Edited press release from Hubside Jumping

Delivering the first double clear in Sunday's CSI4* Grand Prix at Hubside Jumping de Valence, home rider François-Xavier Boudant went into the lead and held on to his pole position with Brazyl de Mezel (Haloubet de Gorze x Apache d'Adriers) – besting a field of thirty-six competitors. 

The first-round track, designed by France’s Grégory Bodo, was a technical one, but was “built with the horses in mind” as Philippe Rozier, the French team gold medallist at the Rio Olympics, highlighted during the course walk. Fence number 4, which was a plank, was undoubtedly decisive in the class and was knocked down by thirteen riders. The time allowed also played a significant role, penalising Ireland’s Stephen Moore, who had a superb clear round in terms of jumping with Albert K (Heartbeat x Quidam de Revel), but unfortunately was too slow when he crossed the finish line. France’s Mégane Moissonnier with the powerful Cordial (Casall x Chicago) and Argentina’s José Maria Larocca (Jr) with Finn Lente (Gaillard de La Pomme x Colandro) suffered the same fate.

France’s Cédric Hurel and his fantastic Fantasio Floreval Z (Florian de La Vie*Bazooka x Clinton), who are in great form this season, got the ball rolling with the first clear round. Jeanne Sadran, the young French lady rider, and Vannan (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) immediately followed suit and ensured that there would be a jump-off. It appeared that there would then be a series of clear rounds as Normandy’s François-Xavier Boudant and Brazyl du Mezel also qualified for the jump-off – and in the end ten combinations managed to jump clear and obtained their ticket for the second round against the clock.

Normandy’s François-Xavier Boudant had the first double clear with Apache d’Adrier’s grandson in a time of 34.36, going into the lead provisionally and suspense was at its height. Titouan Schumacher and his Atome Z (Amadeus Z*Brimbelles x Toulon) unsettled the audience, as well as the leading combination, going over the finish line faster...but knocking down the final fence into the bargain, having to settle for fourth behind Boudant in first, John Whitaker (GBR) with Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de La Cour II) in second and Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR) in third with Delvaux (Chacco-Blue x Lancer II).

"I’m delighted as it’s my first 4* Grand Prix win," said François-Xavier Boudant. "I had already won some CSI3* shows, but it’s my first CSI4* victory. Brazyl du Mezel has been at my stables for three years now and has constantly progressed. He’s incredible and jumps clear round after clear round. This weekend he jumped five rounds and was clear in all five. I was definitely luckier than Titouan Schumacher in the jump-off as he was a bit faster, and Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida, the Portuguese rider, set off really quickly but messed up his last turn. But that’s the way it goes. I rode at the beginning of the jump-off. I had a good round and I also put pressure on the others which led them to make mistakes. It worked for me this time! Before the prize giving ceremony, I said to John Whitaker, who was second, that it was great to win, but all the more so ahead of a legend like him!"