Text © World of Showjumping

This week, the 2026-edition of CSI5* Saut Hermès, set at the Grand Palais, takes place in the heart of the French capital Paris.

Friday’s main feature, the CSI5* 1.50m Prix Hermès Sellier, saw a French one-two finish, with Francois Xavier Boudant (FRA) on Brazyl du Mezel (Haloubet de Gorze x Apache d’Adriers) and Julien Epaillard (FRA) aboard Easy Up de Grandry (Jarnac x For Pleasure) finishing just 0.02 seconds apart. Boudant took the win ahead of Epaillard when crossing the finish line in 60.02 seconds, while Epaillard had to settle for second with a time of 60.04.

Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and Vitiki (Valentino x For Expo) took the third place with a time of 61.70 seconds, followed by Daniel Deusser (GER) and Bingo Ste Hermelle (Number One d’Iso x Diamant de Semilly) in fourth in 61.36 and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) with Calizi (Cellestial x Stakkatol) in fifth in 61.74.

“To be victorious here in Paris, in France, is fantastic, especially given the fact that I’ve never been to the Grand Palais before," Boudant said in a press release from Saut Hermès. "I believed that Julien’s (Épaillard) time could be beaten. There was little in it but we gave our all and that was enough. Despite being 15 years of age, Brazyl continues to perform well. He’s in great shape. I hope that we can also step up to the mark for Sunday’s Grand Prix Hermès.”

The 16th edition of Saut Hermès kicked off on Friday with a Dutch victory in the CSI5* 1.45m Prix du Grand Palais. Willem Greve (NED) and the 11-year-old mare Candy Luck Z (Comme Il Faut 5 x Canturo) took the top honours with a time of 31.84 seconds, followed by the host nation’s Julien Gonin and Flam de la Chatelaine (L’Arc de Triomphe Bois Margot x Galoubet A) in second, Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) on Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) in third in 32.18, Jeremy Le Roy (FRA) with Falkira de Mormoulins (Cornet Obolensky x Dollard Dela Pierre) in fourth in 32.55 and Martin Fuchs (SUI) aboard Love de Vie (Gradorado TN x Vigo d’Arsouilles) in fifth in 33.46.

“It’s obviously the best way to kick off the competition," Greve said in a press release from Saut Hermès. "I just hope that things will end on a high on Sunday too. My mare is very quick and a wonderful ride. I competed at the Grand Palais Éphémère twice but it’s my first time on this course under the glass roof. It’s simply incredible. You can sense the weight of history. It’s really very special.”