Whichford youngster Tom Bird is taking on his second Defender Burghley Horse Trials with a different perspective.

Bird, 22, is the youngest in a star-studded field at the 5* event which includes a host of Olympic medallists including Paris 2024 champions Tom McEwen and Ros Canter.

He finished a respectable 30th on debut last year but hopes a fresh approach will help him conquer one of the world’s most revered eventing venues.

“I've tried to come this year with a different attitude, I think last year, I loved every moment of it, but I don't think I quite let myself enjoy the Burghley experience,” he said.

“I was in the zone - like I am this year - but I'm also trying to enjoy it and treat it as a privilege to be here which of course it is and take each phase as it comes.

“I'd say I'm slightly more relaxed this time and have tried to come with a different mindset.”

Bird rode Rebel Rhyme 12 months ago but saddled Cowling Hot Gossip in Thursday’s dressage phase, with the pair leaving themselves plenty to do after a score of 46.2 marks.

“I was actually very pleased with how he coped with the atmosphere,” said Bird.

“He doesn't find the first phase easy - he never has - and his changes are always a little hit and miss and sadly today he was probably a bit more miss than hit but it happens sometimes.”

Looking ahead, Saturday’s cross-country phase is often seen as the crucial stage of the Burghley challenge and Bird believes it will be a great spectacle.

“I think they've done a great job with the cross-country course, the ground is brilliant, you know you're at Burghley that's for sure, but that's how we want it to be,” he said.

“Everything is very obvious to the horses as long as you're on your lines. It's a proper test but it's a fair test and that's what we want as riders so I'm actually very excited to get out there and give it a crack.

“To have him here is an honour and we bought him as an unbacked five-year-old so to have come the whole way, produced him, my aunt Helen Kerry who owns him, just being here is an honour and we'll try not to get too disappointed about the dressage and look forward to Saturday instead.”

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