Ireland’s Darragh Kenny, first to go in the six-horse jump-off at the five star Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Chantilly, France today, proved to be unbeatable on a time of 37.54 and took home 99,000 euro in prize money.
Riding the talented 13 year-old bay stallion Balou du Reventon, Kenny saw off a final challenge when Olympic medallist Penelope Leprevost, last to go of the French riders, stopped the clock with Vancouver de Lanlore at 38.08 and had to settle for the runner-up slot.
Kenny was jubilant after his win, as the victory also gains him a place in the rich Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague in November.
He said: “I really wanted to try and qualify for that, and I’ve done it now. It’s great to get it out of the way. The horse was super fast here today and the French crowd were really great, but I’m sorry I had to ruin their day.”
Earlier this month Balou du Reventon also gave Kenny a Grand Prix win at Knokke in Belgium and in May a second place in the GCT Grand Prix at Shanghai.
Watch Balou du Reventon’s winning round here
-Jack Burns
We Live Horse 