A total of 49 combinations competed on the Uliano Vezzani-designed course with only 18 progressing on to the second round after the final four fences caused a multitude of issues. The second round, which saw nine riders going clear again, led to a risky jump-off phase.

Ireland’s Denis Lynch was one of the nine to record two double clear rounds and go through to the third round jump-off but picked up four faults with All Star 5. Thomas Straumann’s gelding recorded a time of 41.92 seconds and eventually finished seventh in the line-up, helping Lynch to €6,400 in prize money.

Last to go was Staut, riding the 15-year-old grey mare Silvana HDC, who jumped clear in an impressive 40.74 seconds to resounding cheers and applause from the crowd.

A clearly emotional Staut said afterwards: “I dedicate the win to Silvana because she is an old mare and she is still giving her best and I dedicate it to my whole team, and my groom and my owners.”

The win moved the French rider into the number one spot within the LGCT leaderboard. However, with each of the top five riders within 35 points of each other, everything is still to play for heading into the second half of the competition.