The silver medal went to another Swede, Henrik von Eckermann, with Cantinero while bronze went to Canadian star Eric Lamaze with his relatively new horse Fine Lady 5. The result reduced the overall championship lead of Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander to just seven points with Bengtsson in the runner-up spot in a renewal of their epic 2012 battle in which Tops-Alexander prevailed.
Round one of the Grand Prix saw some masterful clears with Tops-Alexander and Ego van Orti jumping a confident clear but four faults in the second round left her in 12th overall. Lying third in the championship table, Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed, also clear in round one, lowered a rail in round two – the result means the top three in the championship table moved clear of their pursuers by 24 points.
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and All Star 5 were the fastest four-faulter but unfortunately had another fence down in the second round to finish on a total of eight faults. Meanwhile Ireland’s Mark McAuley and Isco De Amoranda posted eight faults in round one while Cameron Hanley had a foot in the water and a plank down for eight faults.
Also on eight was Shane Breen on Farao Van T Vennefhof while Darragh Kenny and Piccolo had just the one fence down.
Five French riders made it through from the 15 first round clears to the next round - Patrice Delaveau, Marie Hecart, Michel Hecart, Pénélope Leprevost and Timothee Anciaume - but all picked up four faults to the home crowd's dismay.
Greece’s Athina Onassis de Miranda and AD Camille Z were the first combination to jump clear in the tough second round - they finished on just two time faults from their first round, which landed them a fifth place overall to gave Onassis one of the best results of her career so far. Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Vindicat W also finished well, with a clear and four faults to collect eighth place.
But it was the veteran riders who showed what they were made of to advance to the third and final round against the clock. Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Canada’s Eric Lamaze joined Henrik von Eckermann and Rolf-Goran Bentsson for the last test of power and skill set by course designer Uliano Vezzani.
Beerbaum was first to go and looked to be onto a winning round when Chaman slipped on a tight turn to stop the clock in 42.69. Second in, Von Eckermann was cautious on the turn where his mentor had slipped, which cost him time, but he took the lead in 40.85.
Bengtsson was third to go with his incredible stallion and pulled off the round his legions of fans were hoping to see to cruise into first place in 40.31.
Lamaze had pole position as last to go but was unable to catch the time with his smaller mare taking third in a time of 41.08.
Today (Saturday) the GCT is in Valkenswaard with just 20 points separating Tops-Alexander, Bengtsson and Mohammed while Von Eckermann and Beerbaum have moved up well into the top 10.
TOP IRISH WINS
Chantilly proved to be a successful pre-Dublin warm-up gathering with both Darragh Kenny and Cameron Hanley enjoying prestigious wins, writes Ruth Loney.
Co Offaly’s Darragh Kenny won Friday’s 1.50m speed competition on the consistent 11-year-old gelding Piccolo. It’s the latest in a blitz of wins for Kenny who enjoyed a hat-trick on his first foray to Aachen the previous week.
Co Mayo’s Cameron Hanley had a memorable Grand Finale when winning Chantilly’s 1.50m Airbus Group Masters on his brilliant Antello Z, watched by 6,000 people last Sunday.
A delighted Hanley said: “I did not ride him yesterday in the Longines GCT but I can confirm that he is my top horse. He has just returned from a month of rest and I am preparing him for the Nations Cup in Dublin where I hope to be selected for the World Equestrian Games.”
Meanwhile, Suzanne Macken was a guest judge in the two-star international arena and joined by her friend Sneezy Foster and Suzanne's son Stevie Macken who has horses with Shane Breen.
Ardee’s John McAuley flew out on Friday to support his son Mark who is well known with his Italian-owned horse team on the Longines Global Tour.
Co Down trainer Suzy Barkley also visited Chantilly for the first time, taking a short break before making her debut with a new horse in Dublin's racehorse to riding horse class. Nick Skelton competed in the national arena on a son of Arko, a bay eight-year-old stallion, bred by owner John Hales. His partner, top American show jumper Laura Kraut kept Irish breeding to the fore with the Captain Clover gelding Wotsamillion making the second round of the GCT Grand Prix with a stunning opening clear round.
The affable and highly talented Laura also ensured her son Bobby had an Irish horse to compete with, and he partnered the John Whitaker and Mandy Hall-owned Cavalier gelding Casino in the two-star section. Casino, bred by Peter Rice in Keady, is a former Chantilly Grand Prix champion with Whitaker.
Laura's pupil Jessica Springsteen, gave an exuberant and accurate display with the former Peter Charles Olympic gold medallist Vindicaat to produce a stunning opening clear round in the Global Tour and is now looking forward to her trip to compete for the USA team at the Dublin Horse Show.
Jessica also rode Zero (by Metropole by Libero), a stallion which formerly stood with Gladys and Eamon McArdle at Drumhowan Stud.
Chantilly Show spokesperson Jessica Rodriguez added: "The Irish have really made another impact on the show, they have supported our show for years. We are delighted Cameron won a strong jump-off, particularly since his riding career was nearly finished when he injured his leg.
"We are pleased that so many riders have used our show as a warm-up for Hickstead and Dublin."