Ros Canter became the first rider of the modern era to hold both first and second place after dressage at today’s Defender Burghley (Friday 6 September).

Yesterday’s overnight leader, Izilot DHI, still heads the leaderboard with the only sub-20 mark (19.9) from a field of 66 starters. Stablemate Lordships Graffalo slotted into the runner-up spot this afternoon with a score of 22.

The latter’s stunning test included a 10 for his final halt. This horse carried Ros to team gold at the Paris Olympics a few weeks ago and she said the plan was always for him to run at Burghley as well.

“I’m from Lincolnshire; Michele Saul, his owner, is from Lincolnshire — and a nine-minute cross-country course in Versailles didn’t affect him at all,” said Ros.

“It is amazing for him to perform like he did today after all the razzmatazz of the medal ceremony in Paris. When I came out of the arena today, I took my hands off the reins and he just smiled.”

Scores are tight at the top of the leaderboard and less than seventies separate the top 10 after two days of dressage. Only 10 penalties separate the top 18.

View the top 10 in pictures below…

Overnight leader Britain’s Ros Canter and Izilot DHI: 19.9 penalties

2nd Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: 22

3rd New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali: 22.3

4th British rider Emily King and Valmy Biats: 24.1

=5th Britain’s Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent: 24.4

=5th New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and Artist: 24.4

7th France’s Gireg Le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge: 25.3

8th New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier: 25.4

9th France’s Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC: 26.1

10th France’s Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza: 26.8

All photos by Trevor Holt

The cross-country phase

British rider Harry Meade will be first out of the start box during tomorrow’s cross-country phase. He is due on course at 11am riding Superstition, the firsts of his three rides.

General consensus is that US designer Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course is intensive for the first part and then opens out into a galloping track.

Tim Price described it as “a proper Burghley test”.

“Some things look unjumpable at first sight, but I like to trust the designers at these big events and Derek knows what he is doing,” said Tim. “He’s putting his mark on Defender Burghley.”