Can Andrew Nicholson and Avebury make it three in a row?
Straight after the eventing is over at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games An Eventful Life will be hot footing it back across the channel for the 2014 Land Rover Burghley Horse.
With 100 horses from 11 nations spanning Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, USA and the UK competing for the substantial £62k first prize it is also highly that the WEG medallists, whoever they turn out to be, will be competing and there is also the added factor of Andrew Nicholson, who is entered with both Avebury and Nereo, trying for an unprecedented ‘three in a row’
However he won't be the only former champion looking for a win. The entry list includes many past winners; William Fox-Pitt is entered with the experienced trio of Bay My Hero, Chilli Morning and Parkland Hawk, alongside WEG team mate Oliver Townsend. As always there will be a strong Antipodean presence led by Sir Mark Todd and Oloa. Australia's Andrew Hoy is another former Burghley champion who has recently relocated to nearby Leicestershire and this year brings Rutherglen while popular Badminton winner Australia's Sam Griffiths riding Happy Times will be striving to secure his place on the podium in his quest to achieve the Rolex Grand Slam. Other Australian riders currently entered include Natalie Blundell (Algebra), Shane Rose (Taurus and CP Qualified), Chris Burton (Graf Liberty, TS Jamaimo and Tempranillo), Paul Tapner (Kilronan), Stuart Tinney (Pluto Mio), Bill Levett (Shannondale Titan), Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish), Kevin McNab (Clifton Pinot) and Murray Lamperd (Under the Clocks). Who rides which horse obviously will depend on the final shake down in Normandy
The event also sees 27 first time combinations. Young British riders include Lincolnshire-based Gina Ruck a former British Pony team member, who'll be competing on home-produced 12yr old Rehy Too and Kirsty Short from Hertfordshire who brings her U25s partner Cossan Lad.
They'll face strong competition from established combinations including Izzy Taylor and the diminutive Briarlands Matilda, Piggy French and Jakarta who hasn't competed at 4* level since 2011 and Francis Whittington who this year brings Hasty Imp.
A strong European entry includes five-time Olympian Belgium's Karin Donkers with Lamicell Unique, France's Karim Laghouag and his 2012 Olympic reserve horse, Punch de L'Esques and Germany's Kai Ruder and his Blenheim 2013 partner Gryffindor.
Captain Mark Phillips’ 2014 course has 32 fences, 45 jumping efforts and a provisional distance of 6500m, with the provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 24 seconds. View the course preview here
