Full-time businessman Tom Strawson is one of the few true amateur riders in the Defender Burghley line up this year. He is a director at Qudos Developments, which specialises in advising, acquiring and developing commercial property. The 37-year-old swapped point-to-pointing for eventing just a few years ago and is following in the footsteps of his aunt, Ginny Rose (ne Strawson), who competed here in the 1990s.Toms partner is the 11-year-old ex-racehorse Public Address, a Thoroughbred he purchased after a friend said he was selling a cheap Thoroughbred that can jump for less than a few grand.He ran a couple of times as a four- or five-year-old in Ireland. Hes made for speed hes by Milan, a top-end National Hunt sire, said Tom. A friend of mine told me hed got a cheap Thoroughbred that could jump. He sent me a video and that was enough for me to get on a plane and go and see him.Hes a jumper. Hes got a very good action with his front forearm and a very chilled temperament, but not a lot else. Hes too small, flat boned, a bit long in the back, herring gutted, but I thought, well, youre cheap and you can jump so can get out of jail if youre not good enough.Too heavy for racingTom is a former Pony Club member and he contested pony trials and junior eventing before switching to point-to-pointing.He returned to eventing in July 2020 after a nine-year break and Burghley is his 30th international event. Public Addresss first run, at novice level, was in March 2022, but the pair were eliminated on the cross-country.Ive always been hooked on the horse job, said Tom. Point-to-pointing was easier with university and then work. I managed to get a few outside rides, kept myself fit, and then turn up at a point-to-point at the weekend. I absolutely loved it and I probably would be doing that now if I wasnt the size that I am [6ft 1in]. As you get older your natural weight gets heavier and it just wasnt fun anymore. Im quite competitive though and then this horse came along. Fortunately, hes talented and progressed quickly. I had no idea [if hed be good enough]. It was just a case of keep asking him a few questions and he answered them so we could progress. I suppose thats happened, so thats why were here.Training with Ros CanterAs well as support from his Aunt Ginny and Great Aunt Pauline, Tom also trains with Amy Woodhead and Ros Canter, who lives four-miles away from his base near Louth, Lincolnshire.I took this horse for a last cross-country school at hers last week and she was jumping one of her good horses. I thought, well, if my horse can jump those fences OK, well be OK.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentA very special horse: from unbacked five-year-old with a teenage rider to five-star formDavid Doel in pole position on Thursday lunchtimeMeet the Burghley first-timer on a quirky mare who dislikes large crowds and refuses flatwork lessonsHow to watch Defender Burghley The post Property director and cheap ex-racehorse make their CCI5* debut appeared first on Your Horse.