(upbeat music) Okay listeners, it is here. I am sat and gonna set the scene for you. The backdrop, a burly house, which remains one of my most favorite backdrops and eventing, I think. There's a real buzz about the place. The sun is shining. It's been some fairly blue skies. It's actually been quite warm here at Burly today. Rosie, a sat-up opposite me. Rosie, happy Burly 2024. We are here, we've made it. Burly diaries are a go. It's great to be back. And I feel like there's a real, Burly always has a buzz. I think it's wrong. It feels like there's a different bug this year. Like, the competition feels right, is insane. And I think that, I don't know if you feel it's all, but I just feel like there's a lot of excitement and anticipation. I feel like maybe it's because we had so much pressure going into Paris, or everybody had so much pressure, not as personally, but there was just, I mean, we found it quite straight forward. (laughing) Instead of the pressure, I'm not, no, but everybody had the kind of a Paris pressure. And there was a lot of second guessing about what people were gonna do, and what their plans were. Whereas actually it feels like we're here, just ready for a big Burly battle. - Yes. - And it is the strongest field on record. And when you look down the list of entries, you can totally see that. Because there is so much strength in depth. We're down to seven five-star winners now in the field. The withdrawal of Tim Price could occur due to bad. If you haven't already updated your parenting manager team, make sure you go and do it. But there's still seven five-star winners in the field. That's comparable with the likes of Paris, with the likes of Rio, Protoni World Championships. It's more than Burly have ever seen before. The venue is always beautiful, but this year it feels like it's extra beautiful. They put some real kind of like finishing touches, crazy with like there's some gardens around the place. There's some really kind of new Avery restaurants. Really nice. - Yeah. - It just feels like a real kind of uplift. So it's very exciting for Burly this year. What are you most looking forward to? That here Wednesday, all the hope, the dreams. - Ooh, that's a life. - Yeah, that's a really tough one, but I'm actually really looking forward to cross-country day, which I know is so typical, but like cross-country is always great, but I really feel like because of the field strength that we've got, we're gonna see some spectacular cross-country rounds. And I'm really excited to see how some of these horses tackle that track that, I don't know, just maybe I didn't expect to see Lord Chip's Graffler here tackling Burly. And I'm really excited to see horses like that come out, but maybe I didn't expect to see here this year. Cross-country time, we'll obviously talk about it a lot in the next few days, but just touching on it briefly now, actually conditions are going to be pretty as close to perfect as they can be. Tina Cook on the preview show said eight inside the time. - I don't know, we're gonna see that many. - Yeah, yeah. - But where are you looking for this? Because it feels like we've got a fast field. - We do, yes. So I'm glad somebody else feels that way, 'cause I don't think eight, you're right. Last year we had two, didn't we? - I'm gonna say four, four. - Yeah, I think that's where I picked three or four, because you look at them and you think, okay, well, I think something you're right, but all of them might be a few surprises in there. It'll be interesting as well, and again, we'll talk about this tomorrow. I might actually try and get Derek's thoughts, but there's a couple of places on the track. For example, Jules at the Multings, where he, in previous years, they've sort of done circular trips round, and they don't have to do that this year. It's a much more direct route through. Coming out of the trout hatchery, they don't have to go through that third bit of water. - There's a couple of different tiny places where actually they might save a few seconds. - Yeah, there would have been speed bumps. - Yeah. - But then other places, it's got the double gates at the bottom of Windsor. - Haven't you? - You know, there's certainly speed bumps. Defender Valley, absolute speed bumps. - Let's talk what we've seen so far. First horse inspection's done. 67 combinations lined up. 66 are through Tom Chris Liberty, and Gloria unfortunately withdrawing from the whole box. Two other horses went to the whole box, as well, Magiminda and Toblerone and Andrew McConnell and Waikita, 54, both of which were accepted on re-presentation to the ground jury. So all of those that represented are safely through. - Who stood out for you, first of all, in terms of horse riding combinations, the horse was looking particularly fit, particularly well and ready for the task in that. - Well, Colorado Blue trotted up beautifully, but prior to him going and standing in front of the ground during he was hopping and skipping about, and I thought, oh, a thick Colorado Blue, that could be really interesting round burly. I'm really looking forward to seeing them. I am really looking forward as well to seeing Emily King round with the abs, because I know Dee will say that we're jumping on the train that he's been driving for a very long time. But the pair, I think, I'm really looking forward to seeing them this weekend, because, I mean, they won Thor's Bee again this year. They completed Badminton, and I believe the top 10 there, I may be wrong, but her completing Badminton, I think, was a huge tick in the box for her confidence-wise as well, gone on to be the British Open Champions at Hartbury, yeah. And they went very well in ark in as well for the place finishing ark in. - Yeah, so I really feel like this year is their year. It's really building to something, so maybe it could be burly. We're waiting to see, but I'm definitely excited to see them. - I have to say, Capel's Hollow Drift, Tom Jack, that he looked, I don't think I've seen Capel's Hollow Drift look that fit. He looked lean, he looked, I was going to see me, didn't it, like a lean look fighting me. He just looked really lean, and really up to the task. He was very hot, which I don't think I've seen him licking that fresh. Well, now, how that will translate to the dress side. Watch this face, of course, because sometimes you can kind of tip the fitness up and that plays a part in the first phase, so go to watch out for that. But Capel's Hollow Drift looked great. The other one, absolute gold. - No, the truth all, I mean, that was just stunning. - Yeah. - The fitness, and he looked very, very fresh, but really like, you know how some horses have the X factor? - Yeah. - He has the X factor. - Yeah. - And I swear, Nicholas's truth all has not aged a day. - We, his king hair roots level European champion. I mean, he is just, yeah, and it's great to have him here at Burley. Fashion, love a bit of fashion. When I grow up, I want to be Denny Brownigan. - Oh my gosh, she looked incredible. - Oh. - She looked so good, and I must say, I don't know how some of these ladies run in the hills that they do, because I think I would have been just on the floor than about three strikes. - I can barely stand up in them, Rosie. I'm not safe to be let loose to run, yeah. - And they run really well. - Oh, which I look like? - Yes. - Yeah, I'd be like conking around. Trying to make it to the end of the charts up fashion wise. Well, I know best dressed male went to Tom McEwen. - And best dressed. - Yeah, nah, let me tell McEwen. - Okay. I mean, I went to Bella in his car. - Oh, is it Bella in his car? - Yeah. - Monica Spencer. What did she win? - Oh, I think that was-- - Was that fun? - Yeah, I think it was the whole car prize. But yeah, I know those two won best dressed, both looking very smart. - Tom McEwen had a bit of peaky blinders. - He did, didn't he? - Yes. - And somebody else had a really impressive coat. I'm trying to think who it was. - Oh gosh. I was some very impressed, but on a male front, I must say absolutely loved Gaspard Maxuud in his purple and white, which I assume was for Georgie. Looked absolutely stunning, 'cause he had Georgie's purple and white ribbon attached to him, and he was all in purple and white for Georgie. - Oh my gosh, the penny didn't drop. - Yeah, I believe it was for Georgie. I put the two and two together with the little Georgie ribbon, as I say, and then backed it by the beret. - He looked incredible, but I think it was a real momento to her. - And yeah, it was beautiful, I thought. - I have to admit, I don't think there will be as many people riding Cooley Luffett this week. - Oh my gosh, yes. - I mean, it is just incredible to see Jesse here. And I know that so many people are behind him, and he's doing so brilliantly. And actually, there was a bit of a, it felt quite emotional, but it's great to have him here. And obviously, he's got a horse that is, you know, he's been around badminton and it's fit, ready to go, wishing him the very best ultimately. And everybody is behind him, but there will be so much support. And I have to say, I love that Gaspar did that. I didn't put two and two together as I say. - I mean, that is my assumption. - No, I would say that's a fairly safe assumption. Okay, what have we got to look forward to tomorrow? First date of dressage. Big ones to watch is a lot of DHI. One of the first out of the, or first down the centre line, he's in the first session of dressage. That is absolutely going to be a combination that could challenge for an early lead. They have the best six RA of all the horses going tomorrow on the first day of dressage. So surely that's going to kind of set the standard. If we see the mark start to flow, that's going to give us a real indication as to where we're going to go. I was chatting to John Kyle on Burley TV a little bit earlier on. And he said, he thinks that we will see 18.7, the dressage record broken. I mean, imagine. Imagine. The lovely Lucinda Green is here. No, no, you come and plant a kitten. - Comments, I'm barely this year. You are genuinely live. - I am genuinely live. And I have just arrived for the best thing. I got yet two in this course. I have not seen that fantastically, but I have seen Derek. - What did he say? - He said nothing. He looks very still and quiet and calm. - As a rider then, coming into Burley, what goes through your mind at this point at the competition? - You just can't, at least I can't wait to get out there and see what's out there to challenge us. The other thing I find fantastic about here in Badminton is the house when the sun is going a little bit down. It just looks so beautiful. You think, "Golly, I'm here to challenge myself "to the, and my horse, the height of our ability." And there's this unbelievable, beautiful backdrop. It's such a paradox. - It has kind of a magic feeling, doesn't it? When you get that sunset, and I saw the sun rise over Burley house this morning, I think they posted some pictures, and it just kind of gives the goosebumps. - No, no, no, I said the picture's on social media, at least, isn't there? - Right, excellent. No, I will certainly haven't seen this, but it's a very, we're so lucky. We have these two incredibly special parks. It just have ancient trees and ancient literature, which doesn't sound funny. It's the ancient spirit everywhere, and it's very, very special. And we are so lucky to have two of them in our country. - We really are. Last question because I totally ambushed you. (laughing) - Who are you mostly looking forward to seeing this weekend? Who's your favorite? - I never have a favorite because the only time, I've always said I've never have a favorite, and the only time I said Tom McEwen has to be in badminton, that horrific fall at the light panels when the horse thought it was an ox, and went in and out of it a little bit too late. And I thought I'm never going to say anything about who I think's going to win again. And that was the only time I'd ever done it. A little curse I put on him. So I just, I love watching. I'm thrilled to tell you what I'm really thrilled about is how many we've got from abroad. And quite a lot from Paris. And I think Paris was absolutely spot on for what it has to be. But I think some of them would feel a little under challenged. And so they're all going to come to Berlin for the full challenge. I think that's wonderful. - It absolutely is. I'm Lisa and we'll let you go. Thank you. Lovely to see you. I love that the kiss went directly down the microphone as well as that adds to the audio effect. We'll see you over the weekend. I'm sure we'll call you again. There we go, listeners. Lisa in the green line on the live, on the acc ratings event in podcast. That is just how live this show is. Rosie, I have no idea where we were, but I'm actually going to head into tomorrow just our record. That was it. First phase, who stands out for you tomorrow? - Oh, I've not taken a full look at who's coming forward tomorrow. I want to mention on Isla DHI when you, you know, we obviously know that you can do a stunning test. However, this sounds stupid because he was only down with Trotter for about 30 seconds. He looks braver or more mature, which I know sounds silly. He's seen as he only ran down there for 30 seconds, but I expected more of a reaction from a spooky horse like him. - Yeah, it was interesting, actually. I can't help but feel that Ros is exposing him to lots of different atmospheres. And actually, she's taken this point in his training of going, do you know what? We're going to bring him to these places and we're going to, you know, show him lots of different things and lots of different arenas. And we'll see how we go. On his day, he can absolutely deliver a really, really impressive first phase performance. The times, at the time of recording this, haven't come out yet. So I'm not sure if Emily King, Val, maybe that's our tomorrow or Friday. - Yeah. - Watch this space. Lots to look forward to though. I think for me, I think Ros leads at the end of day one. - Yeah, I can see that happening. - I think she'll go, I think she'll go low twenties and it'll be the standard to be set. Watch this space. Just doing arena familiarization, actually, in the background, we can see it on the big screens and just trying to catch an eyes to who is looking particularly good. They're all looking very relaxed, actually. - Because no one's looking particularly tense. - Francis Wittington, looking very jolly. His suit was rather impressive. I liked that a lot. Yeah, very good. It's just a really lovely atmosphere. And Burley 2024 is upon us. It is about to get started listeners. Now, before we head into tomorrow, the second half of this show actually features one of the owners of one of my favourite horses in the Burley field this year. You have no idea how happy this makes me. And me and Vicky Bay, it's basically spent a good 10 minutes talking about how much we love CHF. Coolizer. - One of the things that I love the most about the podcast diaries, the Burley Diaries, has to be getting lots of different stories from behind the scenes, in particular, the owners. And I have tracked down, she had no chance of getting away listeners. Vicky Bates, who co-own CHF Coolizer of Tom McEwan's with Dave Myers. Vicky, first of all, lovely to see you. I think I saw you pre-Lemulen at Brahma Match when the excitement was so high. - Yes, yes, yes. Lovely to see you. Thank you for having me. - It's our pleasure. First of all, CHF Coolizer. As the listeners will well know, it's one of my favourite horses on the circuit. She is so beautiful. She knows she's very beautiful, as well. Take us back to the start of your journey. First of all, I guess, as an event horse owner. - So, to be honest, we haven't had a string of event horses. We've only had a few. I had a little thoroughbred horse that we bred. He was quite naughty. And I spotted Tom funnily enough at Burley when I think he was probably about 19 or 20. - Okay, like grey-old party connet. - Yes, absolutely, and I saw him jumping into the water and I said to Dave at the time, that's the rider I want. And again, another link, a good friend of mine, Debbie Lee, who at the time worked for BEF, but now sorts up the sponsorship for Defender Burley. Kept saying to me, Tom, you need to send the horse to Tom. You need to send the horse to Tom. And actually, she introduced me to Tom. So, he took the horse on and I said to him at the time, "Our dream is to have a five-star horse." And he said, "I'll get going with him and see how he goes." And after, I think it was probably a season and a half, he said, "He's not your five-star horse." So, we found him in your home. And I said to Tom, we'd like to buy another horse. And at the time, he had a couple of horses, one of which was Eliza. And he was just in the process of selling her. So, he obviously brought her on and done a bit with her and was selling her, but had said, "Oh, I don't really want to sell her." So, we ended up purchasing her for obviously Tom to carry on riding. And yeah, the rest is history. So, how old was she then? She would have been five, I think. And she is now... - 14. - 14, okay. - Yeah. - So, nine years. - Yeah. - Second Burley, for her. So, second Burley, she was here in 2022, she finished 12. So, yeah. Well, what do you both enjoy the most about owning horses? Because it's a long old game for the end of the day, isn't it? Yeah, it's a very long game. Lots of highs, lots of lows. Love having horses with Tom. He's great to have as a rider. The social side, he's got some lovely owners that we really enjoy socializing. Because when you come to a three day, actually, you're here for kind of four or five days. And, you know, it does become a bit of a social, really, as well. Obviously, we enjoy watching the horses, totally passionate about venting. So, even when Eliza was sidelined last year, we would still come along and watch and just really enjoy the whole scene. That's where we like to hit eggs at the end of the day. The riders are busy. They've got their sort of head in the game, et cetera, et cetera. And actually, you want to enjoy the whole experience of being a bird. Because, as we've said, it's a long old road to get here. You know, only too well that the highs and the lows actually had a year off last year. And actually, the silver lining from that is that she's got some lovely babies in the ground. She has. She has. She's got a filly and a colt that were born embryo transfer. So, last year, she picked up an injury just before, actually, it was in her final run before badminton. So, we just decided, actually, we'll give her the time. So, she missed most of last year. But we did manage to get some embryos. Again, that was a bit of a roller coaster. We, that was three, three goes. So, the first go, we managed to get two embryos, but neither, neither held. Second go, we didn't, didn't manage to get any. And we were just thinking, "Oh, shall we call it a day?" And we thought, "We'll go one more time." And we were incredibly lucky we managed to get two embryos. And they were born this year, one in June, one in July, and a colt in a filly. So, that's sired by? Deirdo. Both of them. Both of them, okay. Deirdo, yep, they came from the same, from the same cycle. So, yeah, exciting. Very naughty, but full of beans and... Yeah, that's the best bit, isn't it? And what about the future for them? Will you keep them? Is that the plan? Yes, absolutely. Yeah, definitely, yeah. Watch this space, Eliza, baby's coming forward. Yeah. What is she like as a character? Because, I mean, the listeners, as I've already said, know that I think she's incredibly beautiful. She certainly knows she's special. What's she like at home? She does. She is, I think she's pretty demanding. She probably thinks the whole world revolves around her. She'll be delighted that Tom's only got her here at Belly, so it'll all be about her. And Adam can literally focus her soul on a tent. And she will probably come out and think that all the crowds are here to see her. It's a good thing when you get to a five star, because they're busy and actually, if they rise to the occasion, it's even more special. She loves it. When you have the five star dream, was there any five star, or was there a particular one for them? I think it's Badminton Belly. I think they're kind of the ultimate, really. And she did, so she did po' first, and then obviously it was naturally, OK, that's taken to Badminton. And I think, you know, although we wanted our dream was to have a five star horse, it was always very much, you know, we enjoy the journey. I think you can get as much fun going and watching them at their first two star as, you know, the five star. So we really enjoyed the journey. And actually, it was just, you know, let's enjoy this and see how far we can go with her. And she did po' second at po' and then we thought, OK, well, that's what she makes at Badminton. And then, obviously, ultimately, that's bringing to Belly, because I think Belly is so unique, and it really does take special horse to tackle the course out there. After the disappointment of Badminton this year, she got there, she knocked herself in the stable, literally just before the troughs up, which I think probably sums up the roller coaster of owning an event horse pretty well. She then went on to LaMoulin and was on the podium. So she came back. The plan has always been Belly. What are your hopes, thoughts, dreams ahead of this? Oh, my gosh, do you know what? I genuinely try not to have too many kind of thoughts or dreams. We'd literally kind of take a date at a time. So the first thing is to get her here. Then let's try and get her through the troughs up. You know, just, ultimately, I just want her to enjoy it. I want them both back safe and sound, and anything else really is a bonus. So, yeah, we just try to really kind of enjoy the moment. Are you a good watcher? Not at Five Star. What's Dave like as well? He's actually better. He gets quite engrossed in it, and he 100% will watch. I do a lot of pacing. We invariably probably aren't stood next to each other. He definitely will watch 100% of the time. I'm normally kind of grabbing onto Adam, and where are they? What's going on? No, I wouldn't be the best watcher. Intense, it is intense, I'm not going to lie. It's intense, I mean, up to Four Star, fine, but I think the Five Stars. And it was quite nerve-wracking at La Mille, cos she was the pathfinder, so I was having sorts of... Did that actually mean, though, that you got that done and dusted? You could enjoy the rest of your day, then. Yeah, it did, absolutely, and Tom always has this kind of calmness, and he's very much, you know, he doesn't get kind of wound up by things like that, and he's very much Eliza Rizzaliza, and she will do her own thing anyway. So if I watch, you know, one person or 20 people, she'll still do her own thing, so he's obviously got a real calming effect anyway, so... Yes, it was nice, we could have a drink after that. Watch this space over the coming week. Couple of quick questions for you, I'm totally putting on the spot here. OK. If somebody was to play her in a film... Gosh. Who would it be? I think it would probably be someone like Blake Lively. She would, you know, she's the pretty girl, the cool girl. You know, the one that everyone probably wants to be friends with and hang out with, because that's how she kind of comes across. She just loves life, loves people, and just really enjoys it. She is brilliant, looking forward to a brilliant week. Vicky, best of luck. Thank you very much. Thank you for sharing the journey with us. Watch this space and give Dave our best as well. I will do, thank you for having me. So there you have it, listeners. Defender Burley, Diary, Day One, Done and Dusted. Watch this space. If you've got any riders, guests, grooms, owners, particularly that you would like to hear from over the coming days, do send us a message, add a venting podcast. We will do our best to grant your wishes and make them come on the show. Make them come on the show, sounded quite forceful that we'll ask them nicely. Yeah, we'll ask them nicely to come on the show. Looking forward to a brilliant Burley. Don't forget Burley TV, £20, access all areas past. There's a preview show at myself, John Karl, Nick Luck and Tina Cook, looking forward to the competition. There's also Nick Luck's brilliant course preview with director Grazier, a must watch before cross-country date on Saturday. Plus from 9.15 at British time tomorrow morning, they will have all of the action for you. Lots of special guests, the likes of Karl Hester, William Fox Pitts, joining dress art commentary alongside Nicola Wilson and Tina Cook as well. So it's a real stellar lineup and we will, of course, be with you every single step of the way. Adecoratings, don't forget to join the WhatsApp channel. The equating is a venting WhatsApp channel to keep up to date with all of the latest news and possibly the most exciting thing of all. Sam Watson has another bedtime story for us all. It is coming listeners, keep your ears peeled about big Burley, watch this space. For now, that is all we've got time for. We'll be back tomorrow.
