World number one Harry Meade will be the first rider to go at Defender Burghley 2025 (4-7 September) on his own and Mandy Gray’s Et Hop Du Matz - and the last, on Dinah and Stephen Posford and Juliet Carter’s Annaghmore Valoner.
As the only competitor with three horses entered for the Lincolnshire CCI5*, Harry’s rides have been drawn 1, 24 (Cavalier Crystal, owned by Charlotte and Peter Opperman) and 60. There are 60 entries in total, but no rider is asked to carry supposedly unlucky number 13.
The 2024 Defender Burghley champions, Ros Canter and Archie and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo, will set off late in the day as number 53.
New Zealanders are liberally sprinkled throughout the draw with Samantha Lissington third out and third last on Lord Seekonig and Billy Alberto and Australia’s Sammi Birch with Finduss PFB will wear number 43.
There are five former Burghley-winning riders in the 2025 field: Piggy March (2022) has been drawn 23 on Maidwell Mavericks’ MCS Maverick, while Caroline Powell (2010) is number 30 on High Time V, owned by Ruth Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West, Tom Craig and Annabel Jenks. Tim Price (2018) and his 2024 Burghley runner-up, Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali, secured number 40 in the draw. A last-minute addition to the entries is Oliver Townend (2009, 2017 and 2023) riding Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent at number 50.
View the complete drawn order for Defender Burghley 2025 here
