Belgium's Francois Mathy Jr made a winning return to the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show as Saturday's action produced a thrilling speed class in the International Arena.

The 1.45-metre competition, sponsored by Voltaire Design, saw the top four combinations separated by just 44 hundredths of a second with Francois claiming a top prize of £7,100.

Great Britain Nations Cup rider Robert Smith set a scorching early pace, clocking 54.86 seconds aboard his consistent campaigner Ilton (Dulf van den Bisschop x Calvaro), and it proved beyond all other combinations until Francois arrived on Casanova de L'Herse (Ugano Sitte x Kashmir van Schuttershof).

And an impressive display of pace and precision saw them post a time of 54.69 to take a lead they never lost despite Irish star Billy Twomey and Ardcolum Duke (Gypsy Duke x Clover Hill) threatening it on 54.89, while Graham Gillespie and Calvaro's Up To Date (Calvaro F.C x Up To Date) finished fourth.

"I am very happy," Francois said. "The horse jumped great and I was lucky enough to be quicker than the others."

"The horse has been winning a lot, and is very competitive. I was quite tight in the beginning of the course, and you know you can always be quicker."

"It was not a course where you would really open up your horse. You could make time in the turns, not so much in the long gallops, and a very nice course."

"I love this show. It is the third year in a row I've been here. The horse today was fourth in the grand prix last year, so he likes it here too."

"There is a special atmosphere here. It is such a special place."