With the event fast approaching next week (5-8 September), it’s time to take a first look at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course for 2024, designed by again by Derek di Grazia.

H&H dispatched six-time Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt to Lincolnshire to check out the track and you can read all his thoughts on every fence in this Thursday’s magazine (dated 29 August), plus we’ll release videos of William walking some key combinations on Monday, 2 September. Meanwhile, to whet your appetite, here’s a sneak peek at a few fences…

The Holland Cooper Leaf Pit

The Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (fence 7abcde) is always a landmark fence on the course. On the direct route, riders come down the big drop and then take on two brush arrowheads.

Defender Valley

William paces out the distance on the return trip through Defender Valley (fence 8ab), where a log drop is followed by a choice of striding to the big corner.

The Trout Hatchery

First Rolltop

This rolltop is the first element of the serious water combination at the Trout Hatchery (10ab and 11abc).

Second Rolltop

Having splashed through the water, riders then jump a second rolltop to enter the water for a second time (pictured behind William), before coming out to face the final challenge.

Angled Hedge Corner

An angled hedge corner is followed by a half-moon brush fence as riders exit the Trout Hatchery area. This complex will be one of the most difficult parts of the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course.

Joules at the Maltings

The direct route through Joules at the Maltings (fences 14 and 15abc) starts with this oxer to hedge.

William demonstrates the angle needed over the angled rail that follows the hedge.

The final arrowhead element at Joules at the Maltings will then come up quickly.

Fairfax & Favor at Keepers

This combination, Fairfax & Favor at Keepers (fence 21ab), comes at the highest part of the course, after the turn away from the Irish Horse Board Cottesmore Leap.

Boodles Raindance

Boodles Raindance (fence 26abc) is the final combination on course, with two cabins followed by this curving fence into the water.

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course photos by Peter Nixon

Spectators at this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials will have the chance to celebrate with Britain’s gold medal-winning eventing team from the Paris Olympics, as Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Ros Canter appear in the Main Arena on Sunday, September 8 for the first time since their superb victory a month ago.

The trio delivered GB’s first gold of the games by retaining the title they win in Tokyo.

Burghley’s Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “We’re very much looking forward to welcoming our triumphant team from Paris to Defender Burghley, where the three riders, plus their owners, grooms and the Team GBR support team, will be one of the highlights of a final day packed with entertainment, superb sport and non-stop action.”

A Farewell to a Legend

The afternoon programme will start with the ever-popular Defender Shetland Pony Grand National, and a very special retirement ceremony for Burghley’s most prolific winner of all time, William Fox-Pitt, before the showjumping for the top 20 horses and riders to decide the Defender Burghley champion 2024.

The Fitzwilliam hounds, accompanied by the huntsmen of other local packs, will parade before the Paris Olympic gold medallists take centre stage.

The event concludes with the presentation of the CCI5* prizes before we bid farewell to the world’s greatest horse trials for another year. For a full timetable and to book tickets, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk

Six-time Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt took an early look at this year’s CCI5* cross-country course for this week’s issue of H&H magazine, out today (Thursday, 29 August). Videos of William walking three key combinations on the 2024 Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country track, designed by Derek di Grazia, will be shared on this page on Monday (2 September). In the meantime, read William’s thoughts on every fence in the current issue of the magazine – and take a look at some of the fences on this year’s course.