Jung only got as far as fence four on his joint dressage leader, FischerRocana FST, when the mare tripped and fell in the water.

But the Burghley debutant made amends aboard his Olympic, world and European champion Sam, finishing just two seconds over time to rise seven places to first.

"My first cross-country ride at Burghley was pretty quick - about 40 seconds," joked the world number one.

"I got back to the stables and my brother said: 'Never mind, you’ve already gone up a place on Sam'.

"I know the horse very well now, we’ve had many experiences together, and he was really fighting for me and jumping well.

"This event is such a great tradition, so it’s wonderful to be here."

Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt, the joint dressage leader on Fernhill Pimms, suffered a rare lapse of concentration.

He had the misfortune of being held on course before fence 23, a big spread on a downhill slope, while it was being repaired.

Then, when taking the long route at the next obstacle - the Discovery Valley complex - he galloped past the second element and had to retrace his steps.

"It’s been good and bad," said Fox-Pitt, who is now 13th with 20.4 time penalties.

"The horse was fantastic, but I’m sad to have let him down and had a mental blank."

New Zealand’s Tim Price had by far his best Burghley in five attempts and is now in second place on Ringwood Sky Boy, just 1.5 penalties behind Jung.

However, his day was not without drama either, as a wasp got inside his vest halfway round the course and stung him.

"I had this strange scratchy feeling, which I was trying to adjust," said Price, laughing.

"When I got back to the finish, I lifted my shirt up and out flew a wasp.

"He was pretty angry, too."

Price had one of the fastest rounds of the day for 2.8 penalties, despite an unnerving scramble over a fence in the water at the Trout Hatchery.

It was a good day for family Price as Tim’s wife, Jonelle, is in third place, only 3.4 penalties behind him.

Jonelle had a brilliant round on Classic Moet and was one of only two riders to finish inside the optimum time of 11 min 12sec.

Australian Christopher Burton was the first to achieve the time, on second ride TS Jamaimo, and he has risen 17 places to fourth.

He is also in fifth place on Haruzac, previously 11th after dressage.

Australia’s Bill Levett climbed 13 places to sixth on Improvise and five-time Burghley winner Sir Mark Todd of New Zealand moved up five places to seventh on Leonidas ll, despite a scary moment when the horse dived at the corner fence at 15.

Frenchman Cedric Lyard is eighth after a good performance on Cadeau du Roi and Oliver Townend is the highest-placed Briton in ninth, having been a brilliant trailblazer with his confident opening round on Concours Complet International (CCI) four-star first-timer Dromgurrihy Blue.

Townend was also last on course with the experienced Armada, and had the competition at his mercy, but an uncharacteristic mistake, a run-out in the Trout Hatchery, left the rider slapping his head in frustration and dropped him from fifth after dressage to 18th.

Kristina Cook is the next best Briton in 10th on Star Witness, after surviving a near unseating at the Trout Hatchery when she was hanging right out of the saddle.

It was a highly successful day overall with 42 clears from the 68 cross-country starters and 55 completions.

The jumping finale is scheduled to take place tomorrow.  



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September 2015: Home favourite Fox-Pitt ties for dressage lead with Germany's Jung at Burghley Horse Trials
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August 2014: David Owen: Four years after a €1,500 cab-ride to disaster in Kentucky, British eyes are smiling again on Oliver Townend
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