LUCY Holliday is set to make her debut at the Badminton three-day event, held over the Duke of Beaufort’s superb Gloucestershire parkland and the most famous equestrian event in the world.

The Thirlby 25-year old has received a last minute call-up to the event, having been a lowly 40th on the original wait list with her grey mare High Times.

“I can’t believe that I’ve actually got a run – half the original entry have pulled out to make it possible,” Holliday said. “I am so excited – you work for this for so long and I’ve wanted to compete at Badminton since I was a junior.”

The pair, who won team silver at the Young Rider European Championships back in 2004, has come up through the novice ranks together and has been competing at advanced level for the past five years.

“High Times coped well with the atmosphere at the Boekelo three-day event in Holland in 2007 and has been OK in dressage at other major three-day venues,” Holliday said. “But no atmosphere is quite like Badminton so we will have to see how it goes – it’s probably more down to how I cope than my horse.”

The preparation this season has gone well, with thirds at Poplar Park and Lincoln oneday events and a fourth at Belton Park at the end of April.

“My mare can let me down in dressage – she sometimes works well outside but then thinks it’s a game and gets a bit naughty in the arena,” Holliday added. “She does tend to be better at three-day events though, as she has more time to settle. I’m not thinking about anything except doing the best I can.”

Joining her at Badminton will be Burnhope’s Sara Burdess (nee Deary), with her 16- year-old bay horse Shiver St George. The pair was 32nd at the event back in 2005 but the gelding then had time out with an injury.

“Then I broke my leg – we were out of action so long we lost all our qualifying points and have spent two years getting them back again,” Burdess explained. “Last autumn we jumped a great clear cross country at Burghley, Britain’s other four star event, and finished 18th and I’m looking forward to getting back to Badminton.”

The duo had a bit of a hiccup on their season opener at Lincoln one-day event, which has proved a bit of a bete noir in the past.

Burdess’ horse is owned by her father Terry Deary, a famous author of children’s books, particularly known for the Horrible Histories series.

Bishop Auckland based AnnaWarnecke, who competes for Germany, will again ride her 17hh bay horse Twinkle Bee. The combination finished just outside the top 20 at Badminton in 2006, having won team bronze at the European Championships a year earlier.

Their preparation has gone superbly in 2009, with a fifth at Lincoln, a sixth at the Burnham Market CIC*** and a seventh at Belton Park to their credit.

Among the favourites for the title will be current world champion Zara Phillips on her top ride Toytown, back from the injury that cost the pair an Olympic place last year and due to make a Badminton debut; past winners William Fox-Pitt and Mary King and Antipodean stars such as Andrew Nicholson and Clayton Fredericks.