Defender Burghley cross-country day is a September Saturday like no other – drama, jubilation and heart-stopping moments abound on the hallowed turf at the Stamford fixture. This year was no different. Of the 50 competitors who started, in the final analysis of the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country results, 30 completed, but only Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (Walter) could fly through the flags clear of jumping and time-faults.
The day had everything – super performances, leaderboard leapers and devastating disappointment. Read on to catch up on all the action.
Here are all the essential takeaways from cross-country day…
- There was a last-minute heart-in-the-mouth moment in an otherwise awesome round for Harry Meade and first ride of the day Et Hop Du Matz, and disappointment for David Doel
- Derek di Grazia’s influential track scuppered the chances of some big players
- Alice Casburn, Frenchman Gaspard Maksud and New Zealand’s Caroline Powell sailed through on just a few time-faults, but it was disappointment for well-placed contenders Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier
Digest the riders’ responses here
- While Tim Price and Vitali finished with only 8.8 time-faults, Max Warburton, Katie Magee and Emma Thomas came unstuck in places
See which fences were troublesome here
- Favourites Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent dropped out of contention with a shock run-out. Meanwhile, Laura Collett and Burghley first-timer Bling put in a superb clear with 8.8 time-faults
Take a look at what they had to say
- Ros Canter talked us through her sublime cross-country round as she heads the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country results
Find out her thoughts as she leads the pack into the final phase
- Austin O’Connor slotted into second with a cool clear and 0.8 of a time-penalty
Read his thoughts on crowd favourite “Salty”
- Harry Meade gives us the low-down on his three rides, Et Hop Du Matz, Cavalier Crystal and Annaghmore Valoner
But who is the gangly horse, who the computer simulation, and who the sensitive overachiever?
If you’ve inhaled our reports and hunger for more Burghley insights, check out our extra coverage…
- Max Warburton and the Cornado II gelding Patron of Keros claimed the Burghley Young Event Horse four-year-old title
Find out why Max wasn’t going to leave Brian Flynn of MBF Sport Horses’ yard without him
- Quantum Leap took the five-year-old honours for Piggy March, having landed the four-year-old win last year
But what has Quantum Leap already failed in his short life?
- Laura Collett finally has a Burghley horse – 12-year-old chestnut mare (and “strong, independent woman”), Bling
Read what Laura had to say about this “phenomenal” horse
- Tom McEwen’s Olympic ride, Toledo De Kerser, returned to the main arena for Carl Hester’s dressage masterclass
Click here for three key training tips from the dressage maestro himself
- Ava Fisher, who grooms for Alex Bragg, told us how she keeps things running like clockwork at Burghley
- Caroline Casburn gives us an insight into how her daughter’s ride, Topspin, is managed at a three-day
Who’s his famous stablemate at the Lincolnshire fixture? Find out here
To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Burghley and other major shows this year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website, from £1 a week. Horse & Hound’s 20-page magazine report on Burghley is published in 11 September issue, including full analysis and exclusive comment from six-time Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt.
You might also be interested in:
A big gangly horse, a computer simulation and a sensitive overachiever: Harry Meade reflects on three Burghley clears
‘Definitely the toughest track he’s jumped at this speed’: Austin O’Connor and crowd-favourite ‘Salty’ on top form for second place after brilliant Burghley cross-country
Ros Canter leads after Burghley cross-country with superb performance, tweaking her style to account for her pregnancy
Tim Price and Vitali grab Burghley cross-country lead as course continues to cause plenty of problems
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