Villepinte (AFP)

Simon Delestre brilliantly managed his horse Hermes Ryan on a demanding course to remove the Grand Prix 5 star show jumping Masters Paris Sunday at the Parc des Expositions Villepinte, in front of two other French, who dream like him games Olympic.

A 100% Blue podium: this has never happened on the private circuit and richly endowed with the Longines Masters (300,000 euros endowment for the GP), counting for the world ranking of the International Federation.

And for its 11th edition, the competition has been particularly successful in France. Alongside Delestre stood the two 2016 Olympic team champions, Kevin Staut (2nd with For Joy van't Zorgvliet HDC) and Roger Yves Bost (3rd, Sangria du Coty).

Before several thousand people who had not given up on the show despite the strike affecting public transport, the three Tricolores each signed a double clear. But, in dam, Delestre was the fastest trio on a particularly difficult course.

Of the 42 top-ranked riders, only six riders and their riders did not drop any of the 13 obstacles on the course (for a total of 16 jumps), which allowed them to play the dam.

World No.1, Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, and his fellow countryman Martin Fuchs, N.2 worldwide, were particularly trapped in this first round, as was the 2004 Olympic champion, the Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa.

- Breath of fresh air -

In the jump-off where seven obstacles (for 8 jumps) awaited the riders, Delestre, who was last, rode his beloved 14-year-old horse to win.

"Ryan has outdone himself, he fought like a lion," said Delestre, who knows he can not count on this horse for the Olympics next summer in Tokyo. His horse is too old to bear a test as grueling as the Olympics.

The Games are fast approaching and France, Olympic champion in title, is not at best to meet this new challenge, lack of good horses.

"We are a country in constant turmoil, the French team from a world point of view is below big teams", regretted Kevin Staut.

"The results here are positive for the general morale, it gives a little oxygen, but we have not arrived (at the Olympics 2020.) Two horses of this podium will not go to Tokyo in a certain way "Staut continues, who also knows that For Joy, 14, will not make the trip to Japan.

In contrast, Bost put on his horse Sangria. "I'm trying to go to Tokyo, I have a mare who is capable." (The podium at the Masters Paris) gives confidence to the whole team of France.There is a lot of way before Tokyo, we must continue to work".

The three riders selected to represent France in the Olympic Games 2020 will be announced in a few months.

© 2019 AFP