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Oakden going for glory at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials
The seasoned Brit had two horses finish inside the top ten at Burghley last year but is hoping he can lead a new stallion to victory this time out.
By Lucy Wilde, Sportsbeat
Wills Oakden is a seasoned competitor at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials but he’s approaching this year’s competition both with a fresh mindset and astride a new stallion.
The former British Young Rider team medallist had two horses finish inside the top ten at the prestigious 5* equestrian event last year, but is not letting external expectations get the better of him.
Instead, Oakden arrives at the Stamford venue fresh off the back of a historic hat-trick of back-to-back wins at Blair Castle Horse Trials last month, and will hope to be the author of a similar fairytale victory in Lincolnshire.
“I’m feeling relaxed,” said Oakden, dispelling suggestions his success at last year's event brings added pressure this time around. “It’s another year so it’s a completely different test isn’t it. It’s a different horse too.
“It’s A Class Cooley’s first trip here so I’m excited to see what he is all about but I’m also remaining level-headed about our prospects. We’re just going to get out there and see what happens.”
This year’s Defender Burghley sees a record-breaking field of entrants - the strongest on record - with eight 5* winners in the mix, but the Fife native is simply choosing to relish the chance to compete on the infamous ground.
“The Defender Burghley Horse Trials are what everybody aspires to. For me it’s the best event in the world," he said.
“It’s unique with the terrain but there’s only two 5* events a year in the UK, this being the second one [after the Badminton Horse Trials]. In that respect Burghley offers us a great opportunity to compete at the very top of our sport and challenge ourselves at a completely different level.”
Burghley’s prestigious reputation in the equestrian calendar parallels its notoriety for playing host to a vast and complex course, but Oakden is one amongst over 60 international riders determined to conquer the field.
He will attempt this with A Class Cooley, who established himself as a class act by winning the 2023 4* long at Blair Castle in testing conditions, but also failed to finish his first 5* contest at France's de Pau event.
Rather than seeing this as a cause for concern, Oakden believes his 12-year-old companion will rise to the occasion and ensure the Perthshire-based jockey enjoys a successful third outing at Burghley.
“The terrain and the sheer size of fences makes Burghley quite different to the other courses we do throughout the year. The fences are big and the terrain definitely puts a different dimension on things," he added.
“I know this horse travels on decent terrain, he won the 4* long at Blair Castle last year on wet ground, so with this terrain and on good ground, he should handle it well.
“What will be will be, we’ll just see how the week plays out.”
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
