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 twelve months ago with Billabong du Roumois, and today he did it all over again with another 10-year-old, the extraordinary mare Caracole de la Roque.
At the 2021 Spanish fixture he was on a roll throughout the week before recording that victory and this year he was on flying form once more, winning Friday’s qualifying competition and then trampling the opposition into submission this afternoon. He only had six opponents to fend off last time around, today there were 15 through to the jump-off. But none of the rest could match the turn of foot and accuracy of his classy mare who might have been even quicker but for a momentary safety-check halfway around the jump-off course.