Olivier Robert made it a home win in Friday’s CSI5* 1.50m class with a jump-off at Hubside Jumping in Grimaud, France. Riding Vangog du Mas Garnier (Cornet Obolensky x Quidam de Revel), Robert was 0.03 seconds faster than his compatriot Julien Epaillard with Alibi de La Roque (Mylord Carthago*HN x Kannan).

Third place went to Gudrun Patteet (BEL) with Sea Coast Pebbles Z (Picasso x Flamenco de Semilly) ahead of Marie Demonte (FRA) with Vega de La Roche (Diamant de Semilly x Baloubet du Rouet) in fourth and Max Kühner (AUT) with Elektrik Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) in fifth.

"I am very happy with this victory tonight!” Robert said. “We had kind of complicated conditions today. Because of the wind, there were no trees around the fences, the course was very light, the time was short enough –which made the first round quite difficult. But there is such a level here that it takes that to decide between us. At least fifteen horses at the start this evening have already competed in major championships.”

“Vangog jumped really well today. To be honest, I didn’t plan on going so fast in a jump-off ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix. I am very happy, but I hope I did not handicap my Grand Prix. I will try to work my horse well tomorrow morning, so that he recovers – and then “Forward!"” was Robert’s conclusion.

Earlier in the day, Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) won the CSI5* 1.45m with Carlotta 232 (Chaccomo x Cento). Gaudiano was four seconds faster than runner-up Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR) and Farah (Arezzo VDL x Concorde). Third place went to Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) with Abelone O.T Lowlands Z (Andiamo Z x Diamant de Semilly).