TALKING POINTS
WITHDRAWALS
WHILE the sun that bathed Burnham Market throughout the weekend was a blessing, it also proved to be something of a curse, with a number of riders withdrawing their horses before the crosscountry, due to “firm” ground, despite the event team working on it.
Most notable of the withdrawals was Laura Collett who, after the first two phases, was leading both four-star sections with Mr Bass and London 52. She was also sitting in second with
Dacapo in section B.
She said afterwards: “I stuck to my original plan and withdrew before cross-country because the ground was too hard – a tough decision when in that position, but one I believe was 100% right by my horses.”
Commenting on the weekend’s sport, organiser Alec Lochore said: “It was extraordinary to see so many quality horses, and great to have their owners and some spectators back, too. We did as much as we could with the ground, aerovating the cross-country four times. People weren’t critical about what we did with the ground, and ultimately we want people to come back to the event.”
INFLUENTIAL FENCE CLAIMS NOTABLE SCALPS
THE most influential fence on Alec Lochore’s four-star track was 10ab and 11, the first water, which consisted of a box in, followed by a rail in the water and then a brush corner on a curving left line out of the water.
Horses that weren’t on their line found themselves in no position to jump the final fence, with many being pushed off the line by spooking at some decorative barrels.
Pippa Funnell’s 2019 Burghley winner MGH Grafton Street and Piggy March’s 2020 Pau CCI5* runner-up Brookfield Inocent were among those to run out here.
PARTY TRICK’S NORFOLK FOAL
SHORTLY after Nick Gauntlett arrived home from Burnham Market, a foal by Party Trick (pictured, above), who jumped a double clear in the CCI4*-S, was born. Nick revealed that the foal will be named Norfolk And Party (don’t pronounce it too quickly, though…).