The in-form Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin won the CCI4*-L at Bicton in June and the 4*-S at Hartpury
It is currently a small but quality field heading to the Cheddington Bicton Five Star from September 2nd – 5th , to take the place of the cancelled Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials
The ballot date has now passed although the event organisers, supported by Helen West, the new CEO at British Eventing (watch our interview with Helen here), have said that entries can be extended and that they will be very flexible for combinations awaiting the outcome of the British team selection for the FEI European Championships at Avenches, Switzerland in late September
The ‘one-off’ CCI5* competition will feature a course designed by Captain Mark Phillips (our course preview with Captain Mark Phillips HERE) and the winner of this competition is likely to have a very rare trophy in his or her cabinet
37 combinations are on the current entry list with four riders having multiple entries. World Number One and Tokyo team gold medallist Oliver Townend has two entries, MHS King Joules and Tregilder, as do Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope and Billy Walk On), David Doel (Galileo Nieuwmoed and Ferro Point) and Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy (Leonidas II and HHS Noble Call).
Pippa’s horse Maja’s Hope is on the long list for selection for the Europeans, as are Nicola Wilson's JL Dublin, who won the CCI4*-L at Bicton in June and the CCI4*-S at Hartpury International, and Gemma Tattersall's Chilli Knight, who took third place there
Australia’s Sam Griffiths is entered on Gurtera Cher, a horse he recently told us about at Hartpury International and Sammi Birch is entered on Finduss PFB. New Zealand’s Tim and Jonelle Price are entered with Tim’s Burghley winner Ringwood Sky Boy and a less experienced horse for Jonelle in Grappa Nera and they are joined by fellow Kiwi James Avery riding Mr Sneezy
William Fox-Pitt has hopes of possibly riding at the inaugural Maryland CCI5* in the USA in October but it will be Oratorio II that he brings to Bicton CCI5* and the current World Champion Ros Canter will be competing on Pencos Crown Jewel
