He may have already placed in the top ten at one of the world’s biggest events, but Chipping Campden’s Bill Levett believes he and Improvise have even more to give at next month’s Burghley Horse Trials.

The pair finished sixth in their impressive Burghley debut in 2014, while Improvise came 15th for Levett a year later, whose eventing history dates back to the 1990s.

Improvise will be one of 100 horses taking to the international four-star event in Burghley Park, Lincolnshire from September 1-4.

Event riders will compete in dressage, cross country and show jumping disciplines, looking to follow in the footsteps of 2015 winner Michael Jung as well as six-time champion William Fox-Pitt, currently representing Team GB at the Rio Olympic Games.

And the Australian-born Levett, 53, believes that despite an indifferent season to date, the pressure can bring out the best of the duo as they aim for Burghley glory.

“He is a good horse and with how he has run at Burghley before I feel his best run is ahead of him,” he said.

“It’s been a season of ups and downs. We’ve had some good placings, and it’s been a bit quiet recently which isn’t always the worst thing – you just take it a day at a time and I am hopeful for a good run up there.

“I would like a top-five place – that’s the target. On his day and with a little bit of luck we could do well. It will be hard but that is a realistic target for sure.”

Having been on the reserve list for Rio, Improvise’s preparations have certainly not fallen by the wayside as he gears up for one final run in Cheshire two weeks before Burghley.

It’s an event special for both horse and rider alike, with Levett inspired, motivated and challenged by the unique experience offered in Lincolnshire.

“It is one of the main focuses. There is a lot going on in the sport now but it is really nice to have a horse that has the potential to do the big ones. It is one of the ones which you want to do well at,” he added.

“Burghley is great for the owners because there is an atmosphere and a sense of occasion in a beautiful setting. For the rider it is a challenge of taking on a cross country course of that difficulty and figuring out how you are going to get round it.

“I’ve been trying to execute that plan, and it’s a great feeling of elation when you pull it off.”

The multi-award winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials from September 1-4 has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the Autumn Sporting Calendar for over 50 years. For more information visit burghley-horse.co.uk