Edited press release from Hubside Jumping Grimaud

Riding Denver (Albführen's Memphis x Chico's Boy), Great Britain's Holly Smith was outstanding in Thursday's CSI5* 1.50m speed class at Hubside Jumping Grimaud.

With a line-up of the world's best, it was Smith who finally came out on top in the feature class of the day. Aboard Denver, a horse Smith competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the British rider made the most of the track set by Cédric Longis – stopping the clock at 65.68 seconds to best a field of 35 horse-and-rider combinations. 

“I had the bad luck, or rather the luck as it turned out for me, to go at the beginning of the class," joked the winner. “Denver has a lot of experience, he’s already taken part in Nations Cup classes, several Grand Prix classes and the Olympic Games, I tried to capitalise on that as much as possible. That's what helped me to take more options and perhaps, be faster than the others. It’s my day!” 

Frenchman Grégory Cottard and his grey mare Cocaïne du Val (Mylord Carthago x Si Tu Viens) finished close behind in 65.94 seconds, while his compatriot Simon Delestre and Chesall Zimequest (Casall x Concerto II) took third place in 66.18.

39.68s is the time it took Julien Epaillard and the experienced Usual Suspect d'Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) to take the win in the CSI5* 1.45m speed class. Known as one of the fastest riders in the world, the Frenchman didn't disappoint, beating the time of his compatriot Julien Gonin – who was the long-time leader on Cymba ( Radieux x Adelfos) – by nearly three seconds. "It was an opening class, a good number of riders chose to use it as a working round for their horses while others tried to win, which was my case,” said Epaillard after the prize-giving ceremony. 

“Usual is starting to have a lot of experience and he was as responsive as ever, I’m pleased! Tomorrow he'll be doing the 1.55m and normally the Grand Prix on Sunday but it's not certain yet”. 

Great Britain’s Guy Williams on Rouge de Ravel (Ultimo Van Ter Moude x Quouglof Rouge) was second in 40.40, with French rider Edward Levy completing the podium with Confidence d'Ass (Diamant de Semilly x Eurocommerce Berlin) in 42.25.