Edited press release from Hubside Jumping Grimaud

"A class isn’t won until Julien Epaillard has been in the ring," is a sentence often heard. Considered as one of the fastest riders in the world, the Frenchman once again lived up to his reputation at Hubside Jumping Grimaud on Thursday when he took the win in the CSI4* 1.45m class counting for the Longines Ranking with the 9-year-old stallion Calgary Tame (Old Chap Tame x Kashmir Van'T Schuttershof). The pair — 21st to go of the 77 in the class — lowered the time to beat by seven seconds, pushing their compatriot Marie Pellegrin off the top slot on the leader-board.

“I’ve been given the ride on Calgary by Eugénie and Cédric Angot, he’s still young but is continuing to develop,” smiled the rider from Normandy after his win. “He won a 1.45m in Valkenswaard in July, a 3* Grand Prix in Herzlake in August and then a 1.55m in Rome in September. He is very consistent and is very promising for the future! It was a good course, just as suited to those who wanted to just work their horses as well as for those who wanted to play. The combinations were tricky but didn’t take too much out of the horses, there were several options, related distances... It was interesting and above all respected our horses. My horse will be starting the jump-off class tomorrow and the 4* Grand Prix on Sunday. If everything goes according to plan, I’ve got it in mind to enter him in the 5* event next week”. 

Among the last to go, Switzerland's Martin Fuchs risked everything in order to try and beat his rival. With Tam Tam du Valon (Ogrion des Champs x Quidam de Revel), the rider ranked no. three in the world lost out on victory by 20 hundredths of a second, finishing second. American rider Michael Hughes was third with George Z (Kannan x Chin Chin).

Dutch rider Jur Vrieling won the 1.45-1.50m CSI 4* two-phase class, riding Chabada de l'Esques (Quebracho Semilly x Apache d'Adriers). “I haven’t returned to Grimaud since last year and it's always a pleasure to come back, and even more so to win,” Vrieling smiled. “I really like Chabada, he’s a great character, and always ready and willing, I'm pleased for myself, but equally for him”.

Behind Vrieling, followed Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano and Crack Balou (Balou du Reventon x Chacco-Blue) while third place went to home rider Laurent Goffinet on Absolut de Lacke (Diamant de Semilly x Parco).