London 2012 silver medallist William Fox-Pitt narrowly missed out on his own place in history but was all smiles after claiming two different podium spots at the Pau 4-star event in France.
Fox-Pitt, who finished second in the team eventing at last summer’s Olympics, finished first on Seacookie and third on Cool Mountain.
Coming into the final day Fox-Pitt held the top three positions with three different horses but could not complete a historic one-two-three that has never before been achieved at a 4-star event.
“I was lucky I had three chances,” said Fox Pitt, whose third horse Neuf des Coeurs finished 15th.
“We thought the track walked big, plus there’s a bit of a mound in there so the horses are working on a slope and a camber.
“Neuf warmed up very well, but he didn’t come off that ground and having started well, he then tensed up and made some mistakes.
“That didn’t get the afternoon off to a great start, but you have to forget it and get on with the other two.
"I was lucky in the end that Seacookie could have one down. He’s been second at Burghley and Kentucky and he deserved to win one.”