There are victories that feel like wake-up calls. Under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, Scott Brash turned into Marty McFly and gave us a Back to the Future remake, transforming the 5* Grand Prix of the Saut Hermès into a time machine. Cold domination, an overcharged mare, and an indecent time. Behind him, Martin Fuchs and Harrie Smolders did what they could. Spoiler: it wasn’t enough. On the Belgian side, Thibeau Spits fought until the very end, while France salvaged some pride thanks to Jeanne Sadran and Alexa Ferrer.
A draining course, a jump-off long in coming
Before even talking about time, you first had to survive.
The course designed by Santiago Varelaalongside Grégory Bodomade the Grand Palais sweat. Technical, tricky, demanding without ever being unfair. The kind of track that tests you everywhere: on the lines, in stride choices, and above all in clarity of mind.
Result: a controlled bloodbath.
Out of 50 starters, only six combinations found the key.
And for a long stretch of the class, a question hung in the Parisian air: would we even get a jump-off to sink our teeth into?
The boss took the armband back
The world number one doesn’t need speeches. He speaks in seconds.
Back at the top of the rankings last month, Scott Brash arrived in Paris like a man coming home: without asking permission, and with the Longines white armband on his left bicep—just to remove any doubt. Tenth appearance at the Saut Hermès, and a crystal-clear impression: here, he knows every corner, every stride, every breath of the arena.
In the saddle of Hello Chadora Lady (Chacco Blue x Nintender), 13 years old, a concentrate of blood and nerves, the Scotsman didn’t just win—he imposed himself. A mare that springs, devours distances, accelerates where others hesitate. A mare that fiercely recalls Hello M’LadyAnd for his rivals, that’s rarely good news.
32.32: the time that stings
The jump-off? Six riders. And very quickly, a sense of execution.
Martin Fuchs (who had already celebrated his clear round in the first phase like a small victory) set the pace. Conner Jei in Swiss-watch mode, tight lines, clean turns. 33.35. The kind of time that often wins. Not today.
Because the moment Brash entered the ring, the scenery changed. Fewer curves, more straight lines. Less management, more instinct. Hello Chadora Ladythe embodiment of straightness, barely touched the ground. 32.32.
Nearly a full second faster than the Swiss rider. At this level, that’s a slap. A real one.
Fuchs, clear-headed and playful
For a long time the only clear round, Martin Fuchs experienced that strange moment where everything can shift.
“I obviously hoped no one else would go clear. But no, I was convinced there would be more clear rounds in the second half of the competition.”
The Swiss rider never saw himself winning too early. He knows the game.
“Knowing which riders were still to come after me, I was already preparing for a jump-off. I knew I could go again, and I was excited about that.”
And he made the most of it.
“It was a very beautiful course, and the jump-off too, with interesting turns and lines. I really enjoyed it.”
With Conner Jei, he delivered a true performance.
“He gave everything. So I’m very satisfied with this second place.”
Smolders, second… and lucid
Some riders run from their reputation. Harrie Smoldersis almost starting to embrace it.
Second again. The Poulidor of the Grand Palais. Again here. Again with Mr Tac. But this time, he smiles about it. He even finished in exactly the same hundredth as Fuchs—and has to share that second place.
“Yes, it was a fantastic course. As Scott said, it was quite demanding, but very fair.”
The Dutch rider emphasized the overall level.
“We had an exceptional field and a truly high-level jump-off. We witnessed incredible sport today.”
And what makes Saut Hermès special:
“The crowd here is also fantastic, and what Hermès puts together is truly unique. In our sport, you don’t see this anywhere else.”
But above all, Smolders talks about his horse. And that changes everything.
“I was very pleased with Mr TacHe’s been off the circuit since September, so this was his first five-star Grand Prix since his return.”
A comeback that almost feels like a win.
“He already won here with Victor Bettendorf, so if he’s second today… it’s the rider’s fault! (laughs)”
Self-deprecating, but clear-eyed.
“I’m really very happy. Thank you to Mr and Mrs Megret for their trust. I’m very grateful to have Mr Tac in my stable.”
Second, again. But never insignificant.
Greve steady, Spits all-in
Willem Greve didn’t try to play the hero. With Grandorado TN, he knows. Not the speed to win, but the quality to stay clear. Double clear, fourth place. Very much in line with his current form.
Thibeau Spitson the other hand, chose the opposite option: all-in. Last to go, everything for the clock with Impress-K van’t KattenheyeUntil that rollback… and the penalty. One fault, and the dream, growing week by week, vanished this time.
The family was there, almost in full force. Even Tony RamanImpress’s breeder, was on his feet in the stands. But he’ll have to wait a little longer to touch that five-star Grand Prix victory.
Geir Gulliksensurprise guest of the jump-off with Island VGwrapped things up with 12 faults. Logical, but already huge just to be there.
Sadran, from chaos to control
The day before: an industrial accident.
The next day: an answer.
Jeanne Sadran and Dexter de Kerglenn changed their approach. No more unnecessary tension, no more hesitation. Rhythm, flow, clarity.
One fault, yes—at the entry of double number 7. But above all, the line of the two doubles, the real trap of Santiago “Santi” Varela’s course, was swallowed like a formality, where 50% of the field got lost.
Eighth place. Clean. Useful. Almost reassuring five months before Aachen.
Ahead of her, Malin Baryard-Johnsson continues to defy time with H&M Indiana, 18 years old and still at the top level. The Swede settles for a placing this time, but the flame is far from out.
Alexa Ferrer (9th) showed once again how much the Grand Palais inspires her. Enough to warm the hearts of the home crowd, who will have to wait another year to hope to sing a new Marseillaise under the glass roof.
Gilles Thomas completed the top 10 of this Grand Prix with Chuck Marienshof Z, so close, yet so far, all at once this Sunday afternoon.
Brash, clear-headed and (almost) grateful
At the finish, the Brit showed nothing of an arrogant conqueror. Rather, the calm, composed smile of someone who knows exactly what he just did.
“Yes, I’m absolutely delighted. I have incredible horses at the moment, and my horse was in top form today.”
Derrière la performance, Brash insiste sur un point clé : la qualité du test sportif.
“I think all the credit goes to Santi and Greg. When those two work together, they manage to create really demanding and unique courses, while still being fair to the horses. Getting six clear rounds out of a field of fifty starters is truly remarkable.”
And the world number one widened the perspective:
“It’s essential to showcase the sport to the public. And congratulations as well to Sylvie, her team, and Hermès for once again organizing a magnificent event. It’s always a pleasure to be here.”
Millimetric management
Because behind the show, there is also strategy, and nothing was improvised.
“My horses were actually in Doha, so only Chadora came back for ’s-Hertogenbosch and Paris. So she was the only one I had here.”
A constrained choice… that paid off.
“She jumped last week in Den Bosch: she performed very well in the Grand Prix, but with one fault. So I tried to stay patient, to do just one class here and give her another chance in the Grand Prix, without overusing her.”
Result: maximum freshness, maximum efficiency. “And fortunately, today, it paid off.”
Paris loves stories. This one, it already knows.
A Scotsman, a fiery horse, and a time no one can touch. Ten years have passed.
Nothing has really changed for Scott Brash, and that’s exactly the problem for everyone else.
Find the full results of the 5* Hermès Grand Prix here