Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour 

In a glittering showcase of precision and power, Harrie Smolders (NED) and his legendary partner Monaco (Cassini II x Contender) soared to victory in the CSI5* 1.60m €500,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes presented by La Ville de Cannes, on a balmy summer evening on the French Riviera in front of the sold out crowd.

Under the spotlight of the iconic Stade des Hespérides, Smolders produced two faultless rounds in a fiercely contested LGCT Grand Prix, stopping the clock in 42.30s to clinch the win ahead of home favourite Simon Delestre (FRA) with Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead x Quaprice Bois Margot) in second and fellow Dutch star Maikel van der Vleuten riding O'Bailey vh Brouwershof N.O.P. (Darco x Contact vd Heffinck) in third. 

A beaming Smolders told GCTV post-win: “Incredible Monaco, once again so consistent, he's one of a kind… Thank you to Monaco, and thank you to Evergate Stables. The atmosphere is unbelievable here in the evening with the crowd, the horses also feel this atmosphere and they give everything they have," Smolders continued."We saw a very big track today with 10 out of 40 [in the jump-off], that was the game plan of Uliano [Vezzani] and it worked out for him. It was exciting right until the last rider and the last jump." 

With the golden ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Prague now in the bag, Smolders said: “I am really happy that we can go to Prague, it's an amazing event with an incredible atmosphere. Monaco has already jumped two times the LGCT Super Grand Prix, we were very close but we have also never won that one… Hopefully this year." 

A packed grandstand was on its feet as the crowd watched a thrilling jump-off unfold. First to lay down a clear marker was home hero Simon Delestre, whose Cayman Jolly Jumper produced a superb round in 42.70s, sending French hopes soaring. Speaking after the class, Delestre commented: ”Honestly I love to ride in front of my home crowd, they support you, they push you, they are fighting for you, and it really is a fantastic sensation. Hopefully one time I can take the win because I think this is the third time for second place.”

But Smolders and Monaco delivered a masterclass in control and speed, shaving four-tenths off Delestre’s time with a perfectly judged final gallop to the last. Rounding out the podium, Maikel van der Vleuten and O'Bailey vh Brouwershof N.O.P. produced another stylish double clear in 45.33s. “I knew even if I had been one or two seconds quicker, the last two riders would've beaten me with a clear round," van der Vleuten said. "So in this case I have to be very happy with third place. Congrats to Harrie, my teammate, he was fantastic today… He deserved the win."

In the overall LGCT standings, Gilles Thomas (BEL) remains in the lead with 87 points, but the race is hotting up behind him. Simon Delestre catapults into second on 85.2 points, while Sophie Hinners (GER) and Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) follow in third and fourth on 81 points.