2026 Inside Burghley Diaries: Thursday - Setting the Standard

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1:00Welcome listeners to Thursday's Defender Berli diary show. Coming up for you in the next half an hour. So a little bit earlier on this morning, I caught up with Sam before the dressage really kicked into full gear and he gives us his thoughts on how the week is unfolding so far. Plus we hear from Marcus from Fairfax and Favor on how the brand has evolved over the last few years. A little trip to the Equine of Merrick stand and I bumped into none other than Lee Middleton, their CEO. And also fresh from his gold medal in Arkham. Tom McEwen gives us his thoughts on Berli for 2026 too. And we wrap things up with myself and Lucy Jackson sitting down over a glass of rosé and reflecting on the first day of dressage. So without further ado, let's dive into the show. Will I have known it's taken a while? Big question, Sam. Have you tamed your dragon? No, no. So he was a wild at the trial up yesterday. He's wittin' me when I ride him.

2:00So I'm hoping he's all right, but how do you tame that? Usually he went in and he was lit up. But apparently if you were a little... It was a snorting. It was a snorting. Yeah, it was a snorting. He felt like that was the way he needed to communicate with people. Let's hope it was... I don't know, I don't know what we're going to. You've got to tell tomorrow to figure it out. How's Berli being saved up? It's great when around the course yesterday. Flows better than last year. You know, last year he took us offline a lot of zigzags, which slowed people down. So I knew it was going to be tough to get last year. I did say in the celebrity talker, I thought only one person would get it last year and I thought it'd be Ross. And that turned out to be correct. This year it flows a little better. The ground is a little softer. We don't have Ross, we don't have Oliver Towne, and we... But I still think to make it. You're right last year. We'll be right again this year. The venting manager, the market is now closed. Big news was that David Dole was out. He withdrew yesterday. I had him in my team. I think nearly 40% of managers had him in there. Team, there were a lot of last minute substitutions.

3:02But Harry Meat has been the big pick, hasn't he? That's where loads have it gone. So 59% of players know that. At closing, it's 59% Harry. It's 43% Tom Jackson. So those are the big two. They're about 2.2 million. It was really nice pricing. You could get 2.2 millioners into your team. So I imagine there are teams out there with Harry and Tom. But what's interesting, then it's Harry again. Then it's Lucy Lasse, then Holly Richardson, then Sarah Bullamore, Simon Grieve. They're all the most popular. None of them have won a five star yet. And I know some of them are in there, like Holly's the value pick. Simon will be one of the value picks. They're both 1.8 million. But the top two, Harry and Tom Jackson. That's the big talking point. Who wins? Could they... I think they both got a massive chance. I think they've got a huge chance. They're both in my team, actually. Yeah, I know. I was quite pleased with that. Yeah, I've got Harry and... So Cavalier Crystal is the 59%. S up to Matt is 34%. So still in more than a third of teams. So double Harry, I'd say there's a lot of double Harrys out there. I have Cavalier Crystal.

4:04But I went... I went with... I think I went with Will Comet. I changed my team so many times. I actually now come in. That's awful. Imagine a world where there were actually two Harry meets. God, could we cope? Imagine the suits that would come out then. I loved the brown suit, actually, from the Trossup Yastos. Very classy. Sam, this afternoon, what to do a little like for you? So, taming the dragon. Everyina familiarization this afternoon. Another course walk I'll wheel it now. I will try and time the wheeling with lunchtime break here so that I can get into the main arena to wheel it. So I've got to get on my bike quite soon. I don't have a bike. That's just an expression. And yeah, just getting to know the course, getting the horse settled. I don't know if it's a good... I was either gonna be last on Thursday or first on Friday. I'm first on Friday. I think possibly a good thing. It'll be a bit quieter tomorrow morning than it will be this afternoon. So, all good. Have a good one. We'll see you later. Thanks. Okay, I've come down to possibly one of the busiest,

5:06one of the most atmospheric stands at Defender Burley. It is, of course, Fairfax and Favour. Marcus, I swear, every year you have a new trick up your sleeve here. Yeah, but thank you, Nicole. We do love to put on a bit of a show. It's like something I'm extremely passionate about. I want to be much more than a shopping experience. So we have a couple of new tricks for Burley this year. We have our embossing machine here. So when you make a purchase, when you put it to the bag, you get your initials embossed on a bag tag. We obviously course have our bar as usual. So you just try something on. You get a glass of bubbles. You just try to sweep me to have a cocktail. And I would love a cocktail right now. Yeah, that was very good. But I declined, just a little bit. And you could probably just about here you have our saxophones, the backgrounds. Do you ever want to know where we are at a show? Just hopefully listen up the saxophonist. Big union jack flags, also a good marker. Yes, we do love, we do like, we are proud to be very British, so. Take us back because Fairfax and Favour is how old now? Gosh, this is our 14th year this year.

6:0714 years. Now, your first stand at Burley would not be anywhere near the realm of this, would it? What was it like? I actually just saw a picture of it earlier on today. And it had, we were in the Burley Lifestyle Pavilion, which used to be on the left here, but actually it's now now moved down the corner. We had a tiny little stand, still had some of my mum's furniture on it, just mainly boots at the time. Now we obviously are more of a lifestyle brand. We kind of do everything that's anything leather really. We would get into. And yeah, it was real, it was a real moment to see just how far we come, a little for me to stand for by two. It is easy, isn't it? To just get caught up on year on year and year and everything's really busy and you just keep going. And then actually taking a moment every so often to look back and reflect on how far you have come as a brand is really important. Yeah, I had a little bit of an opportunity actually this weekend. It was actually my business partner's wedding. Congratulations, Felix. I know, congratulations Felix, and I was his best man. Okay, how was the speech?

7:08I think it went really well here. Was it funny? I mean, look, I'm not sure we didn't want to judge, but for a lot of effort in, people didn't laugh. It was great. And he was mine as well. And it was a real nice moment to just reflect a little bit on what we've been working towards 14 years. I think it's a good point to make actually, though, because both yourself and Felix have started the brand to best meet. And actually, you're still heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the company. And actually, I think that's something that in this world, we all like to know who we're buying from and what we're buying, because money has hardened and actually very easily spent. But actually, it makes it particularly special when you look at your story. Do you kind of reflect on that every so often and think, actually, to do a business like this is one thing, but to do it alongside your best friend is something else entirely? So I always tell people that a lot of business struggle with civil war, that can really kill businesses. And I'm very lucky that Felix is also my best friend.

8:08He was my best man. I'm his best man. And it probably also helps that he's in America a lot of the time. This is an absence makes a whole problem, man. So exactly. And we probably had two major arguments in 14 years. And we both have very different skills. And we can have a laugh together. And we're very lucky that it really is kind of as a marriage when you have a business partner, especially 14 years. And the fact that we're friends, I think, just is real strength to that. So tell me, if anybody comes down to the stand at Burley this week, they've got the saxophonist. They can have a cocktail or a glass of bubbles. What else is new? I think it's supposed to be exclusive. Yes, we do. We have a Burley exclusive. We have the mini-tepri import, which is a limited edition just for Burley, with already sold quite a few of them already. So I hope it's worth coming. Random walk. Yeah, I hope if you're coming there will be enough for the coming on Sunday. So we always like to do things. We always like to make it special. So it's where we started. Felix is running the events in America. He's currently on Honeymoon. But he's going back out in a couple of weeks.

9:10And we both are very heavily involved in the shows in the UK and the US. So it's something we both extremely passionate about is how we started. And I think if you can really make an amazing experience for people, you create ambassadors, not customers. And I'm extremely passionate about making that experience as good as possible. What have you got coming up? Because there's been some great exclusive collections. I know the US market is a big one. What secrets can you tell us? Well, there's quite a lot happening. I don't know how much I can save, but I'll tell you that we have got our next Lydia Millen collection launching in a couple of, becoming in a couple of weeks. I guess. For those of you who follow her, you have seen some sneak peeks. She's designed some new styles, which are amazing. She's so talented. And actually, it was a year ago today we had her here at Burley. And do you know what? They've been a big hit having there as well. I think her bags have sold out four times in a row. It's amazing. Some have had chocolate collections, spring summer, two of her three bags,

10:10you can't buy anymore. There's only one style left. And we are also going into what else is happening. We've got obviously all to winter collection now is starting to launch. We have a couple more. Can you tell me the colors? Because I always love seeing what colors. You normally have two colorways springing in the water. Yes. Go on, what colors are there? So I could tell you that one of the colors. OK, go on. Can you tell me how cool it is? No, you have to have a cocktail first, now tell you. OK, fine. I'm a balancer. And we have a couple of other. We have another collaboration as well. And we are opening into our first apartment store as well. So we go to Gerald's in Norfolk. For those of you who are in Norfolk, face. Lovely. Norfolk is home for you guys. Norfolk is home for us. It's not very far from here. Amazing. Right, I'm going to ask you a typical hospital pass question. Can you sum up Fairfax and Favour in three words? Can I sum up Fairfax, favourite, three words? British Heritage Lifestyle. British Heritage Lifestyle. You're doing a great job. Have a superb show.

11:10I'll come back and see you for a cocktail later. Thank you, Nicole. OK, I've come down to a new stand here at Defender Burley this year because Echinumerica, a new sponsor for Defender Burley. And I have got Lee Middleton, CEO, Big Boss, owner, which takes your pick of the company. And also, quite an American ambassador, Tom McEwan, fresh from a well-champion-shut gold medal. In fact, the last time I saw you, Tom, you did have a gold medal around your neck. And then your son started trying to eat it. Yeah, I think I was also sat on the floor as well. Yeah, time's flying past. Amazing with the venting we roll on from one thing to another. It now feels sadly like weeks ago. But we'll definitely be at the end of the season, go back and enjoy it again. There's a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years as well. I think that you make a really important point as well as actually enjoying the moment as it happens. And Lee, first of all, taught us a little bit about Echinumerica because Burley is a new event for you guys this year. Who are you? What do you make?

12:11And why Burley? Well, we're very excited to partner with Burley Beers sponsor here. We've got a great jump. They've got out there. Looks brilliant. So we're probably most known for was quarterflex. The joint supplement has been around for 27 years now. But yeah, no, we've got some great products here. Colley Shield is one we've launched the beginning of the year. So come along and we've got our vets here. Our nutrition is here so we can talk about that product. And the name might have Echinumerica in it, but I'm all right in saying you are UK-based, manufactured, everything else. Yeah. So everything's made here in the UK. We distribute over 50 different countries. Yeah. So we've probably in 2018, we bought the Echinumerica in America. 2018, when I took over the business, I decided to bring all the manufacturing here in the UK. And we've more than three times the size now and distributed over 50 different countries.

13:12And time for you is a new partnership in terms of an official ambassador for the company this year. But actually it goes back a lot further. Yeah, so I am very lucky to have a father who's a vet. And when we were kids with our ponies, because I got a father who's a vet, we used to get ponies that might not feel quite as fresh as some others. And whenever we got in a bit of trouble, I always remember Dad coming back from the vets and saying, oh, we need to use this. And it was always a part of quarterflex. So we've always used it on our ponies since we were kids. And so for me, it's always sort of resonated with my dad. And so realistically, it's always been there somewhere in the background, really. It's funny actually, because quarterflex, I didn't realise that you guys made quarterflex. I'm really familiar with the brand, I've heard about it for many, many years, but I didn't actually realise it was one of yours, because it's almost stood alone in a few lots of ways, hasn't it? Yeah, when I took home, everyone's emails was quarterflex. And people walked past the stand and they said, oh, I didn't realise it was the same company. So quarterflex was probably the main part,

14:16the main part of the business, but we've brought out so many exciting new products like our also guys, a huge product now. But we've got, what's 300 products, different products? So you don't need all those supplements, you're not going to feel all those supplements, but they're for individual horses. There's something for everyone. And more eventing, because eventing's been a real focus point for you guys. Like you've been big and jumping for a number of years, but this year in particular, I certainly have kind of seen a big shift into the eventing world. Yeah, well a lot of our customers are eventers. And the people that come here to Berly is from all sports, it's unbelievable venue. So when the opportunity came up, could we sponsor here? We were 100%, we want to get involved. Berly's probably one of the best shows in the world, so we definitely wanted to get involved in that. And Tom, for you coming back to Berly, a little bit of a different hat on, you've got your defender hat on for a good part of the week, busy, we're doing lots of different things.

15:16But actually, you've got your old friend, Tildo DeFerce here in a master class. Yeah, so tomorrow, midday, Coles Moss class, Coles has managed to get her riding again, and we're bringing out some old guns. So not only am I coming out on Tildo DeCerce, who's now glorious age of 19, done a bit of jumping this year, but also Vanilla Camille is coming out as well. So we're really showing the longevity and horses, and actually showing how they are cared for and how we looked after them for the years, that they can come back out and still have fun and do things. On a scale of one to turn, how cross is Tildo going to be when he goes home on Friday night? I think now he started his new jumping career at the age of 19, I think he's going to be very cross. Last year, he didn't really know what was going on. He'd had a few years away from sport. It was probably two or three years since the accident happened here at Burley. So to actually come back was amazing. And I think it would be very excited. He is an unbelievable performer, weird enough on grass.

16:16So him getting back on a true grass surface here, he will absolutely love it. And for you, I mean, Carl Hester, you've worked with Carl for a number of years. You know, you're both defender and masters, and he is somebody that you know pretty well anyway. And he's Carl Hester. Do you still get a little bit of a kick off the backside that you've got to go in to your best work? He is a genius. I mean, for me, my passion is eventing. I love my jumping. I love watching jumping. But I will stop any day to go and watch Carl ride anywhere on any horse and any cast. It's just phenomenal. When we talked about arc and earlier, and we were talking about how big the jumping was, and the eventing was also amazing. But I must say, going and watching those guys do their tests in that amphitheater, who like fully 45,000 people watching them, and the noise, especially if the music was exceptional. And he just looks like he's doing nothing. So for me, yeah, he makes you and gives you the desire to absolutely love dress-arge by doing in such an easy, clear and free way. He makes it look easy. It absolutely isn't 25 senior championship appearances.

17:19It sets the bar pretty high. Lee, this week, if anybody is coming to Burley, what can they expect if they come to the stand? You've got loads of great products. It actually smells. That was the first thing that I thought. I mean, Tom McEwan did threaten to actually, you want to eat a salad. That was very nice. And you were going to, I thought we were going to spray me with it because it's garlic, but apparently it's genius. Yeah, that's quite strong. Yeah, that's what I was. He's dope. I did say who do we not like, we could give him a little spritz. But that was moving. Naughty. You arrived at Burley at lunchtime, and you turn up to the stand. You left in what is a, always a, is something rushed to get away, isn't it? It's something you're right, yeah. You've got your clothes, Lee. Yeah, we're everything. Lovely. He has got trousers. Great shop, so I've been shopping trying to find some clothes. So, trying to rescue it. We look very smart. Thank you very much. Yes, so look, we've got our nutritionist here. We've got our vets here to come and talk about with the products. One that we get a lot of calls about is the collie shield with a new cover for the 5K with the collie. Tell us a bit about that, because it's a little bit of a new initiative in Smosh.

18:20We haven't seen something like this before. Nice. What is it? So, it's a subscription you go on with our, it's for the gut basically and for, and for, for ulcers. And if your horse qualifies, then we will help towards up to 5,000 pounds worth of cover should, should the worst happen. If your horse gets collic and the wheel, and it's on this product, we will pay 5,000 pounds towards the collie. So, essentially what you're saying is that you have real faith in collie shields really helping to negate the risk. Yeah, look, for sure, it's a supplement. It can't guarantee that that's going to happen, it's going to happen. But if, if should the worst happen, we're going to be there to support them. Ultimately, it's about doing everything that you can. Exactly. And mitigating those risks and then if the worst does happen, there's support that are available. Tom, no horse at Burley this year, will we see you back here riding

19:20in the future? Who's your next Burley horse? Yeah, so I think I was actually saying to the earlier, sadly not this year, missed a couple of years, but when you want to come something like this, you want to be competitive and strong. And I think actually we've got quite a few horses coming through, so I'm really looking forward to the next couple of years. We're actually getting a real good strength of depth around four-star. At the moment, we've been very busy going up to the scoon and all the other four-star, so actually just getting those ready and hopefully being able to come out next year and have a good string at five-star. I've heard it's a busy, but Tom, MacEaring, you take it to the next level. I think we were testing an arc and you'd been at home for something like four nights in the last four-seal, something wireless. Yeah, it's not right. I think I might need some more flex from myself at the moment. Yeah, no, we've been away in awful lot. Yeah, the team at home have been absolutely amazing, but it's only done by the ease of care and our system at home. But the guys have been amazing, the horses have been brilliant. But yeah, it's been quite a world win, which is why I think we've flashed past arc and along to the next.

20:22It does just keep going. But huge congratulations, team goals and a massive result for the team. A little bit of qualification in the bag as well, makes a big deal. You've got a couple of other riders competing here, Jesse Campbell, Clark, John Stone, both of them have done their dressage today on Thursday. So we're looking forward to cheering them on. Definitely. And as well, who wins, team? Well, do you reckon you're good at the next part? After Jesse and Clark. Honestly, I think Gemma Tats. Gemma Stevens. She's Steven, sorry. I'm Gemma Tats, Gemma Stevens. Yeah, Steven Stevens. Yeah, I'm Gemma Stevens. Yeah, she's an amazing lady. And after arc and she's an incredible person at coming back punching and fighting. And for me, that's why I think we just give her that extra bit of hunger. But it might be a year for Harry Meade. Like this is definitely a year that is a little bit more open, cerebral and more possibly. You've named a few. Yeah, tell me to pick one. Yeah, pick one. Well, you said Gemma Stevens. Gemma Stevens, Gemma Lee, do you agree? I totally agree. You're not going to just throw it on the table. I'm going to play. I ain't one of her.

21:24Jesse Campbell. Yeah. Jesse. And I would say, Kool-E Liffett looked absolutely gorgeous in the dressage. He really held it together as well. There's a Jordy Campbell fundraising panel, actually, if you're coming to Berlin. I don't know if there's still tickets available. It is Friday evening. I think it's about five o'clock in the event of also in association tent. And it is well worth supporting. It was very funny last year. Tom turned up and his hacking jacket lit like he had come from Pony Club. You remember that? Yeah, it also passed the wrong spot. They told off it was all going on. Thank you very much. Enjoy. Berly Lee is great to have you with us. Thank you very much. We'll see you back here on a horse. Hope to be next year as well. Yeah, thank you very much. Okay, and of Thursday, I am sat. I'm going to set the scene for you listeners. The sun is shining. The wind is pretty fresh. It's breezy, but it's been a lovely day here. I'm sat just off the insight stage with a glass of rosé in hand with none other than in sight hostess, Trorternare, the very lovely Lucy Jackson. How's your day? What a day. I feel slightly sort of boggled.

22:25It's been absolutely braille here at Berly. There's a real magic in the air. It's such a special place to be. Everyone, bar nobody, appreciates the magnitude of this spectacle, the five star pinnacle, but this is one in a million. And in terms of the insight stage, let's start there, things we are here. You've got a new location this year. You've had a busy day of guests. How's it been? It's been pretty cool. I came up with something brilliant on the A1 on the way up here to say that it's the weird and wonderful world of eventing. It's the most eclectic mix of folk that are inextricably linked with this sport. And what a privilege it's been actually to talk to them all. There's been some quite serious ones. There's been some quite funny ones. There's been some wildly successful people. All of whom are tough to be here. And so we've had everyone from mega stars of yesterday year within the sport and mega stars of today. The top three were on time. That is an absolute mistake. They were also very funny.

23:26I was gutted because it wasn't, because they came early. We hadn't recorded it. We didn't set it up to record. They were on fire. Yes, there was lots of, yeah, in your end, they'd been going was probably, yes, you know, high scoring. But you know, everyone from Sermart Tord, Oliver Townend, who's actually going to be emotional on Sunday when his great-villainment class retires, Ross Cantor came and joined us alongside Nick Turner with their performance mentoring program. I had people from the BHS. I've had people from the Houdam Way. My mind's spinning. But the majority of them are just great folk who are as tough to be here as I am. But for different reasons, and I think that was my job today, was to find out a bit more about what brings them here and why it's such a cool place to be. Let's talk Leedboard. Top of the Leedboard Najiminda, best five star test for her. Toblerone is 19, like huge credit to her team for keeping you on the road. You know, getting a 19-year-old to Burley has no mean feat. But the bit that really stood out for me when she was chatting at the end of today,

24:29was the fact that Andrew Nicholson has really given her a huge amount of belief she could come to Burley. She could bring the horse here. And actually, his influence, he knows this place. So well, doesn't he? Yes, I mean, who better? And I think that's something particularly special about this sport is that superstars are willing to share their knowledge. They're so generous with their experience. And, you know, Swiss team benefiting enormously. We had Clayton Fredericks. Anyway, basically, everybody was here, not with one hat on. Everyone was here with multiple roles. And across the board, everyone's willing to share their Burley knowledge with the younger generation coming through. And it was quite a cool moment to sit with the top three after today and hear them all just basically say they're thank-used to various folk who've got them here. But hats off to them. They've nailed it on day one. Judging has been quite strict. It's been hardened. Yeah, hardened. Hard and success. Gemma and Najiya said that we've got a thumbs up from Sandy Phillips. And they honestly looked, like Max did, Max was quite upset.

25:32But they honestly looked like all of their Christmases had come at once. Actually, I think Gemma got an 8.5 at one point. There were not marks being handed out freely. You really had to earn them. We've only got the two sub-30 scores. It's not a total surprise on decorating numbers. You know, we weren't expecting a plethora. No, but I think the thing to deliver PBs on really good jumping horses is what matters here. And I think you've gone into some of the statistics. But I think the important thing for those guys is that they've done it as well as their horses can do. And you can't ask for more than that. And then, as Janela alluded to, and Herbert, into the interview, actually, at the end of the day at Berli, even five marks, which you spent all week, in fact, all year, dreaming of achieving mean a lot, Larry, by the time Saturday comes around. So I think that's pretty cool at Berli to have nailed a great test. Put that behind you. Saturday's a whole different Cadillac fish. Gemma was thrilled with Chili Night. It's been a tough few weeks.

26:33I think, you know, Arcan was hard. Took you to Gary. Yeah. That's fair. She's now got a new hobby, where she's taken over. I was fascinated to hear about bridal charms, which are taking the Laurie Park by storm, Lucy. If you were to have a bridal charm, so basically, I'd imagine. Absolutely wouldn't. He said, just like Max Wolveton. I'm not my buddy. But she had a Chili. She had a crown. A crown? Yeah. I said, was it because she's a princess, but apparently it's because he's the king of the art. I think it probably covers both hats on that front. I can say that. Be she. Yeah, exactly. Well, maybe. Don't want one of those in this instance. There we go. There was her cross country colours, and there was something else as well. I was going to say, if you were to have a bridal charm, Lucy Jackson, what would be on it? I think I'd have a champagne glass. Yes. I would have a love heart, because I use the love heart and mojie quite a lot. And I have a, so we have something in our house, Toby went back to school today, and we call it the power

27:33love, but it's the little heart in the palm of your hand. And actually, if you miss me, he can press the power heart. So this is all way too sweet anyway. Just have that. And then I would probably have like a firecracker or something. OK. No, I'd say I need a microphone. What am I talking about? Yes, of course you do. Maybe I'll get her to make me one. I'm not sure. I'm quite sure who, Lucy Jackson, is yet sort of a bit demanding. I do quite a lot of teaching. What am I going to have there? Some sort of mortar board. And I keep. I do a little bit of commentary, love that, but not enough to earn a microphone on my charm. Yeah, the whole love heart emoji is a bit beyond the Wallace family. You're not going for it, are you? No, OK, right. I'm going to put a foot of should have. Wrong family. I would say, though, that she was thrilled with that little horse today. And what a lovely, I mean, what a star he's been. He's getting on to the latter stages of his career now. But he turns up and he tries.

28:35He tries so, so hard. And that's the bit I think I love. He might not be the most talented on the flat. And I can say that because Gemma would say that. But actually, he goes in there and he delivers the best that he can possibly deliver. I quite enjoyed hearing that Gemma is particularly hungry. Quote unquote, for success this week. Is there ever a show she goes to where she's not hungry for success? And the matter is, she's talking about Gemma being hungry this week for success. Well, then she went on to talk about Tom Jackson and his worms. So quite some graphic detail. We were talking about the fact that what would they do across country morning? Do they like to watch? Do they watch one and then leave? Do they not watch at all? And I said, well, Tom Jackson basically rocks up with a picnic. And he sits himself down and treats it like you were at home. And she said, straight as you like, but he's got a worm. And it takes a second for the brain to kick in and be like, sorry, what now? And what she meant is that he can consume a huge amount of food and actually stills day fighting for it. Yeah, we all looked, obviously, on as she described,

29:36Tom Jackson's supper last night. Fought by a plate of cheese, she said. So yeah, whatever does it for them, it certainly does him no harm as a pilot. And he's one I'm particularly excited to watch go. Tomorrow, I hope it goes really well. But on Saturday, on United 36, that's one of my picks of the pack. I watched him with great interest and much sort of admiration at Bamenton. And I think that's a special partnership in the making. Somebody was just telling me actually that's, I think, United 36 is fresh. I think he's fit. And I think we see it here at Burley. These horses, it's the latter part of the season. So fitness has built throughout the year. Generally speaking, they've done a good amount of work anyway, because it's Burley. And you can't leave anything to chance. And actually, it'll be interesting to see how many people do you find the tension creeps in a little bit in the arena tomorrow. Yeah, it's quite an interesting one, having had such a hot dry summer with so much firm ground, who has dared run.

30:37The prep run thing has always been a subject for discussion. Do you wrap them up and get them to the target event? Or do you dare to run them and get them to the target event in the best possible shape, but risk not getting to the target event? You know, has that had an effect on anyone's prep that this is fairly unprecedented? The grass is now green at Burley, but this is certainly the first bit of green grass I've seen for a month or three. And that will be, you know, particularly from a dress-up perspective, but also match ready for the cross-country. You know, you can't really beat running as a fitness opportunity for you or them and a sharpness opportunity. And I'll be interested if that has an effect on anyone's performance. Going into tomorrow, now you've seen how it unfolded today. And I know you've only seen bits and pieces because you've been very busy chasting. But who do you think will be leading at the end of tomorrow? And what sort of school do you think we might see? We've got to get something lower in, I'm just going to rustle my papers and get my Friday running odd, and I can't do on-screen because my eyes aren't good enough.

31:37Everyone's very much looking forward to seeing Tim Price on Falco, quite a statement to run a horse that quickly after the world, but he's such a consummate horseman. He is just going to listen to the horse. Well, the horse is obviously feeling amazing on the form of his life. It's come through the world's really well, so I can't wait to see him. And I think the element of freshness that perhaps got in the way of him meddling at the world championships, you know, surely to God, he's not going to feel super fresh now after that. Susie Berry, Max Wolberton, maybe had to say it, but he says that John the Bull is working really, really well this week. Lots of eyes on Trawara, Katie Muggy, and lots of people saying, Will Coleman wouldn't be bringing a horse from the States and that he fancied his chances. So, you know, there's a little pit, Coramero, impossible to look past our red hot favourite, start of the week, only a 10-year-old, but third, five star. Yeah, and he's been so good at the two he's done.

32:38Tim Price actually had a really good insight. I spoke to him after his test earlier, and he said that when he went out on course in Arcan, that obviously put the entry in here anyway. And when he went out on course in Arcan, the team sort of metal contention had fallen by the wayside, and he was really riding for Olympic qualification for the team. So, he didn't have to go out and go full-pelt, it was very much about actually just go out, get a clear round on the bag, don't worry about the time-falt, there'll be a few, but that's fine. Just play it safe and get the job done, but don't take any more out of him than you need to, and he said he used it as a preparation run for here. I mean, the world championships as a prep run for Bernie is something. But it was just so interesting hearing his thoughts as to actually even at that point, it was very much about bringing the horse here in as good a shape as he possibly could. They got the Olympic qualification in the bag, and actually the horse jumped beautifully, as you always does on the final day. I think Tim would very much like him to be a little bit more on-side here in the first phase than he was in Arcan. You'd hope. I don't think the horse was listening to Tim at all in Arcan,

33:40and Tim did a wonderful job. But a 33 is perhaps not where he would have wanted to be. I've got some insight for you, Lucy, in terms of expected scores, and the average score that we've seen today. So 24 combinations have gone down the centre line. The average six run average, so the average of the last six tests for each of the combinations in the field is a 34.8. The average score today is 36.9, so we're plus 2.1 penalties difference, so in terms of not scoring as competitively. Which I think bags up to kind of how it feels, you know, the hard on our street. Devo, exactly that. And I think important, as long as they're consistent, as long as they don't get Friday afternoon favour and start throwing some out, you will expect some of the best horses in the field to be Friday afternoon on account of the two horse riders would normally opt to put their best horse second with that advantage largely in mind, and the fact that you can watch a few go round albeit some of the few you're going to watch yourself. Who leads tomorrow afternoon?

34:41You've asked me that and I've given a brilliant answer. You just gave me a few. That was the, I want to name, who is the leader tomorrow afternoon? I mean, I'm just going to say. I'm going to say Bullymore. Three, only, three of the last 16 dressage leaders have gone on to win. Sarah Bullymore. Sarah Bullymore. We'll be in the lead tomorrow. Right, Cory Merrick. He heard it here first. Lucy, thank you. Have a great day tomorrow. If anyone's coming to Bully, the insight stage is situated at the end of the main avenue in front of the house. The trade signs have got a really new feel this year. It feels great actually. It kind of feels like it's always been like this once you get your bearings. Come and have a look. You've got some great guests on throughout the weekend as well. Thank you very much. Pleasure, treasure. Can't wait.