First day round up from FEI Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International

CCI4*S 

Izzy Taylor beat the all-time Burnham Market dressage record today, posting a score of 20.3 on board Hartacker – a record previously held by Oliver Townend and Cilnabradden Evo, who scored 21.3 in 2019. This score is also Izzy’s all-time personal best at the level, in 202 runs at CCI4*S since 2003.

Izzy and Hartacker hold the overnight lead in both the 8/9-year-old championship and the full 4*S class. Current World Champion Ros Canter rode Lordships Graffalo to a score of 24.5 to be second in the 8/9 year-olds, and fifth overall. 

Favourites to win the 4* short format, Oliver Townend and Cilnabradden Evo (pictured) lie in second place having scored 23.3 for their test, which gives them a narrow advantage over Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet on 23.7. Even closer on Sarah’s heels is China’s Alex Hua Tian riding crowd favourite Don Geniro, with a score of 23.8. 

Dressage for the remaining short format competitors starts at 9.30am tomorrow morning.

CCI4*L

This is the first time that a four-star long format has been held at Burnham Market – the organisers stepped in to replace the classes lost with the cancellation of Blenheim Palace International. More competitors are set to perform their dressage tests tomorrow, but the overnight leaders are the on-form Piggy March (nee French) and Dargun. 

The current top three are all within one penalty of each other, with Piggy on a score of 26.2, Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon riding Chequers Play The Game on 26.9, and Sarah Bullimore and Corouet on 27.2. 

EquiRatings favourites to win this class are Nicola Wilson and Bulana who currently sit in fourth place, while China’s Alex Hua Tian is having a great event so far, lying fifth on Ballbreaker SD.

Long format dressage starts at 8.40am tomorrow.

Horse & Country TV will be live streaming all the jumping action, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday – visit https://horseandcountry.tv