Burghley Horse Trials injured rider Nicola Malcolm out of hospital

Nicola Malcolm, who took a bad fall at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials yesterday on the cross-country, will be back at the event later today.

Commentator Justin Llewelyn made the welcome announcement at this morning’s final horse inspection, saying that Nicola had had a peaceful night and was sitting up this morning complaining of being bored. She has been discharged from Coventry Hospital — she was airlifted there after the fall with McFly, who was uninjured — and will be at Burghley later.

Six horses have left the competition before the final showjumping phase. The best placed of these was Louise Skelton’s Bit Of A Barney (21st overnight), who was withdrawn before the trot-up. Also withdrawn were Aaron Millar’s Stormstay (43rd), Italy’s Marco Savoini’s ride National Wish (46th) and Hannah Kirkhill’s Temple Bridge (54th).

Ireland’s Louise Lyons’ Murphys Miracle (34th) was eliminated at the trot-up by the ground jury of Martin Plewa, Marilyn Payne and Les Smith, after being sent to the holding box. Lauren Shannon withdrew Quixotic (51st) from the holding box, but is in line to take the best British first-timer prize with Zero Flight, currently 15th. She will have to perform well in the final showjumping phase though, as fellow debutante Emily Llewellyn is just 0.2 of a penalty and two places behind with Pardon Me II.

Two other horses were sent to the holding box, but passed on reinspection: Kerry Varley’s Bluestone Luke (50th) and France’s Eddy Sans’s ride, Mayland De Brunel (23rd).

This morning’s showjumping session starts at 10.45am, with the top 24 jumping this afternoon at 2.20pm, after the parade of competitors.

Log back onto www.horseandhound.co.uk later to find out the final result and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (9 September) for a full 10-page report from Burghley, including comment from cross-country course-designer Mark Phillips.

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