The very first anthem of TSCHIO Aachen 2026 will therefore be La Marseillaise. On Thursday at lunchtime, Julien Épaillard and Easy Up de Grandry claimed victory in the opening CSI5* class of the German show, the Prize of the Soers. A 1.45m two-phase competition featuring eighty-two combinations. Behind the win, there was of course a blistering time. But also a first real full-scale test ahead of this summer’s World Championships. And on that front, plenty of the sport’s heavyweights had already started showing their cards.

Épaillard in full attack mode from the very first class

In Aachen, some riders like to ease their way into the show.
Julien Épaillard, on the other hand, already rides as if he’s in a Grand Prix jump-off while others are still warming up.

With Easy Up de Grandry, the Frenchman produced the fastest double clear of the class. The 12-year-old Selle Français, by Jarnac out of a dam by For Pleasure, perfectly matched the trademark Épaillard style: huge gallop, sweeping turns taken flat out, and that very “Épaillard-esque” ability to turn every tenth of a second gained into mental pressure for everyone else ahead of the bigger classes.

The result: a French victory to open Aachen 2026.

And in Aachen, that is never just another line on a résumé.

Daniel Coyle and Bluman right behind

Behind the Frenchman, Ireland’s Daniel Coyle long believed he had the win secured aboard Gisborne VDL. But he ultimately came up just under three tenths short of knocking Épaillard off the provisional throne.

Israel’s Daniel Bluman completed the top three with Malina, his Aganix du Seigneur daughter, once again confirming her remarkable consistency on the sport’s biggest outdoor arenas.

A seriously strong podium already for a “simple” warm-up class.

Because in Aachen, even the warm-ups look like Grand Prix classes.

The Belgians between caution and encouraging signs

For the Belgian riders, this opening class mainly served as a first immersion into the deep waters of Aachen.

Rolex ter Leydonck was absent from the results list, and for good reason. Red-carded at the veterinary inspection. A decision that left Nicola Philippaerts visibly surprised:
“I really have my doubts. Especially when you see the way he won his Grand Prix fifteen days ago and when you look at him now, it’s hard to say the horse isn’t fit.”

For the other Belgian representatives, the main goal was to get a feel for the Soers atmosphere without forcing things too early.

That was notably the case for Quito de Mariposa, competing in only his second CSI5*. Under Jérôme Guéry, just five days after his first one in Hamburg, the 10-year-old stallion nevertheless continues to impress with his maturity and further justifies the confidence his rider places in him.

A slightly more serious warm-up as well for Gilles Thomas and Riesling van’t Roosakker, who also delivered a double clear in a tidy and composed performance.

The same went for Pieter Devos with Primo DV and Abdel Saïd aboard Bonne Amie, both leaving the ring on a clean sheet as well.

Nothing spectacular in the standings, perhaps.
But plenty of positive signs ahead of the major classes later this weekend.

The French team already looking sharp

Kevin Staut delivered two clear rounds: tenth place with Hermès de Vesquerie and twentieth with Geisha de Riverland. Simon Delestre meanwhile continued the progressive comeback of I Amelusina R 51 without incident. Nina Mallevaey and My Clementine also added a clean sheet to the day.

Julien Épaillard, however, chose not to present Le Coultre de Muze. Thursday’s warm-up completely reshuffled the French champion’s plans, as he had initially intended to test the grey this weekend ahead of the August World Championships.

Easy Up steadily entering another dimension

For a long time, Easy Up de Grandry lived somewhat in the shadow of the major stars of the Épaillard stable.
But over the past few months, the chestnut bay has clearly started changing status.

The horse keeps stacking up top-level performances and now seems perfectly built for the sport’s biggest outdoor venues. In Aachen, he showed something particularly valuable: relaxation. Alongside the speed. Everything now seems to be coming together...

Find the full results of the Prize of the Soers here.