2 days ago
Major stars and young talent among the defender Burghley entries
The Lincolnshire pair produced the best-ever finishing score – 26.6 – in Burghley's history last autumn, and took their second MARS Badminton title in May, making them clear favourites for back-to-back Burghley victories.
Fifty-nine combinations from eight nations are represented, and other top contenders include New Zealand's Tim Price and Vitali, runners-up in 2024 and fresh from an impressive victory in Aachen in July. Tim won Burghley in 2018 and is striving to reach the top of the podium once more on what will be his 20th Burghley start, while no one is hungrier for a first CCI5* triumph than Britain's Harry Meade. Harry became world number one earlier this summer following excellent results at Burghley last year, where he finished third, fourth and 12th on his three rides, and the spring CCI5*s Kentucky and Badminton.
Harry is once again planning to ride three horses at Defender Burghley – Annaghmore Valoner, Cavalier Crystal and Et Hop Du Matz.
Piggy March (GBR) will be back at Burghley for the first time since her 2022 success, this time with new ride MCS Maverick.
There are seven CCI5*-winning riders currently entered. The British contingent are Piggy March, Ros Canter and Ros's Paris Olympics team-mate Laura Collett (Bling), while New Zealand also boast two in Tim Price and Caroline Powell (NZL, High Time V), who scored at Burghley in 2011 and again at Badminton in 2024. Ireland's Austin O'Connor will be high on fans' lists as a potential winner with his 2023 Maryland CCI5* hero Colorado Blue, while the CCI5* victors are rounded off by Switzerland's Felix Vogg (Cartania).
Fourteen riders will be making their Burghley debuts, and among them are the newly crowned British Open Champions Katie Magee (GBR) and Treworra. The pair were 11th at Badminton this year and will hope their run of great results extends to Burghley.
This is a first Burghley for Christoph Wahler, who was part of German's gold medal-winning team at the 2022 World Championships. He will ride D'Accord FRH, on whom he was seventh at Badminton this year, and is the first German to compete at Burghley since the great multiple Olympic gold medal winner Michael Jung in 2018.
Lucy Latta (IRE) is another Burghley debutante who could shine; the talented amateur rider has entered her Badminton 2024 runner-up RCA Patron Saint.
The quality of this year's Burghley entry is undoubted; those vying for a podium place also include young British riders Emily King (Valmy Biats) and Bubby Upton (Magic Roundabout IV), and it is the second-highest rated field in the past 10 years, according to Irish statistics company EquiRatings.
Event Director Martyn Johnson said: 'I'm delighted that once again we have great entries for Defender Burghley. While there are some clear favourites, I think it is an open field featuring some superb cross-country horses, and I'm looking forward to seeing them in the spectacular setting of Burghley Park in three weeks' time.'
Defender Burghley entries close on Friday, 15 August, and the draw will take place early next week.
To see which horses and riders are entered for Defender Burghley 2025, please visit
A full preview of this year's cross-country track will feature shortly on Burghley TV, which will broadcast every moment of the action from Defender Burghley 2025.
To find out more about Defender Burghley (4-7 September 2025) and to purchase tickets and hospitality, visit
