five-star in 2021.

He passes.

Tom Bird and Cowling Hot Gossip come forward next, sitting 19th with 15.2 time-faults. The 14-year-old gelding passes.

Jack Pinkney, one of two British debutants who completed, presents Claragh Olala. She passes and they progress in 17th place, having hd 16.8 time-faults yesterday.

Max Warburton, eighth overnight having had 14.8 time-faults, presents the grey Deerpairc Revelry. He passes and startles a touch as the spectators applaud.

Nadja Minder of Switzerland presents the 19-year-old Toblerone – she rode such a gutsy round yesterday and sits sixth after 13.2 time-penalties Toblerone is waved through.

No problems for France’s Benjamin Massie with Filao De Perle, 14th.

Simon Grieve brings forward Autograf, 22nd currently following 18.8 time-penalties on the cross-country. Autograf passes.

Emma Thomas sits 18th with Icarus, the same placing as they achieved here in 2023. They had 14.4 time-faults yesterday. He’s through the trot-up.

British debutante Yasmin Ingham, 2022 world champion, trots up Goliath Du Loir, who holds 10th overnight. She seeks a first British five-star completion. Goliath passes.

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell comes forward with Cooley Lafitte, who is 15th having added 13.2 time-faults yesterday. Cooley Lafitte passes.

Jonelle Price up next, with Chilli’s Midnight Star, who holds 11th with 10.8 time-faults to add to his dressage score. No problems there for the New Zealander.

Michael Owen for Britain comes forward with Monbeg Darwin. They carry a flag penalty from fence 10c and 30 time-faults for 25th overnight. Michael is asked to trot a second time but then passes.

Matt Heath is up next, another British rider, sitting 28th having had two run-outs yesterday and 58 time-penalties. Benedict Radau passes.

France’s Arthur Marx brings forward Church I’Ile, who holds 16th with 14.8 time-penalties to add yesterday. The Grafenstolz son passes.

British amateur rider Tom Strawson and the thoroughbred Public Address come forward next – they sit 21st with 21.6 time-penalties to add. He passes and is on the way to a second Burghley completion.

Ireland’s Austin O’Connor trots up Sixmilewater, who had 23.2 time-faults and claimed 20th overnight. Sixmilewater passes.

Britain’s 2004 Olympic champion Leslie Law, US high performance manager, presents Jennie Brannigan’s FE Lifestyle as Jennie has a bad ankle after an injury last year when a horse fell in the start box with her. FE Lifestyle is 12th overnight with 11.2 time-faults.

FE Lifestyle is sent to the holding box.

US-based Aussie Ema Klugman presents Chiraz, who had a very slow clear yesterday. He passes.

Swiss first-timer Robin Godel leads up Dealer De La Bride, 23rd overnight after a flag penalty and 20.4 time-faults. Dealer De La Pride progresses with no problems.

Katie Magee presents Treworra. Their 2.4 time-faults slotted them into fourth overnight. Treworra passes.

US rider Will Coleman smiles at the ground jury as Very Dignified befits her name by standing still with ears pricked. This pair are in 13th and had 14 time-faults yesterday. Very Dignified passes.

Another US pair – Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, who are fifth overnight with eight time-faults to add yesterday. Blake passes, looking to add another strong five-star result to second at Kentucky in the spring.

And our final horse, Cavalier Crystal, presented by Harry Meade. They had six time-faults yesterday and sit seventh overnight. She passes.

So 28 horses presented, 27 pass, one – FE Lifestyle – in the holding box. We await the return of FE Lifestyle, Jennie Brannigan’s ride.

Leslie Law, US high performance manager, brings back FE Lifestyle, Jennie Brannigan’s ride. There’s some chat among the officials… ah, it’s a no. FE Lifestyle has been eliminated. Ground jury president Xavier Le Sauce passes on the sad news to Jennie.

So, 27 horses forward to showjump. The first seven go this morning – we believe that session is at 10.30am but we’ll update if we hear any change to that. The top 20 jump at 2.30pm.

Paige Watson, groom to Max Warburton’s Deerpairc Revelry, wins the Spillers horse care prize and a cheque for £1000.

Erin Jarboe is the runner-up – she’s the groom of Will Coleman’s Very Dignified.

Russell Deering wins the Worshipful Company of Farriers best shod prize for his work on Very Dignified.

See you at 10.30am for the first showjumping session – we’ll update this post if that time changes.

We’ll leave you with a quick round of yesterday from the H&H team.

H&H team’s quick-fire review of Burghley cross-country day - YouTube

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Sunday: showjumping

The first session of showjumping will be starting in just a few minutes, at 10.30am.

Simon Grieve will be the last person to jump in this session, with Autograf. Here’s what Simon had to say after his clear cross-country round…

Simon Grieve | Burghley Horse Trials cross-country 2026 - YouTube

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Britain’s Matt Heath comes forward first in the showjumping, on Benedict Radau. They sit 27th on a score of 138.7.

They have down the second, third and front rail off the oxer at 4a, and then the horse refuses at the music notes treble at 8a and Matt goes over his head. What a shame – elimination for Matt Heath and Benedict Radau.

Holly Richardson comes forward next on Bally Louis. She also has Ballyneety Silver Service, sitting third, to jump later.

This horse is in 26th on 106.7.

A clear round for Holly and Bally Louis, with just 1.2 time-faults. What a nice way for her to finish – she will finish 26th or better on Bally Louis. And a nice confidence booster for her ahead of this afternoon.

US-based Aussie Ema Klugman is next in, on Chiraz. She has a score of 100.1 after a slow clear across country yesterday and sits 25th.

They have the green hedge fence at one and the wall at two down. But things settle down after that and they clear the rest, finishing on 109.3 – 1.2 time-faults too – and drop behind Holly Richardson and Bally Louis.

Michael Owen and Monbeg Darwin start on a score of 77.3 in 24th.

The British rider has plenty of five-star experience and it shows as he pilots the bay 11-year-old round for the first clear and it’s in the time too. They will finish 24th or better.

Three more to go in this session, starting with Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Calmaro. Their round begins with a score of 69.8 and 23rd place.

Joseph took out a stride in the normally six-stride distance to the oxer at fence seven and pays the price with the first fence down in the treble at 8a.

One down and 0.8 of a time-fault. They hold their place and will finish 23rd or better.

Swiss first-timer Robin Godel in the arena with Dealer De La Bride, on a score of 69.1 in 22nd place.

One fence down in the treble at eight for Robin, the final part. A few seconds over the time too, and they drop behind Joseph Murphy and Calmaro so Robin finishes 23rd or better and Joseph 22nd or better.

The last to go in this session is Simon Grieve riding Autograf. He starts on 62.9 in 21st.

The British rider and the bay take out the first part of the music notes treble at eight. A few seconds over the time too, finishing on a score of 68.5, and they hold their place so will finish 28th or better.

That’s the end of our mini morning session. We’ll be back just ahead of the afternoon session at 2.35pm.

We’re about to re-start the showjumping, after a special ceremony for the retirement of the great double Burghley winner and Olympic gold medallist Ballaghmor Class.

Now we’ve all had a little cry over “Thomas”, it’s time to get back on track with the showjumping.

We have this analysis of Paul Connor’s course from Simon Grieve, who jumped this morning…

“I actually think it’s a nice track – kinder than last year. I don’t think it’s quite as square as last year’s. But the problem with that arena is that is the terrain is a bit more up and downy than you think.

“The treble [fence 8abc] being two uprights on the way in is quite a challenge in itself and then the oxer out is wide enough.

“But he’s been quite kind in that the related distances are over quite a few strides so you have options.”

Simon Grieve enjoyed his moment in the main arena after his round this morning and he will finish 21st or better – here’s what he told H&H’s Lucy Elder after that performance…

Simon Grieve | “The aim is to have a fun time” | Burghley 2026 - YouTube

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Tom Strawson is first in, on Public Address. He sits 20th, on 61.7, having been 21st here last year.

Tom is an amateur rider who works in property. This horse is known at home as Brian.

More about Tom Strawson

They have the first fence down and the first part of the double at four. Then he takes the front rail off 8c and also hits the upright at nine. The front rail of the oxer at 12, the last, also comes down and there are some time-penalties, so he completes on 83.7.

Tom slips four places and Simon Grieve is now 20th or better.

Ireland’s Austin O’Connor is next in on Sixmilewater – I chatted to his groom earlier this week.

This pair start on 61.2 in 19th.

The flag upright at six comes down and also the upright at fence nine, which is off a four-stride distance from the triple. He’s fighting Austin a little. Time-faults too.

70.4 is Austin’s final score and he too drops behind Simon Grieve.

Tom Bird is next in on Cowling Hot Gossip, on a score of 61 in 18th. Tom was an under-25 World Championships team gold medallist with Lenny – oddly enough, a mare.

Tom has fence two down and 4b. The first and last part of the treble also come down, so this is an expensive round. Fence 11 drops too. Five seconds over the time too.

79 penalties and they slip five places. Simon Grieve is now 18th (or better) – 18th equals his place from 2025.

Emma Thomas and Icarus start on a score of 54.9 in 17th.

Icarus is quite a tricky ride and 8c comes down. A good round, though, for just four faults and a finish on 58.9.

They don’t lose a place and finish 17th or better – Emma’s best five-star finish, having been 18th here on her debut with Icarus in 2023. And their fourth consecutive finish here.

British first-timer Jack Pinkney is in, on 54.8 in 16th, with Claragh Olala.

They clatter fence two and bring down both parts of the double at four.

Meet Jack Pinkney

A few seconds over the time, too, and they finish on 68.8 and slide down two places. Emma Thomas and Simon Grieve move up; Emma will finish 16th or better and Simon 17th or better.

A few thoughts from Austin O’Connor…

“Realistically, overall, I’m delighted with the horse. I’m delighted with his progress. He’s got loads of jump – I think he just needs to get in this atmosphere a couple more times.

“To have a couple down is always a bit disappointing, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of ability. I think it’s been a great experience for him.

“It’s quite electric – it’s obviously a full house, you‘d hear a pin drop, and when the pin does drop, you hear it. It’s a proper jumping track, isn’t it?"

France’s Arthur Marx takes to the arena with Church I’Ile, on a score of 52.6..

Fences three, 4a and 8a come down, plus he’s over the time. Surprisingly, that only costs him one place. Arthur is guaranteed 16th or better; Emma Thomas 15th or better.

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell is next in, sitting 14th on 51.5, with Cooley Lafitte.

Good riding from Jesse, just 0.4 of a time-penalty to add. Our first jumping clear of the afternoon.

They keep 14th or better. Jesse’s best Burghley placing.

On what was going through Emma's mind before going into the showjumping: “Please go in! He gets so excited before he goes in that he starts slightly misbehaving. But we did get in, and then he was fantastic.”

“He’ll have a break, and then we’ll work towards the five stars next year. He’ll probably do some dressage boot camp, but really, he’ll just go home and get lots of treats, to be honest.”

Benjamin Massie and Filao De Perle start on a score of 47.3, sitting 13th for France.

He looks a bit hesitant into the treble but clears it. Of course Matt Heath had a refusal and fall there this morning.

A clear in the time for Benjamin Massie and he stays on 47.3, guaranteeing himself 13th.

Will Coleman is next in, for the US, with Very Dignified. His score is 47.2 in 12th. Will was presented with the Avebury Trophy, for the best cross-country round, before this final showjumping.

Will rides very skilfully and brings the mare home for a clear, staying on 47.2. He guarantees himself 12th or better.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price comes forward on Chilli’s Midnight Star, sitting in 11th on 47.

Polished riding by Jonelle, too, and finishes just 2sec over the time, so 0.8 to add. It costs her two places, Will Coleman moves up to 11th.

Burghley debutant Jack Pinkney…

“It’s been amazing – an incredible experience. He’s an absolute trier. He’s done as good as he could. I let him down coming into the double, which has been annoying, but he was trying – what more can I say?

“You always leave these competitions thinking, ‘Oh God, I want another one next week’ – you always think, I could do this better or that better. But it’s brilliant. We’ll see you next year.”

Another British first-timer in the arena, Yasmin Ingham, who sits 10th on 46.7 with Goliath Du Loir.

A fault-free round for the 2022 world champion and a first British five-star finish for Yasmin. She finishes on 46.7 and guarantees herself a top 10 place.

Jesse Campbell on seeing his late wife Georgie’s former rider Global Quest in the top three: “I’m pretty good at sort of dissociating myself from certain bits of it. Watching Global Quest go cross-country yesterday was really emotional for me, but I was able to come back, focus on my plan, and put that to one side.

“It’ll be emotional watching him jump this afternoon for sure. But at least I’ve done my thing, and I can enjoy it.”

Tom Jackson is next in, on Hawk Eye, starting on 46.1 in ninth. Tom fell on his better fancied horse, United 36, at the Trout Hatchery yesterday, but this one went very well.

A clear in the time for Hawk Eye – they finish ninth or better.

Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry are our next starters, on 46 in eighth.

My colleague Oscar spoke to Max‘s groom Paige Watson, who won the horsecare prize, earlier and we’ll have that story on our website for your later.

Max has the front rail off the oxer at the last, what a shame. That loses him five places, so expensive. Tom Jackson is up into eighth.

Thoughts from Will Coleman, who will finish in the top 10.

“I was excited before I came here, but I’m very excited now. She’s given me a great spin all weekend – she’s risen to the occasion.

“I didn’t really have a whole lot of expectations – I had some inklings of what she’s capable of, but the first time coming across the pond, there are a lot of variables.

“You can’t always know for sure how they’re going to perform under those circumstances. But I think she likes it – that's the thing you need in a good horse, and I think she’s a really good one.”

Harry Meade starts on a score of 44.4, in seventh place, on Cavalier Crystal, who has been third here three times.

They hit the flag upright at fence six.

Cavalier Crystal finishes on 48.4 and drops five places.

Very Dignified will be our top mare, with Will Coleman. Tom Jackson guaranteed seventh and Yasmin Ingham eighth.

Yasmin Ingham says…

“Honestly, it just feels so surreal to come here for my first Burghley, the horse’s first five-star. He’s still such a young horse, and he’s shown that he’s a real trier – he’s got a heart of gold and just wants to do his best. It makes me feel very proud.

“I have enjoyed the experience here this week. It’s been the most incredible event – I’m so thankful to be here. It’s been nerve-wracking and tough in places, but it’s all been worth it.”

Nadja Minder in the arena, sitting sixth on 42.7, with the 19-year-old dressage leader Toblerone.

He touches the rail into the treble but it stays. A few more rubs… and the last goes. What a shame.

Nadja finishes on 46.7 and she’s only lost one place.

Tom Jackson, rider of Hawk Eye, says: “Here at Burghley, a guaranteed top-10 result is brilliant. I’ve said for a little while that he’s got a big result in him, and if we’re fortunate enough to climb a couple more places, we’ll be very happy with this week.”

Tom is sure of sixth right now.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, on a score of 40, start in fifth. He wouldn’t have much experience jumping on grass on the third day after cross-country.

They have the first down.

Leave the rest up and finish on 44, but they hold their fifth place. Redemption for a fall at the World Championships for Caroline.

Thoughts from Harry Meade on his ride with Cavalier Crystal…

“She’s a lovely jumper – jumped beautifully. Had one rub, which I think is the first fence she’s had down in a three-day event in six years.

“Every time I get on her, I think, don't think about protecting a record – just ride a nice, positive round up against the clock. That’s certainly what I did, and she's done beautifully. Very happy with that.”

On this year’s Burghley experience: “It was good – I'm lucky, I’ve had some amazing Burghleys. I first rode here 22 years ago, and the last three years I’ve had amazing rides and some top placings. I’m happy with my horses this week. I didn’t quite get the result I was hoping for, but there’s no such thing as a guarantee on this course.”

Britain’s Katie Magee starts in fourth, on a score of 38.6, with Treworra.

The World Horse Welfare upright at fence nine comes down but nothing more. A wee time-penalty and she finishes on 43, guaranteeing herself fourth.

Holly Richardson heads in, sitting third, on 38.3 with Ballyneety Silver Service.

The Dubarry boot at three comes down and also 4a. Fence seven and both 8a and 8b… and time in play too.

A final score of 59.1 and she slips 12 places at this stage.

The overnight runner-up Tim Price next in, for New Zealand. He sits on a score of 36.9, with a rail in hand over Katie Magee, who is now guaranteed third.

Tim is riding Global Quest – an emotional back story here.

Fence two comes down and also 4a and 8c. An expensive round.

48.9 is Tim’s final socre and he drops to 10th.

Katie Magee will be second at worst, Caroline Pamukcu third. Gemma Stevens starts with three fences in hand to win.

Gemma Stevens starts on a score of 29.6 with Chilli Knight. She has three fence in hand to win her first Burghley title, her second five-star after the Bicton one-off five-star in 2021, on this horse.

Gemma uses her voice to steady Alfie through the treble – and she’s clear! She wins on her dressage score, with a huge margin.

Congratulations to Gemma, owners and breeders Chris and Lisa Stone and all their connections.

What a comeback for Gemma after her elimination at the World Championships in August.

So many angles to this story.

This validates her Bicton win in 2021 and puts Chilli Knight in the elite club of horses who have won two five-stars.

Chilli Morning is now the sire of a double five-star winner. Chilli Knight’s dam, Kings Gem, also a five-star mare with Gemma.

Our final top 10:

1. Gemma Stevens (GBR) on Chilli Knight
2. Katie Magee (GBR) on Treworra
3. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) on HSH Blake
4. Tom Jackson (GBR) on Hawk Eye
5. Nadja Minder (SUI) on Toblerone
6. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) on Goliath Du Loir
7. Will Coleman (USA) on Very Dignified
8. Benjamin Massie (FRA) on Filao De Perle
9. Jonelle Price (NZL) on Chilli’s Midnight Star
10. Harry Meade (GBR) on Cavalier Crystal

Thoughts from Nadja Minder, who finishes fifth.

“I was quite relaxed, considering the circumstances. I knew that whatever happened today wouldn’t take away from what he’s achieved. I wanted the best for him, to shine in this arena, and I think we did. It’s not his strongest phase, so one down – we need to be really happy with that.

On whether she thinks 19-year-old Toblerone has another five star in him: “To be honest, yes. I don’t know – 20 is a big number, but I don’t want to say it was his last one, because I think that decision should be made because of what the horse would like to do, not just because of his age.”

First thoughts from Gemma Stevens…

“Honestly to jump a clear round is just so damn cool. I’m so proud of that little horse and proud of myself for holding it together because I was literally shaking down the reins.

“He felt amazing over the first two and I thought come on boy, we can do this.

“I did feel horrendous this morning and the waiting around was torture. I said to Dickie [Waygood, British performance manager], ‘I’m just jumping at Hickstead, right’, and he said ‘yes, you’re just jumping a clear round at Hickstead’ and that’s what we did.”

Husband Gary says “Alfie” has given Gemma the lift she needed after elimination at the World Championships in Aachen and he couldn’t be more proud of the pair of them.

Gemma says: “Aachen was one of lowest points in my career, the second lowest point in my career.

“The guilt I felt was horrendous. I took a place up and I failed. No matter who says you were still part of the team and I definitely earned my place, but I felt horrific.

“But you’ve got to show resilience in sport, pick yourself up and get on with it.

“Chilli Knight’s heart’s as big as he is, he’s an amazing little animal. He wants to do it, wants to please, he’s a little tiger out on the cross-country.”

Gemma, 41, has been riding at this level for more than 15 years. She also rode at five-star on Chilli Knight’s dam Kings Gem, with whom she was under-25 national champion.

“I feel like I’ve been doing this a long time. I can’t tell you how amazing this feels – to win a big B is a dream come true, it really is.”

Thanks for joining us on the H&H live blog from Defender Burghley.

Check back later for our closing online reports.

We’ll have a huge special report in this week’s magazine, too, out on Thursday, 10 September.