Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour

Opening the first day of Jumping Cannes' 40th anniversary in style, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and d'Orient Batilly (Numero Uno x Quaprice Boimargot Quincy) claimed the win in the CSI5* 1.45m Da Laura Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cannes.

After keeping the lead for the majority of the class, Gilles Thomas and Feromas van Beek Z (Fantomas de Muze x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve) were beaten at the last hurdle when second last to go Eduardo Alvarez Aznar shaved nearly two seconds off his time. As the final pair in the ring, 67-year-old John Whitaker and Green Grass (Luidam x breeding unknown) set hearts racing as they flew around the course to stop the clock in 63.01 and take the third place.

A beaming Aznar spoke of his 10-year-old d’Orient Batilly: “I didn’t expect to go so fast, and I wanted to do a nice round and give him a little bit of fun in this class after jumping last weekend in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of St. Tropez. But, he really performed well, he was turning very tight and smooth, and actually, I didn’t feel that I was going so quick, but he must be a fast horse and I am very, very happy with this result.”