Fourteenth to go, and first to finish. Victor Bettendorf proved once again why Encore Toi du Linon is his most reliable partner.
Victor Bettendorf (LUX), recent runner-up in the LGCT London CSI5* Jump-Off and winner of the LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck, clocked 65.08 seconds in the CSI4* Prix Institut Esthederm 1.50m at the Longines Deauville Classic, the second Grand Prix qualifier of the weekend, designed by Gérard Lachat (SUI) with 84 combinations on course and €56,700 in prize money, with only 19 combinations completing the track without penalties. Bettendorf entered the arena fourteenth with seventy more pairs still to come, but his time proved unbeatable to the end. “Encore Toi du Linon is a very competitive and very careful mare, which makes my job a little easier. I never really fear a fault; I simply pay attention to my line. When she steps into the lorry, I am fairly sure the weekend will go well.”
It was the combination’s thirteenth international victory and fourth of 2026; in their 23 international starts since January, they have finished inside the Top 10 on thirteen occasions.
Julien Épaillard (FRA) — world No. 9 and France’s representative at the World Championships in Aachen — finished second with Donatello d’Auge, a 13-year-old bay SF gelding (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) owned by Hello Holdings 31 SLU, in 65.93 seconds, the only combination to come close to Bettendorf’s time. Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele (BEL) completed the podium with Lotti Blue Z, a 10-year-old bay Zangersheide stallion (Le Blue Diamond van’t Ruyters x Wandor van de Mispelaere) owned by Familie Van Bruyssel, in a time of 66.96 seconds; he had set the provisional leading time before Épaillard surpassed it.
Marc Dilasser (FRA) finished fourth with Arioto du Gevres, a 16-year-old bay SF gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Qualisco III) owned by S.A.R.L. Equiouest, in 67.15 seconds. Hugo Breul (FRA) rounded out the Top 5 with Kiekeboe Picobello Z, a 10-year-old chestnut Zangersheide stallion (Kannan x C Indoctro) owned by S.C. Al Asayl France, in 68.71 seconds.
Latin & Pan American Presence
Marilyn Little (USA) — No. 9 in the Tu Mundo Ecuestre Pan American Show Jumping Ranking — was the top regional performer in tenth place in 72.25 seconds. Pedro Veniss (BRA) — former Latin Ranking leader — was twenty-second with 4 faults in 66.88 seconds. Mathieu Michot (CAN) fifty-seventh with 8 faults, Paris Sellon (USA) sixty-fifth with 12 faults, Jorge Matte (CHI) seventy-third with 17 faults. Adam Prudent (USA) and Francisco Pasquel (MEX) retired.
Top 5 Results — CSI4* Prix Institut Esthederm 1.50m | Longines Deauville Classic 2026
| Pos. | Athlete | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Bettendorf (LUX) 🇱🇺 | Encore Toi du Linon | 65.08 |
| 2 | Julien Épaillard (FRA) 🇫🇷 | Donatello d’Auge | 65.93 |
| 3 | Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele (BEL) 🇧🇪 | Lotti Blue Z | 66.96 |
| 4 | Marc Dilasser (FRA) 🇫🇷 | Arioto du Gevres | 67.15 |
| 5 | Hugo Breul (FRA) 🇫🇷 | Kiekeboe Picobello Z | 68.71 |
