NEXT week’s prestigious Defender Burghley Horse Trials will feature Britain’s gold medal-winning eventing team from the Paris Olympics, as Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Ros Canter appear in the Main Arena on Sunday, September 8th, for the first time since their victory a month ago.

Irish entries at the event, which runs from September 5th to 8th in Lincolnshire, include Lucy Latta who pulled off an astonishing second place finish at Badminton riding RCA Patron Saint. Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, who won the Mars Maryland five-star last October, are also in the mix. Susie Berry has two horses entered, Irene Leva and her Paris ride Wellfields Lincoln, while Declan Cullen rides Seavaghan Ash, Ian Cassells rides Master Point, Sarah Ennis rides Grantstown Jackson, Padraig McCarthy rides Lady Ophelia and Joseph Murphy rides Calmaro.

Badminton winner Caroline Powell (NZL) will be one to watch with her Irish Sport Horse Greenacres Special Cavalier and Olympic team gold medal winner Ros Canter will take another run for glory with her Paris mount Lordships Graffalo as well as Izilot DHI. Her Olympic teammate Tom McEwen rides CHF Coolister and silver Olympic team medallist Nicolas Touzaint will also appear at what is his Burghley debut, this time riding Absolut Gold HDC.

Blair Castle

Excitement for a good Irish result at Burghley follows some very strong performances at last week’s Blair Castle Horse Trials where Irish breeders produced the winners of five of the six CCI classes. It was the final ever running of the event.

In the CCI4*-L there were five Irish Sport Horses in the top 10, with victory going to Keep It Cooley (Ramiro B) and Wills Oakden (GBR) on a score of 44.2.

In the CCI4*-S Greenacres Special Cavalier (Cavalier Royale) was victorious with Caroline Powell. Winner of the CCI3*-L was Cooley Goodwood (OBOS Quality), ridden by Piggy March (GBR).

In the CCI2*-L first place went to Mile Beach (Beach Ball), ridden by Wills Oakden. In the CCI1* Intro Monbeg Condor (Condios) was the winner with Max Warburton (GBR).