Burghley - Day 1
Macchiato did a really pleasing test this morning at Burghley and at the end of day one is in 2nd place on a score of 46.8. He did some excellent work and was nice and relaxed, which is the main thing with him and I couldn’t have asked for much more. If it hadn’t been for a slight error on my part, starting a bit late and occurring a two point penalty from each judge, totalling 1%, he would have been on 45.8. This would still have left him in second but come Sunday afternoon who knows what that might cost!
Overall the cross country course is a little kinder this year, the first few fences are more encouraging but there is still a very narrow brush at the bottom of the leaf pit at fence four which could see the end of some Burghley dreams. The course is a little longer than last year being 11 min 40 secs, caused mainly by the extra circle we are turning at the HSBC Combination. At the moment the ground is very good and I think there could be a few inside the time, but it won’t be easy to achieve.
Seacookie is on very good form and will hopefully be well settled in time for his test at 4.22pm tomorrow.
If you want to see Macchiato do his test or watch any of today’s action log on to www.burghley.tv and click on the individual riders profile. To keep a track of up-to-date placings click here.
