The French team, the Olympic eventing champions in Brazil, claimed victory in a tight competition at the new northern Italian venue of Vairano.

This was the first leg that Great Britain, currently the series leaders, have not contested.

As a result, their lead at the top has been cut to just 15 points over Germany, who finished second in Vairano, with two legs left to go.

Germany’s Andreas Ostholt, who missed out on a place in the Olympic silver medal winning Rio team, took individual honours in Italy on the 16-year-old mare Pennsylvania 28.

France won the overall team competition with a combined score of 159 penalties. 

French team member Francois Lemiere was second on Ogustin du Terroir with the fastest cross-country time of 0.4 penalties whilst Pietro Sandei, riding Rubis de Prere, was third for the host nation who also finished third in the team classification.

Switzerland finished fourth, with their best result coming from Felix Vogg, who finished ninth on Cleveland lll.

The competition, held on farmland south of Milan, featured a new cross country track, with a great variety of fences designed by Mark Phillips of Britain.

There were 24 clear rounds from the 29 starters.

The Nations Cup Eventing action now moves to Waregem in Belgium next weekend for the penultimate leg of the competition.