François-Xavier Boudant & Hitot de Riverland Top the €105,500 CWD Grand Prix of the City of Cabourg CSI 4*

Cabourg, France – May 31, 2026 – With generous enthusiasm and total mastery, François-Xavier Boudant (FRA) and his young Hitot de Riverland, nine years old, won the €105,500 CWD Grand Prix of the City of Cabourg CSI 4* on Sunday, May 31. In a jump-off of six competitors, they beat Julien Épaillard (FRA), second with Le Coultre de Muze, and the Belgian Robin van Thillo (BEL), third with My Jewel’s Magic Touch. A great victory for a promising horse in a selective Grand Prix.

A Selective First Round
The Grand Prix course designed by Grégory Bodo (FRA) had something to occupy the competitors: a good height, technical lines and a wall with their backs to the paddock did their job, as predicted by Marc Dilasser (FRA) on the microphone during the course walk – himself sanctioned on the last line with his faithful Arioto du Gèvres. Fourth to enter the arena, the Chilean Jorge Matte Capdevila (CHI) was the first to lead the way, associated with the Holsteiner stallion CCS Uriko. By signing a flawless performance, the Alexis Gautier (FRA), on Dairzel Duverie, therefore ensured a jump-off. Third couple to join them, Charles-Henri Fermé (FRA) and Katmandu did not shy away from their qualification at the finish of this initial round.

Very in form this season, the Belgian Robin van Thillo (BEL) did not miss his validation with My Jewel’s Magic Touch, with which he won the Grand Prix of the City of Touquet on May 10. Winners of the 2025 edition, Frenchman Kevin Staut (FRA) and Vida Loca made three mistakes in the initial round, annihilating any chance of defending their title. Halfway through the event, there were only four of them to have obtained their qualification for the jump-off. There remained a few big names in the running, who responded to the call, like Norman Julien Épaillard (FRA) and Le Coultre de Muze, winners of Friday’s qualifying event in the colors of Demeures de Campagne, and his compatriot François-Xavier Boudant (FRA) on Hitot de Riverland.

Six hundredths too many will, unfortunately, have deprived the legendary John Whitaker (GBR) of access to the jump-off with BR Gringos Legacy. The fact remains that his riding continues to arouse admiration, given the almost religious silence which was imposed around the track as he passed.

Last Act
In the end, only six riders managed to qualify for the jump-off. The Chilean Jorge Matte Capdevila (CHI), as well as Alexis Gautier (FRA) and Charles-Henri Fermé (FRA), all three left a bar down in their quest for victory. First to sign a double clear round in 45”04, the Belgian Robin van Thillo (BEL) only briefly retained the crown, immediately supplanted by Julien Épaillard, in very good form this weekend with Le Coultre de Muze. The timer, lowered to 43”42, seemed difficult to beat. But that was without counting on the will and mastery of François-Xavier Boudant (FRA), determined to do battle with his young nine-year-old accomplice. Galloping fast, turning short and giving everything in the last turn, the tricolor rider went even faster, crossing the finish line in 43”27.

“Beating Julien Here and Winning in Normandy at home is Cool” – François-Xavier Boudant (FRA)
“It’s always nice to win, we’re not going to hide. In addition, Hitot is still young and I believe in him a lot. I really think he’s a great horse. He had already achieved a performance in Fontainebleau (notably a sixth place in a 1.45 m event and an eighth place in a 1.50 m event, editor’s note). Today, he really confirmed all the good things I think of him. And then, beating Julien here, and winning in Normandy, at home, is cool,” said François-Xavier Boudant (FRA), all smiles at the end of the awards ceremony.

The Cabourg Classic Closes its Sixth Edition
Note that Julien Épaillard (FRA) and Hacker d’Auge had completed a first round without penalty. But in view of his selection by the French Equestrian Federation for the CSIO 3* Sotheby’s International Realty Deauville Nations Cup next week, the second qualifying stage for France on the EEF Longines circuit, the Norman wisely preferred to preserve his mount and decided not to start the jump-off.

With this selective Grand Prix, the Cabourg Classic closes a sixth edition marked by a strong international field, a perfect gender parity in the jump-off of Friday’s Demeures de Campagne Prize, a British victory courtesy of Matthew Sampson and Latte Macchiato in Saturday’s Range Rover Grand Prize, and a Sunday dominated by the French riders. The Normandy Summer Tour continues next week, from 4 to 7 June, with the Sotheby’s International Realty CSIO 3* Deauville, where Julien Épaillard (FRA), among others, will fly the French flag in the second qualifying round for France on the EEF Longines circuit.

All classes of the CSI 4* du Cabourg Classic were streamed live on GrandPrix.TV and on ClipMyHorse.TV, where every round remains available on demand. Full results on WorldSportTiming.

Final Results – €105,500 CWD Grand Prix of the City of Cabourg CSI 4*

1) François Xavier Boudant (FRA) & Hitot de Riverland – 0 / 0 – 43.27

2) Julien Épaillard (FRA) & Le Coultre de Muze – 0 / 0 – 43.42

3) Robin van Thillo (BEL) & My Jewel’s Magic Touch – 0 / 0 – 45.04

Source: Press Release from (translated & edited) Grand Prix Events

Photo: © Grand Prix Events

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