Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry: best of the post-lunch competitors at Burghley. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.We spoke too much, yesterday, about Burghley and its late-summer golden sunlight, didnt we? We were cursed, apparently, for breaking the first rule of journalism: that is, never write about the weather, you boring bugger. Unfortunately, this means well be forced to write about it again right now, if only to say that today was cold obnoxiously so and very, very windy. But hey the wind, surely, is relevant. Wind, after all, makes even the most civilised of horses do extraordinarily silly things. And event horses can be described as many things, but rarely, if ever, civilised.But even with the bluster, we still saw some super efforts from across our afternoon lineup. Not super enough to usurp morning leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, mind you, but they got a 19.9, so what can you do, really?In fact, our entire top four Ros, Pippa Funnell, nearly ten marks behind her, Tom Jackson, a fraction of a penalty behind her, and Swiss Olympian Felix Vogg remain in situ at the end of the day.Best of the afternoon bunch was one of our Burghley first-timers, Max Warburton, who rode out of the ring on his rangy ten-year-old Deerpairc Revelry with a rather starstruck grin after being awarded a competitive 28.9 a score that sees him just over half a penalty from second place at this halfway point of the first phase.I couldnt ask for any more, to be honest. Hes only a young horse; hes only 10, and its a bit of a big ask to go in that atmosphere, but he was super, so rideable, and Im absolutely delighted, says 26-year-old Max.Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.This is a five-star debut for Deerpairc Revelry whos out of the same mare as Will Faudrees Pfun, if youre into breeding fun facts but not his first moment in the spotlight. The Irish Sport Horse gelding (Hermes de Reve Celerina, by Dobels Cento) was runner-up with Max in the tough CCI4*-L at Bramham in June, finishing just behind fellow Burghley competitors Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner. Today, though, they bettered their Bramham score by nearly three penalties, despite or perhaps because of the additional, and double-marked, flying changes.Hes always found [the changes] easy, hes just been a little bit almost forward thinking, says Max, who delivered tidy efforts across his test. He almost goes before your aid, and you get in a bit of a muddle. But we just spent a long time trying to work on that, and then theyve come off; Im just delighted.Making it this far is already a huge milestone for Max, who competes alongside his girlfriend, Irish Olympian Susie Berry, this week.Its very surreal, he admits. You dream about this sort of thing as a kid even just following someone like Tim Price into the ring is surreal.Tim Price and Viscount Viktor. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Tim Price slots into sixth place overnight on the first of his two rides, ten-year-old Viscount Viktor (Viscount 22 Noble Beauty, by Nobre), on a 29.5. If youre keeping track, youll have clocked that just 1.2 penalties, or three seconds on cross-country, currently spans places two through six. Cozy!This is Viktors third five-star, and a welcome return to form in this phase he earned a 28 at Pau last season, but then put up a hugely uncharacteristic 38.4 at Luhmhlen this summer. High twenties scores, though, are just the beginning for the young horse says Tim, who rates him as one of his stars of the future.Hes going to be a really special horse on the flat. Although hes had two five-star starts before, his mind has sort of been everywhere. Hes starting to now just come into the moment a bit more with me, and I think this is probably more the starting point of what hes going to be able to produce in the future. So Im happy to squeak into the 20s, but I know that hes going to be much more capable in the future.Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Busy bee Harry Meade now has two horses in the top eight: this mornings pathfinder, Superstition, moves down to overnight eighth place on his 32.1, while this afternoons ride, Cavalier Crystal, takes seventh place on a 31.3. We were robbed, though, of the chance to debrief with Harry on the mares third-ever five-star test, because the spicy little unit needed to be piloted back to the stables. See? Event horses.Ian Cassells and Master Point. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Irelands Ian Cassells isnt making his five-star debut he did Pau last year and Luhmhlen this year, both with Master Point, his ride this week but it is his first Burghley, and his walks of the course this week mark the first time hes ever seen the colossal fences here up close.But, he reasons, I actually would have said Pau and Luhmhlen wouldnt have suited [my horse] as much. The twisty turny-ness there is strong. But I think as a rider, its a little bit easier to start with [those] two. I think the two of us have got a little bit more experience, and I think were done all the prep and are ready for Burghley.Ian and the eleven-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Pointilliste Chikari, by Kings Master) began their week on a smart score of 32.4, slotting themselves into ninth place overnight in the process.I think its a very solid first phase, he says. I might have liked a little bit lower [of a score], but as a whole, [there were] no real mistakes. Hes really gone into the big crowd and kept his cool, and really allowed me to ride him in there, so Im really pleased with him.The geldings weaker points on the flat are exactly what he hopes might be his strengths come Saturday, when the pair will tackle the biggest track of their careers.Hes by a Thoroughbred called Pointilliste, which would be a Giants Causeway horse, so hes a real old-fashioned Thoroughbred. So hes little bit on the forehand on the flat, but hopefully thatll help me now come Saturday, [because hes got a] big stride and stays all day.Nicole Mills and Fearless W. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.The top ten is rounded out by five-star debutant Nicole Mills and Fearless W, who produced one of their best-ever tests this morning for a 32.6.Im delighted with him, says Nicole, whos based just two miles down the road and admits that, as a 41-year-old five-star debutant, shed started to believe that the move-up may never happen. He doesnt find the dressage particularly easy. He does do his changes beautifully, and Ill mess one of them up, which is a bit annoying, but hes a good boy, because he likes an atmosphere and all that. Because Im local theres so many people clapping, and Im like, Oh God, dont do it till were finished! But yeah, he was good boy. Im very proud of him.Two of our stacked line-up of US imports got their week off to a good start today, and both sit in the top fifteen provisionally at this stage of the competition.Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Mia Farley and Phelps take hold of thirteenth place on a 33.7, which sits right in the realm of their two previous five-star scores a 33.8 at Kentucky this spring, and 32.9 at Maryland last year, where they finished fifth.Im pleased with that! He went in there, and he was such a professional and even walked for a little bit, laughs Mia. I think he wanted to graze the whole time, but he got it at the end.Theres a lot going on in there, and I was actually thinking that its a little bit loud, but, I mean, its very special to just ride around the ring in there.A nice test in exchange for a nice snack? Great deal. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Also special? The $1 nearly-an-ex-racehorse-but-not-quite, who she rides for coach David OConnor, and with whom shes had the biggest moments of her fledgling riding career.Just like I always joke, hes kind of someone that you sit on the couch with and just talk, she says of Phelps. Hes so special. And hes kind of hes a human, pretty much. Hes just nice to be around.And, she continues, its very comforting to have a horse to go around a big track on that you know really well. We never had five star in mind for him, but weve been producing him since he was four, and now were here, so well see. [His five-star debut] was special, because we didnt really know if hed fight for it or not we kind of knew, but we just had to see what happened. And he proved that he is a fighter and he loves what he does.Making the call to come to Burghley after two clears inside the time in two five-star runs was a no-brainer for Mia but whats been more tumultuous has been actually getting here. She utilised some creative fundraising schemes, including selling Team Phelps jackets, to raise the $30,000 or so needed to make the trip, and thats made for a pretty unconventional lead-up.Its been an emotional roller coaster, she says with a laugh. I wasnt committed to coming here until, like, three weeks ago. Obviously, we did all the prep and everything, but I just wasnt sure if Id fundraise enough. And then I talked to Jennie [Brannigan], and she was like, youre going! so then we did a couple more things, and we made it work. But my mental space I think Im putting a lot of pressure on myself because everyones helped me get here so, theres been a lot of, like, calming jazz music playing!Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Jennie Brannigan, for her part, has also made the trip over, but her own lead-up has been less stressful than Mias and less stressful than her own twelve months ago, too. Last year, FE Lifestyle tied up on the Monday before the event, and she wasnt sure shed even be able to run him but this year, hes had a great preparation and travelled over early to ensure hed manage the transatlantic trip well.He and Jennie begin their week on a score of 34.7, which puts them into equal fifteenth place with Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain overnight. A lower score was precluded by some tension in the canter work, which proved expensive.With the weather and whatnot, I was a bit worried, because hes pretty hot in the dressage, she confessed. Last year, he was a bit more subdued in the arena. But Im pleased with him he just gets wound up in the canter, but Im thinking well run and jump better this time, since hes in 100% health. I thought the walk and trot was great, and we held it together the best we can.Jennie was one of a very small number of riders to profess to looking forward to the challenge of Saturdays cross-country: but if youre on a horse like this, you would, she grins. Im excited for Saturday. I didnt even know if I was going to run on the morning of [last year], so that was really, really challenging. And so my goal this year was to obviously bring him over early, make sure he stayed in good form, and I think hes fit. He came over great, and were just happy that hes in great form, and I can go out and attack the cross country, because I didnt really get to do that last year. Bless him, he was amazing to jump around like he did, but Im excited to go out there with 100%.US horses: evidently hungry for some good English grass. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Coming back to the hallowed grounds of Burghley was priority number one for Jennie and her exceptional cross-country partner.I love it. Its the hardest event in the world, but I love it. I wouldnt want to be on any other horse. I just think its the hardest event in the world, and everyone knows its the best event. So to me, this is what eventing is about. This is eventing; this is the sport. And this is why, as a kid I wanted to do it. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else competing at any other show this year. This is it for me. Everyone knows it: big bad Burghley.Tomorrows dressage begins at 9.30 a.m local time/4.30 a.m. EST with Emily King and Valmy Biats first in the arena. For those following our US competitors, you can catch them at the below times:37 a.m. BST/4.37 a.m EST: Cosby Green and Copper Beach02 a.m. BST/6.02 a.m. EST: Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M30 BST/9.30 a.m. EST: Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54The full list of times can be found here, and todays results, in full, can be found here. If youd like to catch up on all the rest of todays action, you can browse back through Chegs live coverage of todays competition, which will return tomorrow for lots of insightful analysis and useful intel. You can also get the full scoop on every horse and rider in the field in our jam-packed form guide, and get all the details on how to watch the competition live and much more! in our Ultimate Guide. Until next time: Go Eventing.The top ten at the end of day one of dressage at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.Our coverage of Burghley is brought to you by our incredible supporters, Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional products to keep your horse feeling their best at all times. Theyll even get on the phone with you to help you formulate a solid supplementation plan for your horses individual needs! Wed really appreciate your support of KPP, as theyre champions for our sport and beyond and are wonderful people to boot. Check them out here.Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [Cross Country Preview] [ENs Coverage]