Germany's Marcus Ehning took maximum points at today’s sixth leg of the FEI Jumping World Cup ©FEI

A sublime performance in the jump-off gave Germany's Marcus Ehning the victory at today’s Longines International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Cup Jumping Western European League leg in the Spanish capital Madrid.

On board the 11-year-old stallion Comme Il Faut, the 42-year-old three-time World Cup champion put the result beyond doubt with one of his trademark super-tight turns in the nine-horse jump-off.

He was chasing the target set by Rio 2016 Olympic team gold medallist Kevin Staut of France and the 11-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Aran.

It was the German who claimed victory though courtesy of a 43.56sec performance, while Staut came second in 43.98sec.

Runner-up would be no great disappointment for the 36-year-old Frenchman though, as it propelled him to the top of the overall leader board.

Third place went to 30-year-old Scott Brash of Britain with Hello M’Lady in 44.04sec, while German legend and 1993 FEI World Cup champion, 53-year-old Ludger Beerbaum, slotted into fourth with Casello in a time of 47.91sec.

Six competitors from Spain, including all four members of the Rio 2016 Olympic team, featured but all failed to reach the podium on a disappointing day for the hosts.

In contrast to some of the previous legs this season, Spanish course designer Javier Trenor managed to keep the jump-off numbers under control, with the very narrow top plank on the final element of the triple combination proving the undoing of many in the first round.

Only nine went clear to make the jump-off, where time becomes all important.

Kevin Staut of France took second place in the Longines FEI World Cup in Madrid ©Getty Images
Kevin Staut of France took second place in the Longines FEI World Cup in Madrid ©Getty Images

Against the clock it was the penultimate jump that proved somewhat problematic as Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann and Mary Lou demolished it before Tobias Meyer of Germany's mare, Cathleen, ducked out of it.

The top five all went clear again.

"I didn’t have a good shot to the vertical [second-last] so I knew I had to make that turn if I wanted to win," said a delighted Ehning.

"He has famous parents and he’s an incredible horse, you can see he is clever and careful and he did a super job in the jump-off.

"I’m really proud of him."

Following today's sixth leg of the World Cup, Staut remains top of the overall Western European League standings with 56 points.

Narrowly behind are Swiss pair Romain Duguet and Steve Guerdat, who sit second and third on 43 and 42 points respectively.

The seventh stage of the series sees the competitors remain in Spain as they head to the north-west of the country and to La Coruna on December 11.