Text © World of Showjumping

It was home hero Martin Fuchs (SUI) and his trustworthy partner Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x Corland) who topped the second competition of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, on Friday, after a jump-off of five.

Overnight leader Julien Epaillard (FRA) took a strategic decision to not return for the jump-off with his home-bred Donatello d’Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) after jumping his second clear in just as many days, saying; “We take the risk to have the horse fresh on Sunday; the idea is to give him less jumps today and have him 100% on Sunday.” And – unlike certain other calculations this week – Epaillard’s mathematics made sense, as he kept his overall lead by two points after a 6^th place finish in Friday’s competition. 

Course designer Gérard Lachat (SUI) had built a demanding and technical track for the 39 horse-and-rider combinations at start in this Table A class with a jump-off, set at 1.60m – counting 14 fences and 17 efforts. The triple combination at 5abc claimed its fair share of faults, as well as a combination at 10ab that also caused mistakes with a delicate plank jumping in.

The first to deliver a clear round was Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Incredible (Clinton x Heartbreaker), and another four riders later a jump-off was secured as Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) left all the fences up aboard Elysium (VDL Zirocco Blue x Coronado). Max Kühner (AUT) and Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) were the third pair to join the jump-off, and soon after Alessandra Volpi (USA) made it four when delivering a lovely clear on Gipsy Love (Guidam Sohn x L’Esprit). One rider later, Martin Fuchs gave the home crowd value for their ticket money when bringing Leone Jei around clear too – putting considerable pressure on those to come from his overnight position as nr. 10 on the overall standings.

Among the top five from Thursday’s first round, only one rider managed to keep all the fences up and it was the leader Julien Epaillard who cruised around the tricky track to a clear round with Donatello d’Auge – bred by his wife Susana Epaillard. Kevin Staut (FRA) – 5th overnight, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – 4th, Lillie Keenan (USA) – 3rd and Ben Maher (GBR) – 2nd, all had to see a rail fall to the ground, dropping them down on the result list.

However, Epaillard opted to save his horse for Sunday’s two final rounds and did not return for the jump-off – making it a battle of five. Coyle’s round did not go according to plan with the Irish rider finishing on 19 faults, while Dreher missed to the last oxer and had to see four faults added to his score. It was Kühner who, as third to go, posted the first clear in the jump-off – setting the time to beat to 42.32 seconds, with his family and team celebrating on the Kiss&Cry. Volpi opted for a steady clear round, crossing the finish line in 45.78 seconds – but playing it safe was obviously not an option for Fuchs who carried the hopes of the home crowds on his shoulders. And the world no. seven did not disappoint, as he gave it his best shot with Leone Jei – crossing the finish line in 40.77 seconds, taking home the win ahead of Kühner in second and Volpi in third.

“This is a special victory,” Fuchs said afterwards. “Basel is such an incredible show and being able to ride a World Cup Final here in front of this crowd is fantastic. I am really delighted with Leone Jei, but I feel like I wasn’t at my best. I made a few little mistakes and Leone Jei really helped me out there and put in a huge effort.”

Speaking about his plan ahead of Sunday’s third and final competition, Fuchs said: “For Sunday, I need to erase my mistakes and hope for the best. I will go back tonight, look at my videos, write down the things that I could improve, write down what I did well and then work on those points, come back on Sunday and try to deliver again.”

“I have to say the same as Martin,” the second placed Kühner said. “I am happy with the result but not so happy with my riding. It did not feel super smooth and then in the jump-off I lost the stirrup in the turn to the wall and then had a bit of balance trouble and missed the last distance. Thanks to Blue we managed, but it wasn’t as perfect as I would have wished. There is not so much to prepare now; tomorrow is a day off and for sure Blue will enjoy some grass and jog a little bit. I don’t think I will ride him, just have an easy day, spend some time together and then wait for Sunday. There are some really strong couples in the front and some of them are good for a double clear on Sunday. We just go for Sunday and see what comes out.”

“I feel great,” third placed Volpi – who is riding her second World Cup Final – said. “I am happy with myself and happy with my horse, she really gave her all both days and has blown my expectations for the week already without it even being over. We stay focused and keep going, but I am very happy right now. I have had Gipsy for about a year now, and we are starting to understand each other. She is a really special mare; she is incredibly talented and intelligent but a bit a particular in how she wants to be ridden and treated in the stall. It has taken my whole team and I a long time to get to know her, but things are coming together and she continues to impress us. I feel very lucky to have her in the stable and be her partner. My plan is to continue on as we have and see what we can do.”

Epaillard now sits in the lead on an overall score of zero going into Sunday’s two final rounds, with Fuchs and reigning champion von Eckermann breathing him in the neck – both two points behind. It’s tight on top; Staut, Keenan and Maher all sit tied 4th on three penalty points each – so it’s still all to play for on Sunday. Volpi’s 3rd place has brought her up to sit 7th overall, followed by Kühner in 8th. Saturday is a rest day for the horses, which also includes a 2nd veterinary inspection to ensure all 30 horses qualified are fit to compete on Sunday.