Mutch eager for Burghley return after woes of last year

By Abi Curran, Sportsbeat

Whitley Bay equestrian ace Harry Mutch is eager to put last year’s woes behind him as he marks his return to the Defender Burghley Horse Trials riding an additional steed.

The 26-year-old crashed out of the prestigious 5* event 12 months ago when HD Bronze fell at Cottesmore Leap in the cross-country, but the Irish-bred gelding did not let the fall affect his form.

Mutch will also be riding nine-year-old Shanbeg Cooley and admits his preparation has been rather different managing the strengths of both horses.

Ahead of the event kicking off on Thursday, he said “I’m taking two very different horses but as a rider it gives me a completely different feel.

“Shanbeg Cooley would give me a nicer feel around the course even though he hasn’t got the experience so that will give me the confidence to give the older horse HD Bronze a nicer run around.

“It’s not going to be strange being there because I’ve done it before but having two horses there is going to give it a completely different feel.

“Shanbeg Cooley has got to this level really quick and he’s a really exciting one. He’s a serious jumper and to be at this level at nine and doing what he’s doing - that’s why I thought he feels ready to go to Burghley as his first time.”

HD Bronze managed eighth as Shanbeg Cooley took 14th place at Mutch’s most recent event in Bramham and the north-east rider is keen for his horses to match their 4* exploits on a 5* course, designed by internationally-renowned Paul Connor.

17-year-old HD Bronze has been improving his dressage score over the past 12 months and Mutch believes the cross-country specialist can bring all facets of his eventing together over three days this year.

“It doesn’t feel like what happened at Burghley last year had any effect on his form, he just put it past him and hopefully we can try and rectify that this year,” Mutch added.

“He’s done the level a few times before now, I was really happy with his dressage last year and in the cross-country he was clear and we just didn’t get the jump we wanted.

“He’s learnt a lot out of it and even though we had a bad ending, he still had eight minutes of good cross country so there are plenty of positives.

“With how much he’s come on in the dressage, at Bramham he was fifth after the dressage but two of the judges put him in the lead.

“It’s put me in a position to go to Burghley, be competitive and give it my best shot.”

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (31st August - 3 September 2023) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world’s top equestrians and over 170,000 visitors. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk