DEFENDER BURGHLEY Cross-country
DEREK DI GRAZIA’S second Burghley cross-country track met with universal approval.
The general consensus was that the first part was kinder than in 2022, but the intensity was more pronounced in the later stages. Derek had crunched out the use of numbering to prevent riders from changing their minds partway through a combination and the course felt like it should flow well, without tiring turnbacks.
Describing the track as “awesome”, Tom McEwen said: “It’s a kinder ride this year compared to last year as in it’s not square oxer after square oxer, but at the same time, it’s a true five-star test – there’s Burghley terrain, there’s challenges all the way around and it’s going to be accumulative.”
Harry Meade picked out the Irish Horse Board Bank (fence 17ab), on Winners’ Avenue, as a fence that would cause some head scratching. The log that formed element b sat at 90 degrees to the bank, with riders able to jump it from either direction, plus the fact the bank was faced with grass added unpredictability.
“If you’re galloping at it, the horses will jump out over it, but if you come steadily to it – which you’re going to have to – I wouldn’t be surprised if horses bank it. Therefore, you ask yourself do you come deliberately slow, pop up onto it
