Julien Épaillard and Donatello d’Auge Are Untouchable in the Grand Prix Longines Région Normandie at the Longines Deauville Classic CSI4* 2026.

Donatello d’Auge came back, and when he did, he came back as a champion.

Julien Épaillard (FRA), world No. 9, clocked 42.34 seconds in the €105,500 Grand Prix Longines Région Normandie CSI4* 1.55m at the Longines Deauville Classic, designed by Gérard Lachat (SUI) with 50 combinations on course, 12 jump-off qualifiers and no opening whatsoever for his rivals. Épaillard entered the jump-off second and from the first fence made it clear the day belonged to him. “Donatello and I can make up time in the turns, and that is what we did. I can sense he wants to compete again. I thought today’s course was very well judged, with a good clear-round rate.”

Donatello d’Auge is a 13-year-old bay SF gelding (Jarnac x Hello Pierville), owned by Hello Holdings 31 SLU, a triumphant return for a horse that had needed time to rediscover his best form after the indoor season. The winner of the 2025 World Cup Final in Basel shone again on home soil in Normandy.

João Victor Castro (BRA), No. 9 in the Tu Mundo Ecuestre Latin Show Jumping Ranking, delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second with Cashpaid J&F, a 15-year-old bay Holsteiner stallion (Casall x Chicago Z) owned by Cashpaid LLC, in 43.64 seconds, just 1.30 seconds behind the winner and only 0.04 seconds ahead of third place. A result that adds valuable FEI Ranking points for the Brazilian. Kevin Staut (FRA), team Olympic gold medallist at Rio 2016, completed the podium with Vida Loca Z, a 10-year-old chestnut Zangersheide mare (Vigo d’Arsouilles STX x Cornet Obolensky), in 43.68 seconds, a third place that should restore confidence to a partnership that had endured a difficult recent spell.

Cédric Hurel (FRA), who had set the first time of the jump-off, finished fourth with Fantasio Floreval Z, a 16-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding (Florian de la Vie x Clinton) owned by Hurel himself, in 44.85 seconds. Adeline Lemens (FRA) rounded out the Top 5 with Austin des Cedres, a 16-year-old bay SF mare (Diamant de Semilly x Thoas du Theillet) owned by Didier Lemens, in 46.08 seconds.

Latin & Pan American Presence

João Victor Castro (BRA), No. 9 in the Latin Ranking, was the standout Latin performer with an extraordinary second place that adds important FEI Ranking points. Marilyn Little (USA) finished twenty-third with 4 faults in the first round; Pedro Veniss (BRA), former Latin Ranking leader, finished twenty-seventh with 8 faults; and Adam Prudent (USA) was thirty-eighth with 16 faults. The top seed of the Grand Prix was Scott Brash (GBR), world No. 4, who finished tenth with 8 faults in the jump-off.

Top 5 Results — €105,500 Grand Prix Longines Région Normandie CSI4* 1.55m | Longines Deauville Classic 2026