Hoy captures Burghley crown

Hoy was back to his sparkling best at Burghley after a disappointing Olympics

Australia's Andrew Hoy claimed the second Burghley Challenge Cup of his career on Sunday - an incredible 25 years after he lifted his first.

Hoy, who had been fourth on Moon Fleet after the dressage, moved into the lead after Saturday's cross county phase.

The duo then had two fences down in the show jumping but hung on to win by just 0.2 of a penalty from Britain's Marie Louise Thomas and The Psephologist.

GB's individual Olympic gold medallist Leslie Law came fifth on Shear H20.

New Zealander Andrew Nicholson took third place with Lord Killinghurst, while three-time Olympic team gold medallist Hoy - who first won Burghley in 1979 on Davey - on also took fourth spot with his other horse Master Monarch.

It was one of the closest finishes ever witnessed at Burghley, with just 1.2 penalties separating the top four.

Rider dies in horror fall

Hoy's dominating display at Burghley followed on from a disappointing Olympic campaign for both him and his wife.

Hoy slipped out of the reckoning in Athens after falling on the cross-country phase with Mr Pracatan, while German international Bettina was stripped of double gold following a rule infringement.

However, the newly-crowned Burghley champion admitted it had been tough to focus on winning following Caroline Pratt's fatal cross-country fall on Saturday.

Pratt, 42, died after suffering serious crush injuries when she was thrown from Primitive Streak at The Lake Crossing.

Hoy said: "I'm delighted to win here again, but it's been a difficult day for everyone.

"My heart goes out to Caroline's family."

A one-minute's silence was held at the trials on Sunday as a tribute to Pratt.

---

Final placings:

1. Moon Fleet (A Hoy, Aus) 56.4 pen
2. The Psephologist (M-L Thomas, GB) 56.6 pen
3. Lord Killinghurst (A Nicholson, Nzl) 57.4 pen
4. Master Monarch (A.Hoy, Aus) 57.6 pen
5. Shear H20 (L Law, GB) 65.6 pen
6. Tangle Man (P Stockton, GB) 67.2 pen
7. Internet (K Hewlett, Nzl) 71 pen
8. Eze (B Tait, Nzl)76.8 pen