Wills Oakden knows the cross country course at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials doesn’t get it’s ‘big, bad, Burghley’ nickname from nowhere. 

Oakden arrives at the infamous Stamford venue fresh off the back of a historic hat-trick of back-to-back wins at Blair Castle last month, but is not putting himself under pressure to replicate that in Lincolnshire.

Instead the former British Young Rider team medallist, who had two horses finish inside the top ten at the prestigious five-star equestrian event last year, is approaching the cross country phase with quiet optimism.

“Everyone is saying the same thing about the course. It’s big, it’s full on and it stays like that the whole way around,” he said.

“It will be a case of my guy getting out there, giving him a good education, seeing what we have on the day and riding him accordingly.”

This year’s Defender Burghley sees a record-breaking field of entrants - the strongest on record - with eight five-star winners in the mix, but Oakden is only focused on himself and his stallion. 

“I have my plan, I’m quite bold and secure in my own mind. 

“You don’t watch everyone else ride your horse, so it’s a case of knowing your horse, understanding what it’s capable of and trying to maximise the performance that is there for you on the day. 

“I’ve spent more time sleeping through the day than watching to be honest.”

This quiet confidence was no more evident than in the Perthshire-based jockey’s approach to the first event of the week, the dressage, where he posted a respectable 30.6 astride A Class Cooley. 

The 12-year-old stallion has already established himself as a class act, winning the 2023 4*long at Blair Castle in testing conditions, but Oakden knows the educational stage cannot be rushed.

“We’re happy with him. He’s still a developing horse, particularly at this level, so for him to go there today and put in some good work - there was a small mistake in his walk which was a shame - but he’s going to keep improving. 

“Hopefully he can keep coming back to these big shows and keep getting better and better.”

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk