In a thrilling 15-horse jump-off, the 35-year-old rider and her 10-year-old mare pushed her French counterparts Simon Delestre and Patrice Delaveau into second and third, while Kevin Staut also carried the French flag into fifth spot behind Germany’s Marcus Ehning.

"To win today was a good surprise," said Leprevost.

"It was the first indoor of the season for Flora - she is a super mare but I didn’t know if she would be perfect indoors just yet, but she was very good."

Ireland’s Billy Twomey led the way into the jump-off with veteran Tinka’s Serenade, who collected 12 faults, and it was Ehning who produced the first clear round when fourth to run with Comme Il Faut.

It was not long before the French got going, however, as Delestre scorched home with the stallion Qlassic Bois Margot in 43.38sec to lay down a marker to the rest of the field, while his fellow countryman Delaveau was only 0.12 seconds slower to slot into second place.

None of the rest could touch Delestre’s target time until Leprevost, who had a clear plan and managed to stick to it.

"In the jump-off, most of the other riders took an inside line [around fence 13] to the double, but I went outside because I didn’t want to break the rhythm for Flora, who is anyway always fast - I think maybe that’s what made the difference," she said.

The decision paid off with the clock showing just 43.01, an advantage of 0.37 seconds over her French rival, as she galloped through the timers.

"I gave it all to the very last fence, and I could do no more," said Delestre.

"My horse has a big stride so I decided to take the inside line in the jump-off, and even if I had it all to do again I would do the same."

The Western European League is now due to move on to Finland's capital Helsinki on Sunday (October 25).

Meanwhile in the FEI World Cup Jumping North American League, world number two Beezie Madden rode Simon to victory at the Del Mar International Horse Show in California.

Against a field stacked with seasoned, international competitors, Madden reinforced her ranking as the United States’ number one jumping athlete, riding the fastest clear in an eight-man jump off.

She strategically manoeuvred the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding to the win in 37.33, over a second faster than Jack "Hardin" Towell’s 38.75.

"I actually didn’t see Hardin go, but I think my turns at least to the double combination and probably after the double combination - my horse is brilliant with that," Madden, a double Olympic gold medallist, said.

"He has a lot of practice trying to do short turns because running isn’t always his best thing.

"But I have to say, he and I together are figuring that part out a little better and doing seven up the first line wouldn’t always have been in our plan, but tonight and the way he’s been going lately, I’m very comfortable doing that with him.

"Indoors especially, he can be really fast with the short turns."

Kirsten Coe and Michelle Rodal joined Towell, Madden and fellow Americans Richard Spooner and Kent Farrington in the jump off, along with Ireland’s Kevin Babington and Germany’s Christian Heineking.

All eight riders have extensive experience competing at international level, including multiple FEI World Cup Jumping Final and FEI Nations Cup Jumping appearances among them.

"I’ve been the bridesmaid a lot in the past couple months, so it is what it is," said Towell, who was riding Lucifer V.

"But having Beezie behind me, you can only do so much, and I was thrilled with my horse.

"He’s really improved in the past two years, and even in the past year.

"This was his first World Cup last year, and I hope next year that he’ll have a bright future ahead of him."

Heineking managed a clear first round despite his horse Nikh Quanto losing a shoe after the liverpool.

The pair successfully completed the remaining 11 fences and had the shoe reattached ahead of the jump off, finishing third overall.


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