Stretton comes in from the cold

The 23-year-old battled back from two months out of action following a knee injury earlier this year only to come down with a cold on the eve of the four-star event, which doubles as the penultimate round of the HSBC FEI Classics series.

Stretton, on board Lazy Acres Skip On, was ranked 32nd overnight following the opening dressage but stormed around the cross-country circuit to power back into the picture.

And, after producing a perfect show jump to finish 16th in Lincolnshire – where New Zealand’s Caroline Powell took the £50,000 winner’s cheque – Stretton was left toasting a job well done.

“I’m delighted but absolutely knackered. I’ve had a cold coming on for ages and then it hit me just before Burghley started,” said Stretton.

“But it’s been fantastic. Burghley is just an amazing event. It’s what we all dream about when we are little so to have completed it again is brilliant.”