The cross-country phase of any three-day event is influential, but the results today at the Burghley CCI**** took that concept to a new level.  And it’s created a bit of controversy.  Over a course that the world’s best termed “very tough” after walking it, only 48 of 90 starters finished, with only 33 clean rounds, and none within the time.  At the end of the day, Andrew Hoy jumped back into the lead aboard his dressage leader the first day, Moon Fleet.  He had the fastest round of the day–only 10 seconds slow for 4.0 time faults.  He followed that up with a clean round only 11 seconds slow (for 4.4 time faults) on Master Monarch.  He’s now first with Moon Fleet and third on Master Monarch.  Andrew Nicholson kept his second place with a clean round on Lord Killinghurst, after picking up 13.2 time faults to add to his 40.2 dressage score.

The dressage leader, Pippa Funnell, retired Cornerman at the first water jump, 14AB.  Cornerman had been jumping badly up to that point, and she’d gone to the whip after the fence before, a gate.  Cornerman then stopped at the A element of the bounce into water.  Funnell circled around, jumped the A element, then Cornerman crawled over the B element, taking down the white flag.  Funnell pulled up, and it was later discovered that Cornerman was tying up.

William Fox-Pitt, who was third after dressage, came to grief at the final water, 26ABC, when Ballincoola lost impulsion galloping through the water and stopped at the C element, a table in the water.  They’ve dropped to 19^th place.  Marie-Louise Thomas–tied for 15^th after dressage–rode The Psephologist to a fast clean round (7.6 time penalties) to move up to fourth.  And Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law and Shear H20, tied for sixth after dressage, picked up 15.6 time faults on their clean trip around, and are now in fifth.

The day was overshadowed by the serious fall of Caroline Pratt, whose Primitive Streak flipped at the final element of the last water, 26ABC, and landed on her.  Official word is that she’s being treated at a nearby hospital.

American fortunes weren’t the best today.  Nina Fout and John Williams were the only clean rounds.  Fout and 3 Magic Beans tooled around the course and finished with 34.4 time faults to claim 29^th place.  Williams andSloopy ran fast, with just 20 time faults for 20^th place.  Jan Thompson, the highest-placed American after dressage, looked to be on her way to a clear round, with Task Force jumping very well.  But a fall of horse and rider at the next-to-last fence, the combination at 27ABC, eliminated them.  Ashley MacVaugh and All’s Fair were jumping brilliantly until that same combination, but All’s Fair just touched a leg to the second narrow fence of the turning question, and MacVaugh didn’t think she could do the three strides to the brush picture frame, so she pulled out of the C element.  They only finished with 34.4 time faults, though, and now are in 40^th. 

Linden Wiesman and Primitive Gold were jumping with ease, but Wiesman had a fall at “the easiest fence on course,” she said wryly.  “He jumped great, and I jumped off.”  At a narrow table, Primitive Gold hooked a knee slightly, and Wiesman just popped off.  They’re in 43^rd.  Kim Morani and Test Run picked up 65 penalties at the eighth fence, the coffin of brush-ditch-brush.  Morani came off when Test Run jumped awkwardly over the A element, and fell into the ditch.  She remounted and continued, however.  After a run-out later in the course, at the bending line combination of bullfinches at 24AB, they completed the course.  They’re in last place, but very proud to have crossed the finish line.

Gina Miles and McKinlaigh were jumping with verve and style until 21ABC, the road crossing at Capability’s Cutting.  McKinlaigh labored up the hill, and jumped, but Miles knew he’d run out of gas.  She pulled up and walked home.  Cindy Rawson and Ashdale David’s Way retired after a fall at the first water. 

Gretchen Butts and Zydeco had a run-out at the turning brush combination at 21ABC, and then Zydeco hooked a knee on the C element of the last water, 26ABC.  He didn’t fall, but Butts fell off over his left shoulder.  She remounted, and carried on, but after he dropped a shoulder landing from one of the narrows, she slithered off again, and was eliminated for a second fall, just one fence from home.

The mood of the day was a bit grim.  The riders, as a group, had been concerned about the length of the steeplechase phase, which at four and a half minutes was 30 seconds longer than most, combined with the grueling cross-country test and the uncharacteristically hot and sunny weather.  The conditions were worsened by the heavy going.  While all four days of Burghley have been glorious weather of 70 degrees and clear skies and sun, they had had a week of rain before the event.  The ground wasn’t slick, but gluey and holding, adding to the fatigue factor for the horses.  Riders were particularly concerned about the combination at 27ABC.  The tough turning question of narrow-faced wide spreads, followed in three strides by a brush picture-frame, would be especially difficult on tired horses at the end of the course.  And there was no slow route or alternative.

At the rider’s meeting on Friday night, rider’s representative Eric Smiley and rider William Fox-Pitt officially asked the ground jury to consider adding an alternative route to the fence, which they denied.  The ground jury did move the ropes of the galloping lane around the fence back, widening the turn, but did not alter the fence.  Riders also suggested shortening the steeplechase phase in deference to the heat and deep footing.  But the ground jury denied the request.