May 18, 2026 
All told, Simon Delestre hasn’t spent much time in Gatsby du Tillard’s saddle. While their time together spans just eight months since he took over the reins from Belgium’s Benny Naessens, it’s clear that the French Olympian likes what he sees.
On Sunday, May 17, those expectations were realized when Delestre and the 10-year-old Selle Français gelding took home the LGCT Grand Prix at the Club de Camp Villa de Madrid, besting a startlist of 40.
The pair were the only combination to log a double-clear effort in the jump-off field of four—which included Delestre’s 24-year-old countryman, Antoine Ermann (with Floyd Des Pres), who finished third in the LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai with Jiamo VDS earlier this month.
“I think I can say I have a few more years [of] experience than Antoine, but it’s always difficult with only four in the jump-off. I was quite lucky to go third because I could watch the first two,” Delestre reflected.
“I saw that Stephan [de Freitas Barcha] was very fast with one down, so I knew it would be risky to try and beat that time with a rail. I also knew that if I jumped clear, I would be at least second, so I really focused on keeping it clear. And, in the end, that decision paid off.”
Leaving all the poles in the cups, Delestre stopped the clock at fault-free 52.30 seconds, taking the win. Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha was second with Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio, with just one rail down and a time of 44.95 seconds. Ermann, also sitting on four faults, rounded on the podium on 47.09 seconds.
Belgium’s Thibeau Spits was fourth with the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z after an uncharacteristic two rails and time faults in the jump-off.
Logging his first 5* Grand Prix win of the 2026 season, Delestre was particularly happy about doing so in the Spanish capital. “When you win a Grand Prix like this, it’s always an incredible feeling—and to do it here in Madrid, in one of the nicest arenas in Europe, with this crowd and this atmosphere, makes it even more special,” he said.
“It’s always a very tough Grand Prix here, you need a truly special horse, so I’m really proud of what [Gatsby] did today. He’s still quite young; it’s his first season at this 5* Grand Prix level, but he was already clear in Shanghai two weeks ago.”
In fact, their growing partnership is already showing plenty of promise at the top of the sport, jumping clear at a 30% clip in just 10 rounds at 1.60m, but finishing on the podium in 67% of the three jump-offs in which they’ve qualified (Jumpr).
What’s more, the notoriously speedy Delestre currently leads the sport for podium finishes at the 5* 1.60m level, with six so far this year—justing edging past Richard Vogel (GER) with five. And for a rider who has already piloted at least two of the winningest mounts in show jumping (think: Hermès Ryan and Cayman Jolly Jumper), it’s clear Delestre sees similar, world-class quality in Gatsby du Tillard.
When commenting on his horse’s performance after their victory, the French rider didn’t mince words. “I would say he’s one of the nicest horses I’ve ever ridden in my career,” he said.
