New Zealand’s Jock Paget is the current leader going into the cross-country phase at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – with just 1.7pen between the top four.
Roller-coaster
It’s certainly been a rollercoaster year for Jock who was stripped of his Burghley title after Clifton Promise tested positive for reserpine. His name was cleared just in time for him to attend the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where he retired following a run-out on the cross-country.
Jock is clearly looking to put both experiences behind him riding a superb test to score 38.5pen.
Better than ever
“I’ve been using the time off to work on my dressage,” Jock told H&C. “As well as training with the New Zealand coach Erik Duvander, I’ve been working with [FEI dressage judge] Stephen Clarke and dressage rider Andrew Gould. Promise is going better than he ever has.”
“It feels great to be back at Burghley, I love it here. And it’s great to be back on Clifton Promise.”
William Fox-Pitt is just behind Jock on 39.5pen with Bay My Hero – the horse that gave him his third Kentucky title earlier this year.
Better and better
“Although he’s 11 he’s not experienced too many big atmospheres like this, so he’s still maturing,” said William. “But he was very settled today and he enjoys his job. He’s a great showman and is just getting better and better.”
“That said, he still tries his best to get loose in the trot-up!” William added, referring to Bay My Hero’s exploits when he spooked at the flowers during the first inspection and stood up on his hind legs.
Hat-trick of wins
Sam Griffiths, who was the overnight leader, has moved down into third place with a score of 40.2, while the 2013 winners Andrew Nicholson and Avebury are in fourth on 40.5pen. If they can pull off a win this year it would be a hat-trick of Burghley wins for the 53-year-old.
Piggy French is the next highest placed Brit in fourth place with Westwood Mariner (45.8pen). Then there is Georgie Spence and WII Limbo in 11th (47.7pen), while Oliver Townend (Armada) and Izzy Taylor (KBIS Briarlands Matilda) are joint 12th, both scoring 48.3pen.