Ben Maher, who was first to go in the jump-off on the chestnut mare Diva ll, jumped a beautiful clear round for 34.04 seconds, but that time was clearly beatable. Julien trounced it by more than 2 seconds and so the Olympia crowd is still waiting keenly for a first British winner of the show.
The Longines World number one rider Scott Brash also made it to the jump-off but he opted for a sensible clear on a young horse, Hello Sunshine, and finished fourth.
Deauville-based Julien, whose parents run an equitation centre in Cherbourg, said his horse Cristallo A LM, a 10-year-old by Casall, obviously likes England – the pair won the grand prix at the Birmingham CSI3* in October. Cristallo will be his ride in Sunday’s Longines FEI World Cup qualifier.
“I was only third to go in the jump-off and knew there were a lot of dangers coming after me, but I also knew they would have to take risks to beat my time,” said Julien, whose wife and young son will be coming over to watch on Sunday. “The atmosphere is incredible, and it’s not just for the English riders. You feel the public is with you.”
There may not have been a home winner yet, but Ben Maher has still taken a clear lead in the H & M Leading Rider of the Show table after being placed four times. He is on 39 points, 13 ahead of young Irishman Bertram Allen. Germany’s Daniel Deusser is third with 23 points.
