EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

It's Scone week!
Nicole and Diarm are looking ahead to a brilliant few days in Scotland, with huge fields, exciting young horses and some seriously good combinations lining up across the CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L.
Can Cooley Park Muze get the better of the hugely experienced Valmy Biats? Could this be Piggy March's week with Cooley Anything You Like? Or can Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall make their return to the top a winning one?
Plus, there are future superstars to keep an eye on, plenty of names flying under the radar and, of course, Nicole and Diarm put their necks on the line with their podium predictions.
Highlights:
The big names in the CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L
Cooley Park Muze, Valmy Biats and a fascinating four-star short
The young horses who could have LA 2028 in their future
Piggy March and Izzy Taylor head up the four-star long
Ones to watch throughout the weekend
Nicole and Diarm's podium picks
Guests:
Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne to preview all the action from Scone.
Scone Palace International Horse Trials runs 27–30 August, so make sure you're following the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast to keep up with all the action.
And if you haven't already, catch up on our Inside Scone episodes with Lucinda Russell and Event Director Alec Lochore before the competition gets underway.

Two-time Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell joins Nicole ahead of Scone to talk about the two equestrian worlds closest to her heart: racing and eventing.
From her own eventing days to building a hugely successful career in racing, Lucinda shares what the two sports can learn from each other, why fitness and ground conditions matter so much, and what makes the Thoroughbred such an extraordinary athlete.
Plus, there's advice for anyone retraining an ex-racehorse, memories of the glory days of eventing, and even the possibility of a Lucinda Russell comeback at Scone.
Highlights
Lucinda's journey from eventing into racing
What eventing can learn from the racing world
Why fitness, ground and riding forward matter
The intelligence and bravery of the Thoroughbred
Lucinda's advice for retraining racehorses
Why Scone could bring racing and eventing audiences together
Could we see Lucinda back eventing?
Guest
Lucinda Russell is a two-time Grand National-winning trainer whose roots are firmly in eventing. She joins Nicole to share lessons from a life spent producing equine athletes and why eventing remains so close to her heart.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a78ed28-26f8-83ea-ac36-7103c9df06ea-113" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a78ed28-26f8-83ea-ac36-7103c9df06ea-113" data-testid= "conversation-turn-238" data-turn="assistant"> Aachen is behind us and attention turns to Burghley, with a seriously exciting five-star field ready to take on one of the biggest tests in the sport.
Nicole and Sam take their first look at the entries, from proven five-star stars to a new generation of horses and riders who look ready to put their names in the history books. With 19 Olympians, two former Burghley winners and much of the Badminton top ten heading to Stamford, there is plenty to unpack.
They dive into the Prediction Centre, the remarkable Burghley 1% Club, the combinations catching their eye and just what makes Derek di Grazia's cross-country track such a unique challenge.
Plus, Sam is heading there himself with Ballyneety Rocketman. He takes us inside his final preparations, how he gets a horse ready for Burghley's terrain and why this event still feels like the absolute pinnacle.
Highlights
First reactions to the 2026 Burghley field
Who could become the next first-time five-star winner?
The Burghley 1% Club
Sam's insight into tackling the terrain and making the time
The combinations flying under the radar
Sam and Ballyneety Rocketman's final preparations
Nicole and Sam make their early winner picks
Guests
Nicole Brown is joined by Sam Watson, who brings both the EquiRatings numbers and a rider's perspective as he prepares to head to Burghley himself.




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Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH are World Champions, completing an extraordinary week in Aachen on a record finishing score of 23.0. At 18 years old, Chipmunk adds World Championship gold to his Olympic title, delivering when the pressure was at its highest.
Great Britain take team gold with another formidable championship performance, while the USA secure bronze, Ireland book their ticket to LA and Belgium grab a crucial Olympic qualification spot.
Diarmuid, Nicole and Spike break down the performances that decided the medals, the combinations whose stock has risen and the moments that made Aachen 2026 a World Championships to remember.
Highlights
Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH make history
Great Britain take team gold
The fight for the individual medals
USA secure bronze
Ireland and Belgium book their tickets to LA
The standout combinations and biggest stories from Aachen
Nicole takes us behind the scenes of an unforgettable week
Guests
Diarmuid Byrne, Nicole Brown and Peter "Spike" Milligan bring the final verdict on Aachen 2026.
The Aachen Diaries are powered by brands that know what it takes to keep horses feeling, looking and performing at their best.
FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips — Helping support horses' airways when performance matters most. FLAIR Equine
Foran Equine — Science-led supplements supporting health, performance and recovery. Foran Equine
Carr & Day & Martin — Trusted horse care with more than 250 years of expertise. Carr & Day & Martin
Connolly's RED MILLS — Performance nutrition backed by more than a century of expertise. Connolly's RED MILLS
Horseware Ireland — More than 40 years of innovation for horses and riders. Horseware Ireland
Support the brands supporting the show and relive the Aachen Diaries for all the stories and insight from the 2026 World Championships.

It's done. The medals have been decided and Aachen has its World Champions.
Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH delivered when the pressure was at its highest, jumping clear in front of an enormous home crowd to seal an unforgettable individual title. And alongside that German fairytale came British gold, as Team GB handled the weight of expectation to leave Aachen on top of the world.
Nicole catches up with Pete Cattell in the stables as the celebrations are still unfolding, reflecting on Ireland's fourth-place finish, the hugely important Olympic qualification secured for LA and a brilliant first World Championships for MGH Zabaione.
Then we leave the final word to the World Champions themselves, with Dickie Waygood on the team behind Britain's gold and Michael Jung on the heart-stopping moments of the round that made him World Champion.
Highlights
Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH seal the World title
Team GB celebrate World Championship gold
Reaction from the stables as Aachen comes to a close
Pete Cattell on Ireland's week and MGH Zabaione
Olympic qualification secured for Ireland
Dickie Waygood on the team behind British gold
Michael Jung relives his championship-winning round
Guests
Pete Cattell joins Nicole from the Aachen stables, with Dickie Waygood and Michael Jung bringing us reaction straight from the post-medal press conference.
The Aachen Diaries are powered by brands that know what it takes to keep horses feeling, looking and performing at their best.
FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips — Clinically proven nasal strips designed to support respiratory efficiency and reduce respiratory load during exercise. FLAIR Equine
Foran Equine — Science-led supplements supporting equine health, performance and recovery. Foran Equine
Carr & Day & Martin — Trusted horse care backed by more than 250 years of expertise. Carr & Day & Martin
Connolly's RED MILLS — Performance nutrition backed by more than a century of equine expertise. Connolly's RED MILLS
Horseware Ireland — More than 40 years of innovation, built around protecting the connection between horse and rider. Horseware Ireland
Support the brands supporting the show and catch up on the Aachen Diaries for all the stories, reaction and insight from an unforgettable World Championships.