An exciting day of cross-country caused multiple form upsets at Defender Burghley Horse Trials today (Saturday 7 September), but Ros Canter remains in the top spot after a blistering clear round inside the time aboard Lordships Graffalo (pictured above).Ros and Walter, who helped Team GB to gold at the Paris Olympics just a few weeks ago, were one of the final combinations to leave the startbox today.They were one of only four duos all of them British to finish inside the optimum time of 11mins 16secs.I think going fast round Burghley is a different kettle of fish really. Its the undulations, the ups and downs even a light horse like Lordships Graffalo felt a little leg weary at the end which is not like him, said Ros.Hes just an unbelievable horse, what a lucky girl I am to ride him.The scores are tight at the top and Ros has nothing in hand over New Zealands Tim Price, who is currently 3.5 penalties behind with Vitali.In fact, just 13.1 penalties separate the top 10 and with each rolled pole tomorrow costing four faults plus a time allowed to factor in errors will prove expensive during the final phase.View the top 10 in pictures belowView this post on InstagramA post shared by Your Horse Magazine (@yourhorsemagazine)Overnight leaders Britains Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: 22 penaltiesRos described her relief at finishing with Walter the pair are also European Champions and said she was ticking a box.I havent done that many Burghleys. I also feel like I havent nailed Burghley yet and its our local event, so its very special to me, she said.Ive been here many years, my familys here today, lots of friends so we brought [Walter] to get this box ticked really. Its a bit of a relief [to go clear] but amazing as well.The final fence today, Defender Finale (30), had a roof and required horses to jump through the space between it and the fence. This type of obstacle has proved troublesome for Walter in the past.As a six-year-old, in his first intermediate, he fell at the last fence, which was an owl hole, said Ros.He doesnt like things over the top of him and he ducks, so I was holding my breath a little bit coming to the last.When he was seven, I was pregnant so I gave him to Tom McEwen for a year and he had a right job on his hands getting him through owl holes. Hes always crouched and struggled with them, so it wasnt over until Id cleared the last fence today.Rospulled up her dressage leader Izilot DHI after an early run out at fence 5c, an angled brush which followed a ditch out of Defender Valley.2nd New Zealands Tim Price and Vitali: 25.5Kiwi Tim Price is poised for a top result tomorrow with Vitali.I had a great [cross-country] round. He felt better than last year, fitter I think, and jumping clean. It was just a really fun experience, said Tim.Even though you have highs and lows in this sport, hes always gaining experience and hes starting to understand the whole package a bit more.He used to really nap going up to the start box out of anxiety, whereas now he marches up and knows whats coming. So the whole thing is building into the arsenal of what he understands and that means he can relax a bit more.I think thats the key to him performing, added Tim.3rd Britains Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner: 27.8Harry Meade pulled off three brilliant clear rounds today two of them inside the time to firmly cement his place at the business end of the leaderboard.The 12-year-old Annaghmore Valoner, contesting five-star level for the first time, is currently his best placed mount in third.Shes a lovely horse, said Harry. Ive had to hold her hand so far around the two four-stars shes done and very much build her confidence because shes been a bit unsure of herself.But today I thought crack on. Ive had two really super fast runs already and I thought shes my third one so she was a bonus. I tried to be as quick as I could and she was comfortably inside the time.4th Frances Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza: 30.4Gaspard Maksud is best placed of the French contingent in fourth with the 11-year-old mare Zaragoza.5th Britains Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal: 31.3Harry Meades speedy clear rounds came aboard Annaghmore Valoner and Cavalier Crystal, the latter horse slotting into fifth overnight.Harry was first out of the start box today with Superstition, who picked up a handful of time-faults to lie 15th overnight.He said he had a plan for each of his three rides.I had five [horses] entered and I probably left my two strongest XC horses behind, he admitted.I did a bit of a mathematical equation and reckoned that these three would have the best chance of the lowest finishing score, but there was an element of risk.6th Britains Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight: 32.1Gemma Tattersall and Chilli Knight clear round with 2.4 time-faults moved them inside the top 10, having been 18th place after the dressage.I cannot tell you how nervous I was, confessed Gemma. I felt horrendous today because I so badly wanted to do well.We did have a little point to prove after Badminton [where they picked up 15 penalties for a missed flag] and honestly that horse just flew round today.He was absolutely phenomenal. Its such a shame I lost a little bit of time. You could say I was a little bit out of practice.The last few years I havent had the rides at this level and coming back to it, its scary. Ive been doing a lot of showjumping.I havent had so many event horses, but now Ive got some really amazing ones coming through and hopefully Ill be back.7th New Zealands Monica Spencer and Artist: 32.8Monica Spencer and her ex-racehorse Artist finished seventh at the Defender Kentucky 5* in May. They relocated to the USA from New Zealand earlier this year for a bid at the Paris Olympics.They didnt get the call up to compete in Versailles, but proved their talent when slotting into seventh after a confident clear today.It felt like a lot of big jumps and a lot of galloping, said Monica, who is competing at Burghley for the first time. I didnt imagine feeling so desperate to go fast.He was great. He just answered every question I asked and I probably took a bit too much time in some places, but Im wrapped with the horse.Its pretty awesome to build a partnership with a horse over many years. I think weve been together nine years now.Hes only 13 and I feel like he gets better every year. I dont think hes reached his peak yet, and thats exciting.8th Britains Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift: 34.2Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift finished second at Burghley in 2022.I think its one of the best rides Ive had on him. He stayed travelling the whole way. This is his fifth five-star now I think and he just delivers every single time. Whatever you ask of him, he delivers, so I couldnt be happier with him, said Tom.They all [five-star tracks] feel pretty tough when youre doing them, but here is definitely tougher to ride. The terrain just adds a whole new level to it, but I was really happy with the way he picked up and finished.I said rather cheekily that in some of the combinations it just feels like youre going through the motions with him because hes so experienced.Im incredibly privileged to ride such a special horse.9th Frances Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold Hdc: 34.9Another Frenchman occupies ninth place at this stage, Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold Hdc.10th Britains Alex Bragg and Quindiva: 35.1The first horse and rider to achieve the optimum time was Alex Bragg and Quindiva. They finished with two seconds to spare.Shes a jumper and this is a jumping track. Everyone was saying its big and bold, the take offs make it a bit awkward, but she locked on, kept the contact, and the scope in there wow! said a delighted Alex.Im excited. I mean that was a thrilling ride. I was going for the time and she was just about on it every minute.You think if you drop back 10 seconds youre never going to make it up; she just kept going and going and thats phenomenal.I nearly stopped her to have a beer because I thought it was so easy, he joked, but anything can happen over two seconds. I mean two seconds is nothing.[The course] kept challenging her and she kept delivering. Im thrilled for the Roe family Kelly, Mike, Naomi who own her and all of my team and family. Its emotional.Course designers viewCourse-designer Derek di Grazias 30-fence track recorded 32 clears from 65 starters.Im very happy with how it went, said Derek.There was a lot of talk about the size of the triple brushes at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, but you hope the first horse will go out and make it look good and Harry Meade did that.Everyone finished safely and it was a great day for the sport.It was a brilliant track; a proper, proper three-day event course, confirmed Harry Meades verdict.Harrys feat of getting two horses around inside the time at Defender Burghley is incredible, confirmed Diarmuid Byrne of the Irish statistics company, EquiRatings.Its only been achieved a handful of times in history and only once before by a British rider [Mary King in 2010].Out of the runningAs expected, todays exciting phase caused form upsets and several combinations well-placed after dressage dropped out of contention.As well as Ros Canter retiring Izilot DHI, Emily King, lying fourth, pulled up Valmy Biats after a run-out and Caroline Powell, in eighth, retired her Badminton winner Greenacres Special Cavalier for the same reason.Oliver Townend, equal fifth on Cooley Rosalent, was eliminated for a fall at the second part of the Rolex Corners (fence 16).Ahead to the showjumpingTomorrow kicks off with the final horse inspection at 9am.All horses passed by the ground jury will then go forward to the final showjumping phase.According to EquiRatings, eight out of the last 10 cross-country leaders have gone on to win and Ros will be looking to become the ninth rider to achieve this enormous feat.The showjumping starts at 10.30am and will run in reverse order of merit.Showjumping for the top 20 horses and riders will begin at 2.15pm.All photos by Trevor HoltUseful linksFull resultsView the cross-country fencesCross-country fence analysisOrder of presentation for final horse inspectionBurghley timetableHow to watch Defender BurghleyThe post Im a lucky girl: Ros Canter holds on to Burghley lead after exciting cross-country phase *TOP 10 IN PICTURES* appeared first on Your Horse.