WITH six Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials victories under his belt, William Fox-Pitt is sure to be one to watch at this year’s event.

The 46-year-old is one of the foremost names in eventing and, as well as his record six Burghley titles, has three Olympic medals to his name.

Last year saw Sturminster Newton’s Fox-Pitt finish fourth on Bay My Hero but this time around he will be riding Fernhill Pimms in his first four-star event.

There have been some solid performances for the pair this year with seventh at the three-star Hartpury International and fifth at Bramham.

And Fox-Pitt says he will be taking it as it comes on Fernhill Pimms and is looking forward to seeing how he adapts to life at the top level.

“I’m hoping to ride at Burghley next week and I’ll be riding Fernhill Pimms,” he said. “He’s doing his first four star, he’s a little bit inexperienced, but I’ll have a go and see what happens.

“I’m not expecting him to be on the money but he’s a horse who has performed very well, so the natural step is for him to do Burghley.

“It’s good experience to have under his belt if he goes well. If he doesn’t go well, we’ll regroup and go somewhere else.”

Fox-Pitt’s impressive resumé includes victories at world and European championships, as well as becoming the first rider to win five different four-star events in 2011 with triumphs at Badminton, Kentucky, Pau and Luhmuhlen.

And despite having been there and done it all, Fox-Pitt says he is still as motivated as ever and looking forward to another Burghley.

“I like to get the best I can out of myself and my horse,” he added. “I enjoy the challenge of just getting the best performance you can on that day.

“I suppose I enjoy the pressure of having to produce at that moment.

“Knowing that it doesn’t matter how experienced you are, how prepared you are, it can still go wrong. There’s never that guarantee.”

The multi-award winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (September 3-6) has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the autumn sporting calendar for more than 50 years. For more information visit burghley-horse.co.uk