British team rider and dual five-star winner Piggy March has taken the early lead after the first day of dressage at Defender Burghley 2025, riding her new mount MCS Maverick to an impressive score of 25.7 penalties.

The 2022 Burghley champion’s return to Lincolnshire has started in spectacular fashion, with March demonstrating her class aboard the 12-year-old bay gelding she took over from Pippa Funnell earlier this year.

British Dominance in Early Standings

March heads an all-British top three, with Alex Bragg sitting second on Ardeo Premier with a score of 28.4, whilst Will Rawlin occupies third place aboard Ballycoog Breaker Boy on 28.8 penalties.

This marks March’s first appearance at Burghley since her triumphant victory in 2022 aboard Vanir Kamira, and the early signs suggest she could be in contention for another title.

The Maverick Challenge

MCS Maverick, bred in Britain by Mill Law, certainly lived up to his name during the first horse inspection when he managed to escape from March – a sign of the character she’s working with.

“He gets very excited and you have to stay with his brain so there’s not a moment of ‘oh, look over there’,” explained March, who will represent Britain at the forthcoming European Championships later this month.

“If the switch goes in his brain, you’ve lost him, and he needs a lot of working in before his dressage test.”

Despite the challenges, March was delighted with their performance: “I was delighted that he was so rideable today. He is still weak in the trot, but he has a great canter, which does have the wow factor, and today he did actually walk as well – this is the pace that can be his Achilles heel.”

Building Partnership

Having had just six runs on MCS Maverick, March admits she’s still building the partnership with the horse previously produced by Pippa Funnell, who guided him to ninth place at Badminton in 2024.

“I’ve had six runs on him and, although I’m not exactly confident, I’m excited and super-interested to see what happens on the cross-country on Saturday,” March revealed.

Strong British Showing

Alex Bragg delivered an excellent performance with Debbie and Neill Nuttall’s Ardeo Premier, a horse that finished 16th at Badminton this year and was longlisted for the British team at the European Championships.

“I am thrilled with him,” said Bragg, whose target was “around 30” penalties. “It’s nerve-racking because you put in all the hours and hours of training just to get to this point.”

Will Rawlin, riding his family’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse Ballycoog Breaker Boy, has his sights set firmly on completing Burghley – something that has eluded him despite twice going clear cross-country at Badminton.

“That’s the big aim,” Rawlin explained. “He’s a very good cross-country horse, economical and looks between the flags. My intention is to go straight all the way.”

International Representation

The international flavour continues down the leaderboard, with David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed – runners-up at Defender Burghley in 2023 – sitting fourth. Harry Meade occupies fifth with the second of his three rides, Cavalier Crystal.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy sits sixth on Belline Fighting Spirit, whilst 2010 Burghley winner Caroline Powell from New Zealand holds seventh place with High Time. Frenchman Gaspard Maksud rounds out the top eight aboard Zaragoza.

Friday’s Star Attractions

All eyes will turn to Friday’s action when the heavyweight contenders enter the arena. Last year’s runners-up Tim Price and Vitali will be seeking to go one better, whilst Oliver Townend brings the Badminton runner-up and Defender Kentucky 2024 winner, Cooley Rosalent.

The biggest anticipation surrounds defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who will be looking to repeat their dominant 2024 performance when Canter became the first rider in the modern era to hold first and second places after dressage.

Friday’s action commences at 10am when Alice Casburn and Topspin become the first combination into the arena.

How to Follow the Action

Every moment of the action from Defender Burghley 2025 is being shown live on Burghley TV, ensuring fans don’t miss any of the drama as it unfolds.

With the early British dominance setting the tone, Friday promises to deliver even more excitement as the star names take centre stage. Can March maintain her advantage, or will the defending champions and former winners have something to say about the early leaderboard?