Friday Five to Follow

Into Second Place early on Valmy Biats (Emily King) DR Time: 9:30
Looking at recent tests, we expect that a good day would land around the 25 mark and an off-day is around 28. They will very likely slot in behind Ros in second place overall for the early part of the morning.
We include them here because they have not been outside the top 5 internationally in 2024, including 4th at Badminton and 5th at Aachen. A good start means we can really begin to speculate about the time penalties on Saturday and the impact it will have for them. They weren't slow at Badminton or Aachen but it is the phase where they might drop marks.

The defending champion who needs to stay close: Cooley Rosalent (Oliver Townend) DR Time: 11:17
While Ros has been the star of the sport for a couple of years, Oliver Townend, with 8 five-star wins - including here last year and Kentucky with this horse, is the rider that is most likely to spoil her party.
Cooley Rosalent is still only 10 but already has two five star podiums to her name - both in the US and at Maryland in particular, over a tough cross country track. They started on a 23.1 that day. They scored 19.8 at Burgham in a CCI4*-S last time out but are unlikely to match that tomorrow. Expect they go second with a low twenties test.

The speed horse that needs to keep in touch: Artist (Monica Spencer) DR Time: 14:00
We expect that we will return to more Monica Spencer conversations on Saturday morning. Artist is a thoroughbred horse who could make up a lot of ground on Saturday afternoon but a good start will decide how meaningful that climb will ultimately prove.
Their last test at this level was at Kentucky where they scored 31.9. Anything around that will leave too much to do but a late twenties test gives them something to work with. One to watch but not an overnight top five horse.

The star of the sport: Lordships Graffalo (Rosalind Canter) DR Time: 15:32
What a position it will be for Ros to know that she already likely leads overnight and she still has the star of the sport to deliver their test.
Lordships Graffalo has it all - but whether that includes a sub 20 dressage remains to be seen. They have been comfortably in the 22-24 range for most of their recent big day test - but worth noting, they have always been a little ahead of Izilot DHI in this phase.
Who knows what is to come, but can they take the lead - absolutely. Even if they don't, they will very likely remain the favorite due to all that lies ahead this weekend and (whisper it) they could potentially break the
Burghley record finishing score (25.4)

Last year's record breaker: Vitali (Tim Price) DR Time: 15:47
Tim and Vitali delivered an 18.7 dressage test at Burghley last year, a CCI5* record low outside of championships.
At many events, the final phase has been their undoing, but likely to feature in many conversations over the weekend. Highly likely to be in top 5 on Friday night.