Thursday's closing class at De Kraal International, the CSI4* 1.45 Ashford Farm Prize, was convincingly won by the young French rider Titouan Schumacher and his 14-year-old SF mare Oceane de Nantuel (Diamant De Semilly x Quidam de Revel).

Halfway in the jump-off, that counted fifteen riders, the 22-year-old set a really fast time of 41.31 seconds which in the end earned him the top prize. Schumacher was of course very happy with the victory, and “was going to celebrate the win accordingly” as he said afterwards. Titouan has already gained quite some experience as a junior and young rider, and participated at the European Championships for juniors in 2012 as well as in 2014 and 2015 as a young rider. He is having a good year with Oceane de Nantuel and has had victories and good placings in Opglabbeek, Knokke, Sancourt and Le Touquet. Titouan rides and workes at Haras des Brimbelles in Saint Aubin sur Gaillon. The stud is owned by his parents, Guy and Christel Schumacher. 

Brazil’s 32-year-old Adir Abreu Junior finished in second place with the 12-year-old BWP gelding Evanco VH Weidse Hof (Vancouver d’Auvray x Don Renoir). The combination stopped the clock at 43.25. In third came Schumacher’s compatriot Antoine Courpied with the SF gelding Soleil Levant (Kairouan Rouge x Arpege Pierreville). Best Belgian combination was Constant Van Paesschen in fourth position with the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion Carlow Van De Helle (Caretino x Corofino I), double clear in 44.84.