"The toughest track anywhere in the world this year" Course Designer, Captain Mark Phillips description of his 2007 cross country challenge to a world class field, including four former Burghley Champions.
Twelve months ago the title went to Lucinda Fredericks on her priceless mare Headley Brittania. Now, it was husband Clayton and the promising ten year old Nullabor who were in the hot seat: the partnership starting well by taking a narrow lead in the dressage arena over New Zealander Andrew Nicholson on the consistent 16 year old Lord Killinghurst and William Fox-Pitt riding the relatively inexperienced Parkmore Ed: generally regarded as William's second string with his other ride, 2005 winner Ballincoola, expected to again go close.
In bright and breezy conditions and with good going underfoot, Antoinette McKeowen and Two O Two proved early on that the optimum time of 11mins 33secs for the 6.5km Cross Country Speed and Endurance test could be achieved: a feat subsequently emulated by Andrew Nicholson, Britain's Polly Stockton on Tom Quigley and Australia's Andrew Hoy riding the 2006 Lexington Champion, Master Monarch.
With less than four penalty points between the top four, it was soon apparent that Di Boddy's Jumping test was going to test the best with only two of the forty one preceding riders achieving a clear round within the time allowed of 83 seconds.
With Andrew Hoy looking for a third Burghley title, Polly Stockton hoping to go one better than in 2002 when finishing runner up on Word For Word and intense sporting rivals William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson just ahead, the stage was set for a nail biting finish. For all of them the Land Rover Planks would be crucial.
Approx running time 104 mins
PAL / NTSC multiregion