Burnham Market International Horse Trials: CCI4*-S cross-country report

The top British rider tops both CCI4* classes at Burnham Market – but which eventer thinks she has got a Paris 2024 Olympics prospect?

Izzy Taylor has two winning chances on Sunday at Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market. Not only does Monkeying Around lead the CCI4*-L class, but Camilla Behren’s lovely eight-year-old Hartacker showjumped clear in the CCI4*-S to remain in first place as well.

“I thought the showjumping was a tough track for eight-year-olds – a tough track anyway, but especially for an eight-year-old who only started competing last year,” said Izzy.

“He jumped a very good round, and it was accomplished – like he had being doing it all his life. He definitely wants to do everything right, which can have a slight negative effect because he tries so hard, but he’s a very exciting horse.”

Their score of 20.3 gives them two penalties over second-placed Yasmin Ingham and Sue Davies and Janette Chin’s Banzai Du Loir, who also showjumped clear.

“I love the bones of this horse,” enthused Yasmin. “He’s so talented in every phase – I hope he is a prospect for the 2024 Paris Olympics. I do a bit of showjumping in the winter and he jumps 1.30m tracks; I really enjoy my showjumping and it’s probably the phase I am most confident in.”

Banzair Du Loir was bought from France in May last year through Rachel Wakefield and Michael Wynne.

“Lockdown was probably really good for us; it would be easy to get overexcited and do too much with him,” said Yasmin. “He feels happy and confident and that’s how I want him to feel. He has a huge stride and is really quick, and we’ve worked very hard on the dressage.”

Sally-Anne Egginton’s Cillnabradden Evo and Oliver Townend were foot-perfect over the coloured poles, and remain on their dressage mark of 23.3 in third place, half a mark ahead of Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro, who added 0.8 of a time-fault to their dressage of 23.8.

Both Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) and Kitty King (Cristal Fontaine) increased their dressage scores by 0.4 of a time-penalty but didn’t touch a fence for fifth and six places.

Tom McEwen is seventh with a clear showjumping round on top of a dressage score of 26.8 with Bob Chaplin. Tom was in sixth place with his Pau CCI5* winner Toledo De Kerser, having showjumped clear, but he has withdrawn the Diamant De Semilly 13-year-old before tomorrow’s final cross-country phase.

You may also be interested in…