Tom Jackson insists he has no point to prove at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials after missing out on Olympic selection.

Jackson, 31, made an auspicious start on board Capels Hollow Drift, scoring 28.6 for the dressage phase at the famed 5* event.

Jackson finished second on debut at the 2022 event and was in contention for a place on the Olympic eventing team this year, with the trio of Tom McEwen, Laura Collett and Ros Canter winning gold in Paris.

Jackson has put the disappointment of missing out on the team behind him and is focused on a first 5* title.

“We were on the long list and had things not gone quite as well for some of the others at the beginning of the year, we might have been there or thereabouts,” said Godalming’s Jackson.

“We knew from the beginning of the year we would have to pull out something special and although we had a good result at Badminton it wasn’t our best performance so we’re coming here to have a good time, enjoy him because he’s been such a good servant to us and hopefully have a good result.”

This year’s Defender Burghley sees a record-breaking field of entrants - the strongest on record - with eight 5* winners in the mix, but Jackson is simply choosing to relish the chance to compete on the infamous ground.

Saturday’s cross-country phase is often seen as the decisive leg of the Burghley challenge but Jackson is taking everything in his stride.

“I’m really pleased with the horse. He’s such a consistent performer and hopefully we can finish on or near to that score and climb up the leaderboard,” added Jackson.

“You always feel slightly more relaxed at Burghley whether it’s the end of the season or the atmosphere. He’s normally quite chilled, so I am, so that normally works in our favour.

“I had a walk round the cross-country course and it looks like there is a lot to do, it’s a fair test but there is no margin for error and everything is enormous.”

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