Kitty King cut a disconsolate figure as she admitted luck wasn’t on her side at this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

King had led after the dressage with a terrific score of 21.2 before a difficult cross-country course and showjumping sections left her settling for sixth.

The Chippenham-based rider set out to prove a point after being snubbed by selectors for the Great Britain team heading to the World Championships in a fortnight's time.

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials returned bigger and better than ever in 2022 after two years away due to Covid-19, but it wasn't to be for King.

“I’m fairly disappointed to be honest,” said King.

“He started really well, he was fabulous cross-country, misread an oxer, broke a pin which really marred a perfect round - he’d been foot perfect everywhere else round the track.

“There are others that scrabbled round and looked quite hairy and scary and managed to get round and he makes one misjudgement so that was pretty gutting yesterday.  

“And then he’s jumped brilliantly in there, didn’t breathe on anything bar one and it comes down and you’ll see others go by brail and they won’t come down - luck has not been quite on our side this week.”

King had been keen to show the British selectors what they were missing after being left at home for the World Championships, despite a seventh-placed finish at the other British 5* event, Badminton Horse Trials.

There was also success for Marlborough’s Tim and Jonelle Price, who finished third and fourth respectively.

Jonelle went into the final day in third after being the only rider to complete the cross-country course within the optimum time of 11 minutes and 20 seconds but clipped two fences on Sunday to fall off the podium.

The New Zealand native was full of praise for her 19-year-old mare Classic Moet after a gruelling week of competition.

“If you’d given me a top five at the start of the week I would have been very happy,” said Price.

“Of course, when you’re up there in the mix you dream of that elusive clear round and think what could be but we’re going to have to be happy with third and fourth today.

“It’s been a phenomenal week for her, she showed why she deserved to still be here and she felt as good as ever today.”

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September 2022) returns after a two-year hiatus, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  A major international sporting and social event for over 50 years it attracts 80 of the world’s top equestrians and over 170,000 visitors.  For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk