France’s Kevin Staut will be aiming to increase his lead in the rankings when he competes at the third stage of the FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League in Verona tomorrow ©Getty Images

France’s Kevin Staut will be aiming to increase his lead in the rankings when he competes at the third stage of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Cup Jumping Western European League in Verona tomorrow.

Staut has a four-point advantage over his nearest challengers - Dutchman Jur Vrieling and Germany’s Daniel Deusser - going into the event at the Italian city’s Veronafiere venue. 

He finished second at the opening stage in Norway’s capital Oslo and 10th at the second stage in Finland’s capital Helsinki.

The 50-rider field also includes Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and The Netherlands’ Maikel Van der Vleuten.

As for the home nation, 17 riders are set to participate.

Among them is Lorenzo de Luca, Alberto Zorzi and Giulia Martinengo Marquet.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser will be among the contenders in the third leg of this season's FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League event in Verona ©Getty Images
Germany’s Daniel Deusser will be among the contenders in the third leg of this season's FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League event in Verona ©Getty Images

The event forms part of the Fieracavalli International Horse Festival, which begun on Thursday (October 26).

It will see 17 nations represented.

This season’s FEI World Cup Jumping final is scheduled to take place in French capital Paris from April 10 to 15.

The 2017-2018 Western European League also features stops in Lyon, Stuttgart, Madrid, La Coruña, London and Mechelen before the end of 2017.

The action is then due to resume in 2018 with the last four legs in Leipzig, Zurich, Bordeaux and then Gothenburg.

The United States’ McLain Ward is the reigning FEI World Cup Jumping champion after triumphing in a classic finale on home ground in Omaha in April.