Favourite Pipped To The Post

9/7/2019

The conclusion of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials dressage saw Pippa Funnell take the top spot, with MGH Grafton Street, ahead of favourites Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.

Pippa Funnell needs little introduction - a legend and icon in our sport, the first winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, the only female winner of the Gram Slam, winner here in 2003 and the 2018 inductee into the ERA Burghley Hall of Fame.

Funnell united the ground jury in their opinion to deliver a performance worthy of 22.8. Now all she has to do is negotiate one of the biggest Burghley tracks we've seen for some time.

In the end of day press conference Funnell discussed how MGH Grafton Street can have a tricky (aka naughty) side to him and isn't the more straight forward to ride on cross-country day. Taking advice from her Team GBR team mate and best friend Tina Cook, she'll be kicking on and keeping her eyes on the prize.

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class would have been odds on favourite to lead the field after dressage, following some sensational results at this level and number sub 20 scores at 4* and national level. This week they sit in 2nd on 25.3.

Hot off his team success at Luhmuhlen Oliver seems to have been struggling with a back injury this week - a less than ideal situation with what lay ahead. The 2017 winner Ballaghmor Class may have passed the first vets inspection but Oliver would certainly have been sent to the holding box if the rider's soundness was under scrutiny as well. The first class support these riders receive from their own teams, team GBR and the event is outstanding and Oliver's fitness seems to be improving each day.

Powering into third place, a hairs breadth behind Oliver, sits Izzy Taylor and Springpower on 25.6.

Two out of the three ground jury members had Izzy ahead of Oliver, but Nick Burton's (at C) significantly higher score for Oliver has him just ahead.

The pairs relationship being well known caused some humorous moments as talk quickly turned to how Izzy could get the upper hand over Townend ahead of the cross-country - a swift kick to the back ought to do it!

The American contingent were holding their own, with a trio of fearsome dressage divas keeping the British ladies out of a clean sweep.

Hannah-Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot took an early lead on Day 2 with 26.9, much to the debate of dressage trainers and judges around the arena who thought the marking to be somewhat more generous than of day 1.

The lead was short lived as Lauren Keiffer and Vermiculus went head to head with the British weather and won with a score of 26.7.

Liz Halliday-Sharp managed to keep a lid on Deniro Z to move into =7th with 27.4

2019 Badminton winners, and the most successful British rider of the season, Piggy French and Vanir Kamira joins the party in =5th on 26.9, following another constant test.

Day 1 overnight leaders, and Burghley debutants, Eliza Stoddart & Priorspark Opposition Free keeps her name in the top 10 taking =9th on 28.7. She puts a British flag between the only two New Zealand names in the top 10.

It wouldn't be a top 10 without Mr and Mrs Price after all.