Rider Francis Whittington believes the best is still yet to come for the fast-improving DHI Purple Rain after making it through the gruelling Defender Burghley Horse Trials test for a second year running.

The 47-year-old eventer admitted he was sick with nerves ahead of Saturday’s cross-country phase, despite being one of the most experienced riders in the field, with this his 14th Burghley.

Whittington and 14-year-old gelding DHI Purple Rain finished 19th in Lincolnshire last year and while they dropped down to 26th this time round, there were ample signs of encouragement for Rotherfield-based rider Whittington.

“He started well. I had a couple of rails down and started off fantastically well,” said Whittington, after 9.6 penalties during Sunday’s showjumping.

“I came around to the water tray and just didn’t pick up high enough and that unsettled him for the next one but he found the composure and carried on moving up to fence seven, took that really nicely.

“He then settled back in nicely to finish which was really good and the final turn back to the last line he did beautifully, I was really pleased it’s just unfortunate.”

This was DHI Purple Rain’s sixth appearance at 5* level and Whittington lauded his companion’s consistency.

“His consistency within his jumping has improved an awful lot over the last year or so but two down here is good after a long run yesterday,” he said.

“It was a strong track and we’ve lacked conditioning work this year over this summer building up to here and I think this is a result of not quite having the prep runs we would ideally week. We’ll consolidate, regroup and everybody will have a look and see what next season holds.”

Atop the leaderboard was Olympic gold medallist Ros Canter, who put the finishing touches to her spectacular summer by adding a first Burghley crown and third 5* triumph to the team eventing title she captured in Paris.

Canter led from the end of the first round courtesy of Izilot DHI but it was Lordships Graffalo, lovingly nicknamed ‘Walter’, who took control in the cross-country phase before coming through Sunday’s nerve-shredding showjumping finale to take glory.

“It means everything,” Canter told Burghley TV. “I’ve achieved a lot, I’ve been lucky, I’ve achieved some great things and going into this year, the Olympics was this one big box tick and in some ways it's made me a bit flat.

“So I came into this week and I thought:' I don’t need this, but I really want it.' I had a good feeling all week but I didn’t tell anyone.

“I felt really confident, ready to go out there and be more and I’ve stuck to my system and haven’t asked questions about anyone else about how to ride or what strides they're going on. I said to myself: 'you know what you’re doing, believe in yourself', and it’s paid off.”

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