Big congrats to William Fox-Pitt and the amazing Tamarillo. William has won his fifth (yes, his fifth) Burghley; closely followed by a second place with Ballaincoola. I mean most top eventers dream of winning Burghley - not finishing first and second at the same comp!

William totally deserved his win. He simply rode every step of the way round the cross country course on both his rides, but especially with Tamarillo, who does sometimes have a cheeky run out (see, there's hope for us all - even top horses 'try it on!').

To be fair my money was on Ballincoola winning this year. I love that horse and I thought the wet going would favour mud lover Ballicoola rather than Tamarillo, who's an Anglo-Arab which as a breed are not reknowned for their mud paddling skills.

Then of course Mary King won third and fourth with the impressive Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce respectively. Mary's brill, she totally loves riding and as a spectator you always feel you are watching someone who thinks they have like THE best job in the world.

It's been some time since we've had a wet Burghley and this year's course favoured the brave. If there was any doubt in the rider's mind at any fence then that was it you were going to have a problem.

I can remember one wet Burghley, when I was about 15, which was on an equal footing for slipperiness on the shopping aisles. Back then Cabability's Cutting was a deciding complex and it was good to see it sorting out the finishers again. Just over half way round the course, the steep drop and pull back up just finishes off those horses tired from mud-wadding and it again saw loads of top riders pull up. Over the last few years Capability's Cutting has sort of been ignored - just another fence - but this year it got back the respect it deserves.

I also want to give a special shout-out to Phoebe Buckley and Little Tiger who finished in 16th place. Little Tiger isn't called 'Little' for nothing she's only just tall enough to be allowed to compete a Burghley, she's only 15.1hh. Imagine, tackling those fences... the Leaf Pit, the Discovery Valley... on little more than a pony.

Phoebe doesn't care she just trusts her horse and gets on with it, although she does say it can be tricky getting cross country times and making the technical distances on courses, designed for much taller, long-striding horses. Good on her for finishing so strongly when many top riders didn't make it round!

William and Tam at home.

We love Tam! Here he is competing at an event last year.