On track to finish on their dressage, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo head into the finale at the head of the pack on a score of 22. Photo by Tilly Berendt.And so we find ourselves on the edge of our seats, chomping at the bit to discover who will take home the Burghley trophy, but theres much more than the glory, impressive purse and gorgeous piece of silverware at stake this year, for the winner will also be awarded with their weight in beer courtesy of Hawkestone. Its not clear whether theyve committed to the riders weight, the horses, or both, but theres for sure an argument that eventing is very much a whole team effort and therefore horse, rider, owners, grooms, sponsors, breeders, and the entire team at home are all winners. (Can we go as far as sire and dam?) Just saying. But before we go about inviting ourselves to the champions celebrations to share the spoils, theres the small matter of keeping the poles in the cups and the top 20 are waiting in the wings to have a go at doing just that.Things are due to kick off at 2:15pm local time / 3:15pm CET / 9:15am ET with Britains Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal getting things underway in this afternoons session, jumping out of order as Harry has no fewer than three rides in the top 15; they come into the final phase in 5th place. The rest of the competitors are due to come forward in reverse order, although Harry had his round with 15th placed Superstition this morning, jumping clear inside the time and finishing on a score of 42.9.Fighting for their weight in beer at the top of the table as things stand are:1 Britains Ros Canter with Lordships Graffalo on a, frankly, ridiculous score of 22 are looking to do the double with a win at both the big Bs after coming out on top at Badminton last year.2 3.5 points behind is New Zealands Tim Price with Vitali on 25.5.3 And 2.3 points behind them is Britains Harry Meade with Annaghmore Valoner on a score of 27.8.Basically, Ros doesnt have a fence in hand over Tim, who doesnt have a fence in hand over Harry, who doesnt have a fence in hand over Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza in 4th, or himself with Cavalier Crystal in 5th. Its tight at the top and were in for an exciting finale to Defender Burghley! If youre rooting for the US, this is what you need to know: Mia Farley and Phelps were in 34th place overnight on a score of 77.3 after picking up 20 jumping and 23 time penalties out on cross country. They jumped this morning and had four fences and 1.2 time, putting them on a Burghley completion score of 94.5.Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 were in 29th place overnight on a score of 60 after picking up 19.6 time yesterday. They also jumped this morning and had two fences and 2 time, putting them on an overall score of 70.Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M parted ways out on the cross country which brought their competition to an early end.Jumping in the top 20 are:Cosby Green and Copper Beach currently in 15th place on a score of 44.4 . Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle currently in 18th place on a score of 49.9.Click here to see how this mornings competitors got on and how things look for the rest of the combinations coming forward this afternoon.If youve missed out on our coverage thus far, dont fret, catch up here: Dressage Day One: [Test-by-test reports] [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report] Dressage Day Two: [Test-by-test reports] [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report] Cross Country: [Live blog of all the action] [Round-up report] Here at EN weve been beavering (chinchilla-ing, if you will) away to bring you all manner of cool content, so whilst we await the bell, get stuck in to all things Burghley and mosey on along to our IG account for even more @goeventing.Remember the rule from yesterdays pop quiz? The first rule of live updates: refresh, refresh, refresh if you want to keep up with live updates. Theres (potentially, a lot) of beer at stake ENers, lets go eventing!Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [ENs Coverage]ENs coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.________________________________________________________________________________10:07am ETWe really are all living in Walters world and its pretty dang good.Heres the top 3:1 Winners of the whole dang thang are Britains Ros Canter and Lorships Graffalo on a score of 23.6 a record Burghley finishing score.2 The 2024 runners-up, 5.9 points behind, are New Zealands Tim Price and Vitali on 29.5.3 And taking the final podium spot are Britains Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal who have finished on their dressage score of 31.3.________________________________________________________________________________10:05am ETROS CANTER AND LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO WIN DEFENDER BURGHLEY 2024!________________________________________________________________________________10:02am ET Ros Canter and Lordships GraffaloPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 22Cross Country Penalties: 0+0Overall: 22 1stOK, this is it. Are we watching our Burghley champions?Easy over the first, careful over the second. Balanced round the turn and right over the third. He doesnt even notice the fourth and theres no question over 5 or 6, or 7. They come round to the treble at 8 and tap the middle part but it stays. The Mars oxers no bother at 9 and the black and white rails at 10 are perfect. Over the double and clear of the Defender Finale and HERE ARE YOUR BURGHLEY WINNERS!!! Just 1.6 time to add.Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo finish on a score of 23.6.Its a record Burghley finishing score!________________________________________________________________________________10am ET Tim Price and VitaliPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 22.3Cross Country Penalties: 0+3.2Overall: 25.5 2ndOK, hold your breath. The crowd has been asked not to clap as he comes into the ring. Vitali really does get hyped up, as we see very clearly at the horse inspections. Its silent in there but for Vitalis breathing. His heads in the air over the first couple of fences but so far so good. Vitalis really being careful and jumping out of his skin. Hes clear through fence 7. The treble comes up and Tims riding brilliantly. He touches the Mars oxer at 9 and is still clear. Hes clear over 10 but then, oh, he has the second part of the double at 11. One to go. Clear over the Defender Finale. Good job Vitali, and Tim, of course. Just one fence down and holding on to second place.Tim Price and Vitali finish on a score of 29.5.________________________________________________________________________________9:57am ET Harry Meade and Annaghmore ValonerPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 27.8Cross Country Penalties: 0+0Overall: 27.8 3rdThis mare may not have the most experience but she sure looks class as she clears the first two fences, shes jumping her socks off. They get in deep to the third and the crowd gasps. They tap the oxer with the watertray at 5 but it stays. Their luck runs out at the black and white rails at 10 and that comes down. They put that behind them though and finish up with no further problems. One down for them.Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner finish on a score of 31.8.________________________________________________________________________________9:55am ET Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza IIPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 26.8Cross Country Penalties: 0+3.6Overall: 30.4 4thThis mare is usually careful but she just doesnt get up high enough over the first and has it down. Theres a tap at the oxer at 3 but it stays and then they rub 6, but that also stays. Theres a big rattle at the first part of the treble at 8 but their luck holds. Gaspard says Woah as he makes his way through there with the mare getting quite keen. They finish up clear. One down for them.Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II finish on a score of 34.4.________________________________________________________________________________9:52am ET Gemma Stevens and Chilli KnightPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 29.7Cross Country Penalties: 0+2.4Overall: 32.1 6thChilli Knights a bit squirrelly before the first and the second but Gemma keeps things together and theres no question of the poles staying up. They quickly settle into their round and easily clear the next few fences. Theres a tap at the treble at 8 but then the Mars oxer at 9 just doesnt come up for them and they have that down. Theyre clear the rest of the way round. One fence down for them.Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight finish on a score of 36.1.________________________________________________________________________________9:50am ET Monica Spencer and ArtistPhoto by Sally Spickard.Dressage Score: 24.4Cross Country Penalties: 0+8.4Overall: 32.8 7thThis pair have a bit of a rub at the first and then tap the second. Both stay up. They get up higher over the oxer at 3 and then easily clear the Rolex fence at 4. They have another tap at 5 the oxer with the watertray and then their luck runs out at 7 and they have that down. They tap all the poles at both elements of the double at 11 but their lucks back and everything stays up. One fence down for them and 2 time penalties.Monica Spencer and Artist finish on a score of 38.8.________________________________________________________________________________9:47am ET Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow DriftPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 28.6Cross Country Penalties: 0+5.6Overall: 34.2 8thThis horse has already proved what a good jumper he is and hes only proving that once again as he flies over the fences with buckets of room to spare. Theres a tiny tap at 6 but absolutely no worries. Its a bit of a rattle in the middle part of the treble combination at 8 but it stays. They jump very neatly through the double at 11 and then over the Defender Finale for a clear round. No worse than 8th for them.Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift finish on a score of 34.2.________________________________________________________________________________9:45am ET Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDZPhoto by Eventing Nation.Dressage Score: 26.1Cross Country Penalties: 0+8.8Overall: 34.9 9thAbsolut Gold shows his class over the first few fences and nothing seems to be a problem for them so far. This big horse has to really shorten in the treble combination at 8 and taps the vertical on the way out but it stays. They have a rattle at the b element of the double at 11 but that also stays. They continue on and finish up clear. Nicolas gives a yell and is clearly thrilled. Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDZ finish on a score of 44.9.________________________________________________________________________________9:42am ET Alexander Bragg and QuindivaPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 35.1Cross Country Penalties: 0+0Overall: 35.1 10thAlex is looking to join the elite club of finishing on his dressage at Burghley. He comes quietly into the first fence and then really has a beautiful jump over the second. Diva is such a good show jumper and shes really showing that off. Shes not even breathing on these fences. This round must feel really good for Alex. Not a problem for this pair. Alex punches the air and gallops along to share his celebrations with the crowd. Clear and guaranteed top 10 for them.Alexander Bragg and Quindiva finish on a score of 35.1.________________________________________________________________________________9:40am ET Alice Casburn and TopspinPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 36.6Cross Country Penalties: 0+1.6Overall: 38.2 11thAlice takes a breath before turning towards the first fence. She sets Topspin up for the Lion Bridge at 2 and they give the Rolex Grand Slam fence at 4 plenty of room. This is a really confident round so far. Alice reminds Topspin to shorten up through the treble with a Woah and hes right with her. The whole shebang looks sweet and easy and they finish with a clear round. Easy and class.Alice Casburn and Topspin finish on a score of 38.2.________________________________________________________________________________9:37am ET Austin OConnor and Colorado BluePhoto by Sally Spickard.Dressage Score: 33.9Cross Country Penalties: 0+4.8Overall: 38.7 12thThis pair are neat over the first and leave nothing to chance at the Lion Bridge at 2, clearing it easily. Salty is really jumping his socks off. Oh, he jumps up too high over the oxer with the watertray at 5 and comes down on the back rail. They put it behind them but theres an uncomfortable looking jump at the vertical at 10 but theyre clear. The oxer out of the double at 11 is a similar story to the one they had at 5 and that goes. Two fences for them.Austin OConnor and Colorado Blue finish on a score of 46.7.________________________________________________________________________________9:35am ET Felix Vogg and CartaniaPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 28.8Cross Country Penalties: 0+12Overall: 40.8 13thThis mare is jumping really nicely at the start of the course and gives the big oxer at 3 lots of air. The round looks careful and steady but hes taking very tight lines. They pay the price for that at the upright at 7 and have it down. Cartania continues on carefully and doesnt even breathe on any of the poles. One down for them.Felix Vogg and Cartania finish on a score of 44.8.________________________________________________________________________________9:32am ET Cosby Green and Copper BeachCosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 31.6Cross Country Penalties: 0+12.8Overall: 44.4 15thCosby brings her experienced campaigner in and he jumps the first well. Hes a little hollow over the second and hes got his own technique over the fences thats for sure. It doesnt look easy but Cosbys doing a great job and all the fences have stayed up. He taps the first part of the treble at 8 and gives not an inch over the two verticals coming out, but all the poles stay put. They take out the second part of the double at 11 and then clear the final fence. One fence and 1.2 time.Cosby Green and Copper Beach finish on a score of 49.6.________________________________________________________________________________9:30am ET Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza NieuwmoedPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 33Cross Country Penalties: 0+15.2Overall: 48.2 16thThey come quietly into the third and climb up over it. Wow, they were lucky that stayed up. But Feroza picks up better over the next couple of fences and really stretches over the oxer with the watertray at 5. They tap their way through the treble combination at 8 but all the poles stay put. Theyre careful through the double at 11 and finish up with a great jump over the Defender Finale. Clear with 1.2 time.Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed finish on a score of 49.4.________________________________________________________________________________9:27am ET Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star QualityPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 36.1Cross Country Penalties: 0+12.4Overall: 48.5 17thThis pair have a real problem at fence 2 and really run into it. But then the horse is very neat over fence 3 and is really jumping well as she continues round the course. She stretches right out over the Mars oxer at 9 and is really giving all the fences buckets of height. Wow, she leaps right up into the air over the last. One fence down and one second over.Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality finish on a score of 52.9.________________________________________________________________________________9:25am ET Jennie Brannigan and FE LifestylePhoto by Sally Spickard.Dressage Score: 34.7Cross Country Penalties: 0+15.2Overall: 49.9 18thFoxy looks up for it as he comes round to the vertical at 1 and he makes nothing of the Lion Bridge at 2. Theres a tiny rattle at 3 but no question its staying up. He shows his scope over the oxer with the watertray at 5 but then takes the upright at 7, he just didnt quite get up high enough. Jennies really helping Foxy out as they continue on clear up to the double but then unfortunately take the second part. They finish with two fences down.Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle finish on a score of 57.9.________________________________________________________________________________9:22am ET Wills Oakden and A Class CooleyDressage Score: 30.6Cross Country Penalties: 0+19.6Overall: 50.2 19thUnfortunately we miss the start of Wills round while Nadjas being interviewed but he clears the Rolex Grand Slam fence at 4 looking very classy. He really pushes off the ground and stretches over the wide oxers. Hes neat and tidy over all the fences and is clear all the way. Just two seconds over.Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley finish on a score of 51.________________________________________________________________________________9:20am ET Max Warburton and Deerpairc RevelryPhoto by Tilly Berendt.Dressage Score: 28.9Cross Country Penalties: 0+22Overall: 50.9 20thThis combination look very relaxed as they start their round. The first three fences pose no problem and the horse shows his scope over the wide oxer at 5. Hes got his ears pricked and is jumping out of his skin. He rattles the final part of the combination at 8 but it stays up. What an exciting prospect this horse is for the future. They rattle the last but it stays up and theyre clear. Just a second over.Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry finish on a score of 51.3.________________________________________________________________________________9:17am ET Nadja Minder and TobleronePhoto by Eventing Nation.Dressage Score: 31Cross Country Penalties: 0+21.2Overall: 52.2 21stThe clear the upright at 1 and then the Lion Bridge. The come round to the oxer at 3 and stretch right over. 4 is no trouble and they come back round to 5, tap the back rail but it stays. Toblerones jumping his socks off. Hes really careful through the treble combination at 8 and really stretches over the Mars oxer at 9. They roll back to the double at 11 and take a tap but it stays. Clear with 0.8 time for them and a superb Burghley finish.Nadja Minder and Toblerone finish on a score of 53.________________________________________________________________________________9:15am ET Harry Meade and Cavalier CrystalPhoto by Eventing Nation.Dressage Score: 31.3Cross Country Penalties: 0+0Overall: 31.3 5thCavalier Crystal looks keen for the job and clears the first. The Lion Bridge at 2 is no problem. They stretch over the oxer at 3 and clear the Rolex Grand Slam fence. The watertray at 5 is no trouble and the next to the same. They tap the first part of the treble combination at 8 but it stays. They continue on clear and the horse really is showing off her superb jumping ability. They clear the Defender Finale and theres a cheer. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal finish on a score of 31.3.________________________________________________________________________________