MADRID is a happy hunting ground for Julien Epaillard. The French rider came out on top in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Western European League qualifier 12 months ago with Billabong du Roumois, and he did it all over again last weekend with another 10-year-old, Caracole de la Roque.

It was a competitive 15-horse jump-off and Epaillard was second into the arena. The Frenchman broke the beam in 42.61 seconds but admitted afterwards that he could have been even quicker if he hadn’t put in an extra stride between the blue vertical - fence seven on the first course - and the following new oxer to which there was a right-hand turn.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser was the first to match Epaillard’s clear but his 11-year-old stallion Bingo was almost two seconds off the pace when crossing the line in 44.30 seconds. It seemed the French rider’s compatriot, Simon Delestre, might give him a run for his money, but the electric little gelding Cayman Jolly Jumper spent so much time in the air that the clock showed 44.37 seconds as he raced through the finish with all the poles intact to slot into third place.

And that’s where he stayed when the only other double-clear of the day came from Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci and the 13-year-old mare Cochelle.

“I’m very proud of her,” Epaillard said afterwards. “She has jumped two World Cups and she has won two World Cups, and she won the last seven classes she did - she’s an amazing mare!”

For family reasons it was also extra-special for the 45-year-old rider to do well at the Spanish fixture. “My wife is Spanish and lives in Madrid and my son lives here too and we have many friends here, so it’s important for me to have a good weekend!”

A seventh-place finish has promoted Kevin Staut to pole position on the Western European League leaderboard and, with 42 points, the French rider is already well set for a place at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup 2023 Final which will take place in Omaha next April.

Epaillard now lies second on 40 points and he also has his sights clearly set on that trip to Omaha next year. The 14-leg Western European League will reach its halfway point this weekend when the action stays in Spain with a visit to La Coruña.

Lynch runner-up

Denis Lynch was runner-up in Friday’s 1.50m which was once again won by Epaillard and Caracole de la Roque. Lynch was riding Onyx Consulting Ltd’s 16-year-old gelding GC Chopin’s Bushi and produced a good clear in 57.86 seconds to earn just over €19,000.

He was over two second slower than the speed master Epaillard who clocked 55.25. Britain’s Ben Maher slotted into third place with Exit Remi, while Mark McAuley was 10th after a nice clear with the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto D’Arco x Over the River), bred by Denis Hickey.