Julien Epaillard (FRA) lived up to his reputation and took a fast win in Thursday’s 1.45m world ranking competition at the last CSI4* Hubside Jumping of the year in Grimaud, France. Riding Usual Suspect d’Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge), Epaillard finished over two seconds ahead of his compatriot Mathieu Billot (FRA) with Bad Boy du Bobois (Nabab de Reve x Tresor de Cheux). 

Third place went to Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) with Icarus (Douglas x Sioux de Baugy) ahead of Jean Luc Mourier (FRA) with Fionapina Colada (Berlin x Indoctro) in fourth and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) with Idi Utopia (Quasimodo Z x Darco) in fifth. 

“You can definitely say that I had the luck on my side today; I had a nice touch on one of the fences which fortunately didn’t fall,” Epaillard commented. “There were a lot of serious competitors, and since I started as no. eleven, I knew I had to take all the risk. I think this caused Emanuele Gaudiano and Carlotta to have a fault and they are for sure important competitors when it comes to going fast. Emanuele had no other choice than to take all the risk. It is a fair game. When he starts before me, as was the case last week, he doesn’t hesitate. Last week, I played the game too much; I was faster, but with two faults. So, it was my revenge today. Usual Suspect d’Auge is in great shape.”