World Number 1 Scott Brash claims his seventh Grand Prix win of 2026 at Saut Hermes in Paris
Monday 23 March 2026
Scott Brash justified his World Number 1 status with a sensational win in the Saut Hermes 5* Grand Prix in the spectacular Grand Palais arena with its breathtakingly beautiful historic glass roof in Paris with Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s eager Hello Chadora Lady.
The exuberant mare with exceptional scope was chomping at the bit to get to the fences in round one, and went full throttle when Scott released the handbrake in the jump-off.
The field of 50 contained some of the world’s best riders and they faced a 14-fence 1.60m course which tested nerve, skill and scope. Only six mastered the first round with Scott containing the exuberance of his feisty partner to score victory by 1.03 seconds. Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs had to settle for second on Conner Jei with The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders, who equalled Martin’s time aboard Mr. Tac to round out the podium. Fellow Dutchman Willem Greve touted the steadiest of the double clears for fourth on Grandorado TN NOP.
Scott was equally impressed with his super-charged Chacco-Blue x Nintender 13-year-old Hello Chadora Lady, who won a 3* Grand Prix and finished second in a 5* Grand Prix in Doha and headed the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Geneva just before Christmas.
“I’m delighted, she was exceptional over a very special course. Chadora Lady has jumped well recently,” said Scott, who explained this week’s successful strategy – “I decided to jump one minor class then focus entirely on the Grand Prix.”
Claudia Moore produced the best result in the Under 25 1.45m with the Elvis Ter Putte 10-year-old Lover Boy SVO, the quickest of 18 competitors by 2.45 seconds. Fellow Brit Olivia Sponer finished fourth on the Luidam 11-year-old Kockie W, and together the pair made an unbeatable team. Ten teams of two vied each other for the top spot, Claudia and Olivia finishing top of the pile on four faults over two rounds, five faults in front of their nearest rivals.
Donald Whitaker records a five-star win in Ocala, USA, with Millfield Colette
Donald Whitaker scored a handsome win on the opening day of the Longines League of Nations event in Ocala, Florida, taking the Wheels Up 5* Grand Prix qualifier with Millfield Colette – bred in Britain by Sue Jaggar.
Forty-six competitors came forward over course-designer Alan Wade’s 13-fence 1.55m track, but only six made their way into the jump-off. Drawn in the favoured final slot, Donald knew exactly what he had to do and guided Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & Co.KG’s 13-year-old mare (Cornet Obolensky x Clearway) in a perfectly judged round to claim a 0.35 second victory. The effort pushed The USA’s Lillie Keenan and Chagrin D’Amour into second place.
William Whitaker posts a four-star win in Spain
William Whitaker rode Millfield Quickstep into victory in the 4* Fuze Tea Trophy Big Tour 1.50m on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain, with Tim Gredley making it a British one-two on Vuitton of Picobello Z.
Fifty-five riders started out on the 13-fence, 16-effort 1.50m speed track designed by Rafael Suarez with William smoothly producing the winning round just before the halfway stage on the 11-year-old Quiwi Dream x San Patrignano Cassini mare. Tim’s late round on the 10-year-old Vagabond De La Pomme daughter Vuitton finished second 1.70 seconds off the pace.
Tim claimed a win of his own in the 22-horse 4* Medium 1.35m two-phase aboard the nine-year-old Romelus De Muze (Bamako De Muze x Marius Claudius) with more than two seconds in hand.
Guy Williams captured the top spot of the 75-strong 4* Royal Bliss Medium 1.45m two-phase with BH Gringos Legacy, the Tullibards Bennys Legacy x Colourfield 11-year-old mare flying into victory by 0.48 seconds. Guy was also in winning mode in the 4* Medium 1.40m as the 11-year-old Karim EBH outpaced 22 rivals to win with 1.50 seconds to spare.
Guy was on the podium as Brits filled three of the top four places in the 4* Small Grand Prix. Nine of the original 39 on the start list returned for the jump-off with Jay Buxton easing the Orlando nine-year-old Orlesh into second by 2.26 seconds. Guy finished third riding Kermit Van Overis Z with Matt Sampson – always trying for a win – posting the fastest time but with four faults on the way to drop Nouvelle VH Veldhof down to fourth.
Glain Watkin Jones continued with her form, topping the 4* Small 1.45m two-phase on La Vie Est D’Or, the 10-year-old Dakar VDL daughter claiming a 1.15 second win. Ruby Barrs slipped Manzana De Rigo into third. Glain doubled up on the final day with victory in the 4* Small 1.40m two-phase with 0.90 seconds in hand on SHW Candies C.
Harry Wood slipped the nine-year-old BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold x Obos Quality) into second place in the 4* Small Grand Prix. Only nine of the original 49 starters returned for the jump-off, Harry finishing 0.54 seconds behind the winner, Canada’s Kara Chad with Chicago.
Ronnie Jones emerged triumphant in the 4* Small 1.40m speed with Sue Evans’ handsome 12-year-old stallion Janeiro (Arezzo VDL x Arizona), beating 52 others to the top spot by almost three seconds.
British riders claimed podium places in the age class finals but just missed out on a win. Jessica Hewlett slotted Ulman (Minute Man x Otangelo) into second a quarter of a second off the winning time in the Six-year-old 1.30m Final 20-strong decider. Lauren Turnbull also finished in the runner-up position with Joe Maher’s Don VHP Z stallion Gold Don in a 13-strong jump-off for the Yeti Five-year-old 1.20m Final. Simon Crippen jumped to the top of the 30-entry Seven-year-old 1.35m Farewell speed with Z7 Queen B (Big Star x Caretino) with more than four seconds in hand.
In the supporting classes, Jessica Hewlett topped a 4* Medium 1.35m two-phase with 0.62 seconds to spare on Ilmar HBC, Olivia Mae Davison jumped to the top of a 4* Small 1.35m by 0.24 seconds on the 11-year-old mare Kiss By A Rose, and Taio Strevett also headed a 4* Small 1.35m by 0.39 seconds on the 11-year-old Harrop Grigio.
British riders Louis Wood and Max Routledge claimed two of the top three places in the top-billed Bedizzole 3* Grand Prix in Italy.
Only six riders survived the first round of 1.55m to contend the jump-off, Louise slotting the 26-year-old Filou Moussardiere into second place 2.67 seconds off the pace. Max Routledge claimed third spot on the podium with the nine-year-old Me The Rebel RT.
Vicky Lovegrove picked up second in the 1* 1.25m Grand Prix aboard the Colestus 11-year-old Kontiki 0.98 second off the winning time in the 14-horse decider.
Alex Barr is on the three-star Grand Prix podium on the MET Spring Tour in Spain
Alex Barr claimed second in the feature 3* 1.50m Grand Prix on the MET Spring Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, with Preben Van De Doornakkers.
Forty-five competitors started over a 13-fence, 16-effort 1.45m track with eight finding the key to the jump-off. Five posted double clears, Alex easing the For Pleasure x Nabab De Reve 11-year-old into another flawless round to take the runner-up spot 2.30 seconds behind the winning time.
James Smith missed out on a big win but picked up two creditable second places before claiming victory in the final day’s Gold 1.30m. Jim Wilmer’s Tayvale Hunky Dory jumped into second in the world ranking Gold 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier for James. Fifty-five competitors contended this speed class over a 13-fence, 15-effort course with James and the Balou Du Rouet x Master Imp 14-year-old finishing one whole second behind the winner.
James also picked up second in the Gold 1.45m Final with Astrade Z – a winner last week. Seventeen of the initial 52 starters qualified for the jump-off in this world ranking class, James and the nine-year-old Air Jordan Alpha Z daughter finishing 1.05 seconds off the winning time.
James’ win came in the concluding Gold 1.30m with immediate jump-off on the 13-year-old Odermus mare Jazmin, but he had to share with fellow Brit Rebecca Mason on the 14-year-old Vangelis-S daughter Vancurtis as the pair dead-heated on time in the 11-horse decider.
Chris Franks netted second in the 71-horse Gold 1.45m on Kannabalou, the Balou Du Rouet x Kannan 13-year-old missing out on a win by the tiniest of margins, just 0.01 seconds denying them a win in the 22-strong jump-off.
British riders were in form in the supporting classes; Sammie-Jo Coffin scored a double, winning a 62-entry Gold 1.35m speed on the 13-year-old Elsalvador Van’t Schaaphof Z with only 0.09 seconds over James Smith’s Jazmin, and a Seven-year-old 1.35m two-phase with Lucas 259 (Marcus 5 SI x Contender) by 0.36 seconds. Joe Clayton topped a 75-entry Silver 1.35m speed on the 11-year-old Expenditure by 1.21 seconds, and 1.30m winners included Rebecca Mason on Vancurtis, Lucy Hardy with Zirocco Cruise, Keira Stoute’s KI Pella Horta, Ria Ward with Loughlans Bridge, Jessica Baugh aboard Castlemitchell Princess and Ben Bick on Raphael De Lush.
Emily Ward flies to victory in Cluny, France with Wild Star HF
Emily Ward claimed a win in the Big Tour 2* 1.45m in Cluny, France, with Wild Star HF.
A total of 66 competitors came forward over the 13-fence speed track, Emily outpacing the lot on Angela Hunt’s Big Star x Oklund 10-year-old to win by 1.04 seconds.
Chad Fellows beat 70 challengers to take the 2* 1.35m, riding the 12-year-old Pesgo Adeheid Z into a 1.62 second win.
Brits clock up the wins in Europe
Chris Smith doubled up in Lier, Belgium, with early 2* 1.40m wins as huge entries saw them split into two sections – topping the 80-strong section A speed on the 11-year-old Messarado Blue (Messenger x Indorado) by 0.71 seconds and section B, outpacing 81 rivals by 2.56 seconds on the Big Star x Luidam 10-year-old Ashdale Allstar. Joe Fernyhough topped a 56-strong 2* 1.35m speed with 0.35 seconds in hand on the 10-year-old Calcourt Countdown, while Harry Wainwright’s Pinheiro Beech and Jasmin Head aboard Ma Cherie Z were 1.30m winners, and Louie Cunningham topped a Five-year-old with Ashdale Christian Dior.
At Sentower Park in Belgium, Tamarin Christie won a Seven and Eight-year-old 1.30/1.35m speed, beating 62 challengers by 0.58 seconds on the Glasgow VH Merelsnest eight-year-old Gina Z, and Josh Kindell topped a 61-strong 2* 1.35m two-phase on Ukato x Orame 16-year-old Flashback VL with 2.24 seconds to spare.
In Gorla Minore, Italy, Chloe Aston claimed a Six-year-old victory double with Emporado Van Rocherath Z (Eldorado Van De Zeshoek x Calato Z), the first by almost three seconds and the final day’s speed by exactly three seconds. Sandy McLean was also a double winner, heading the 47-horse 1* 1.35m speed on Dallco Chance (Casallco x Landfriese 2) with more than four seconds to spare and the final Seven-year-old 1.35m speed by 0.22 seconds aboard Orville VD Watermolen (Je Suis Equus Tame x Wietvot). Darcy Breen was also a 1* 1.30m two-phase winner by 0.74 seconds riding the Zeus IV nine-year-old Just Jack.
Image: Christophe Taniere
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