Making their seventh 5* start together, France’s Luc Chateau and Viens du Mont are no strangers to the rigors of the top level—and when they’re on form, they’re more than capable of climbing into or close to the top 10, as they did at Pau in 2022 (9th) and Badminton in 2023 (11th). This gritty pair has had a slightly rockier road of late, with a 20 at Badminton in the spring and a frustrating broken stirrup at Burghley forcing a retirement early on course. They regrouped to complete at Pau later in the season, jumping clear across the country but adding three rails on the final day to finish 37th.
Though Viens du Mont tends to trend toward a first-phase score in the low 40s and isn’t always the cleanest on Sunday, he’s a classic cross country horse—bold, forward, and very reliable when things are clicking. With two prior Badminton completions under their belts, Luc will be hoping to tap back into their best form this week and remind everyone just how good this horse can be when he’s on his game.
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Last 3 Results:
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Fun Fact:
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Luc and his wife Caroline, a Saumur-trained instructor, run the Haras des Châteaux riding school and breeding operation in the Loire Valley—with two young daughters helping keep life busy beyond the barn.
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Did You Know?
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Viens du Mont’s sire, Norway de la Lande, was an international show jumper, and his dam line includes the influential French Thoroughbred Kings Road—also the sire of Preci-Spark’s prolific broodmare Erbium.
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Watch For:
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If the pair can put their recent blips behind them, a smooth clear across the country could see Luc and Viens du Mont climb significantly—especially if they can keep the rails up on Sunday.