Alice enjoys another Topspin
Jumping a cross-country clear at Defender Burghley is a notable achievement. Coming back year after year and doing the same is remarkable.
Burghley stalwarts Tim
Price (NZL) and Vitali, who currently lie in third place, have four
consecutive cross-country clears to their name. So, too, have Alice
Casburn (GBR) and Topspin, who have been 10th, seventh and
fifth on their previous three visits. The pair are poised to add to
their tally tomorrow after cruising round Derek di Grazia’s
cross-country, just picking up 4.4 time-faults. They currently lie in
seventh place going into tomorrow’s final showjumping phase.
Alice and Topspin were
initially given two flag penalties, but these were removed following
a review.
“He absolutely loves
this place, as do I,” said Alice, 23. “After our good dressage
yesterday [the pair scored 31.4 which left them in 20th
place] I definitely felt a bit of pressure this morning, but we had a
little natter on the way round as it helps him relax and breathe, and
he was amazing. I know that if anything goes wrong, it’s certainly
not on his part. I actually managed to enjoy myself this time and
soak it in.”
Two horses have jumped
clear rounds at Burghley three years on the trot — Harry Meade’s
Crystal Cavalier and Lauren Innes’ Global Fision M.
The latter, who is
notoriously tricky in the first phase but makes up for it across
country, delivered yet another breathtaking jumping performance to
rise from 44th after dressage to 15th.
“He’s a proper
five-star campaigner these days,” said Lauren, who works full-time
as a chartered accountant. “There were two fences that didn’t
really go to plan — the Dairy Mound and the Maltings — which were
heart-in-mouth moments, and I had to revert to kicking and letting
him do his job. Thankfully he’s such a pro and he doesn’t hold it
against me.”
Gaspard Maksud (FRA) with Zaragoza II will be looking to emulate or better their sixth place here last year. The duo added 5.6 time penalties to their score, which leaves them in eighth overnight.
“Last year we came
here for the first time and it was a case of the blind leading the
blind, but this time we knew a bit more about the place,” said
Gaspard. “The mare tried so hard for me.”
Laura Collett (GBR) and Bling enjoyed a near foot-perfect round for ninth place overnight, as did Holly Richardson (GBR) and the lovely grey, Ballyneety Silver Service (10th), who Burghley TV commentator William Fox-Pitt singled out early on for their “classy round”.