Vere Phillips qualifies for Burghley as a tribute to wife Polly

Vere Phillips sets out on one of the most dangerous challenges in eventing today - riding the horse on which his wife fell to her death. The 38-year-old novice eventer has defied the warnings of several top riders to qualify for Burghley as a tribute to wife Polly, who died last August. Her gelding, Coral Cove, misjudged a fence at the Thirlestane Scottish Championships and landed on top of the 30-year-old, who had represented Britain at the Olympics and the eventing World Championships.

When he made his pledge to compete in her honour, Phillips, then a showjumper, had not even taken part in eventing but at Burghley yesterday he said he was ready for the challenge on Coral Cove. He said: `I just felt Polly would like me to ride him at Burghley. She loved the place and had a great following there. Trying to qualify was a great tonic. It helped me to get through the tragedy of her death. `She had always said that I should have a go at it but I didn`t think I would be able to cope with the dressage phase of eventing but although it`s still my weakest section I`m much improved.

`I`ve walked the roads and tracks, now I will go round it on a horse so that I know every inch. It is quite idiot-proof. When Polly was riding I always went round the cross country course with her, so I know what to expect.

`I am really looking forward to my first ride at Burghley.` Both Phillips and Coral Cove have stunned the critics and at Gatcombe recently he rode faultlessly to finish fourth in the British Open behind William Fox-Pitt.

`My highlight was at the Eglington one-day event one-day event in Scotland where there was a memorial trophy for Polly,` said Phillps. `I finished third in the competition and won the trophy because I was the highest placed rider representing Britain.

`Before that I had almost given up at the Bramham show. I did the best dressage I could but didn`t get good marks. However, after a good cross-country and showjumping I finished ninth and qualified for Burghley.`

That achievement is on a par with an unknown athlete qualifying for the Olympics in his first year. Vere Phillips starts with the dressage today and then takes on the giant fences of the cross-country course, designed by Mark Phillips, on Saturday. This very brave man is unlikely to win the Pedigree Trophy and £20,000 first prize but that will not bother him.