Marcus Ehning shows champion’s pedigree with Longines FEI World Cup Jumping success in Madrid

Riding Comme Il Faut, the three-time FEI World Cup champion produced one of his trademark super-tight turns in the nine-horse jump-off against the clock to take top spot on the podium.

France’s Kevin Staut claimed the runners-up spot which also gave him the consolation of moving to the top of the League leaderboard, with Great Britain’s Scott Brash taking third place.

Forty horse-and-rider combinations from 19 countries came forward to tackle the course designed by Spain’s Javier Trenor – including six competitors from Spain including all four members of their Rio 2016 Olympic team.

In contrast to previous legs of the Western European League, only nine combinations made through to jump-off against the clock.

Former World Cup champion, Ludger Beerbaum of Germany, was first to go clear in a time of 47.91 seconds when fourth to go, but Rio 2016 Olympic team gold medallist Staut shaved almost four seconds off his time, going clear in 43.98 seconds.

Ehning, who is one of four riders to have won the title on three occasions – 2003, 2006 and 2010.however was not to be outdone, and in a typically thrilling display went clear stopping the clock in a winning time of 43.56 seconds.

Brash, with Hello M’Lady went clear 44.04 seconds to take third, meaning Beerbaum, slotted into fourth with Casello.

Victory for Ehining moves him onto 37 points and up to fifth place in the Longines FEI World Cup Western European League, which after six legs now sees Staut take over the lead with 56 points. He is followed by two riders from Switzerland, with Romain Duguet in second spot on 43 points and Steve Guerdat in third with 42 points.

Spain hosts two legs of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League this season, with the next round taking place at La Coruna on 11 December.

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League
Result: Round 6 – Madrid, Spain

1. Comme Il Faut (Marcus Ehning) Germany 0/0 faults 43.56 seconds (jump-off)
2. Aran (Kevin Staut) France 0/0 43.98
3. Hello M’Lady (Scott Brash) Great Britain 0/0 44.04
4. Casello (Ludger Beerbaum) Germany 0/0 47.91
5. All Star (Denis Lynch) Ireland 0/0 48.17
6. Ensor de Lidrange (Lorenzo de Luca) Italy 0/4 43.79
7. Coree (Gregory Wathelet) Belgium 0/4 44.97
8. Mary Lou (Henrik von Eckermann) Sweden 0/ 48.62
9. Cathleen (Tobias Meyer) Germany 0/16 57.38

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League
Standings after Round 6 – Madrid, Spain

1. Kevin Staut France 56 points
2. Romain Duguet Switzerland 43
3. Steve Guerdat Switzerland 42
4. Lorenzo de Luca Italy 42
5. Marcus Ehning Germany 37
6. Simon Delestre France 31
7. Martin Fuchs Switzerland 29
8. Lauren Hough USA 28
9. Pieter Devos Belgium 28
10. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Germany 25