US horses' all-clear for Burghley

Equestrianism

GENEVIEVE MURPHY

Bruce Davidson will be riding Heyday, his winning partner in this year's Pan-American Games, when he competes in the Burghley Three-Day Event which begins today. The United States rider won here 21 years ago, when Burghley staged the World Championships and he took the first of his two consecutive individual world titles.

Seven horses from the US had been confined to their base at Soley Farm Stud in Berkshire following an equine herpes scare, but the all-clear has been given, leaving Heyday and Davidson's other partner - this year's Badminton winner, Eagle Star - free to compete.

Mary King and Karen Dixon have returned to Burghley with horses that made a big impression last year over the Lincolnshire course designed by Captain Mark Phillips. King will be on the 1994 runner-up, King Kong, while Dixon rides Too Smart, who finished third.

Lucinda Murray, who had high hopes for Lovell Lass, will not be competing after being injured in a fall earlier this week which has left her sidelined for the second time this year. Lovell Lass will now be ridden by Murray's Australian fiance, Clayton Fredericks.

New Zealand's Mark Todd, renowned for his ability to get the best out of any horse, will be riding Watkins, who is normally partnered by Tanya Cleverly.