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Close up Image of the Bay Horse Beauville Z N.o.p. & His Rider Maikel Van Der Vleuten Clearing a Show Jumping Fence in Competition. an Upward Trending Arrow Is Behind the Subjects. Photo Tilly Berendt. Design EquiRatings.

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Millstreet CCI4*-S 2026 Preview

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Aachen always delivers one of the strongest fields in the sport.</p>
<p>But this year, the spotlight feels even brighter. Many of these combinations are likely to return to Aachen later this summer for the FEI Jumping World Championships. This week offers an early look at who could dominate the venue in August.</p>
<p>Seven of the world&rsquo;s top 10 Elo-rated horses are set to compete, underlining just how strong the field is. While newly returned world number one King Edward will not be competing this week, the field still features many of the sport&rsquo;s highest Elo-rated horses, including in-form contenders, Grand Slam challengers, and some of the fastest-rising combinations in the world.</p>
<p>From Point Break returning in elite form to Greya continuing her hot streak, here are the top Elo-rated horses to watch this week in CHIO Aachen.</p>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2><strong>The Headliners Arrive</strong></h2>
<p>If there is one thing Aachen guarantees, it is pressure. No combinations arrive this week carrying more attention than these three. Point Break comes into Aachen as the highest Elo-rated horse in the field and has wasted no time reminding the sport what he is capable of. After returning to 5* competition in Windsor, the stallion finished second in the Rolex Grand Prix.</p>
<p>While Point Break made a statement with his comeback, Greya has been keeping her streak as one of the hottest horses in the sport right now. Together with World Number One Kent Farrington, the mare has become one of the most dangerous and consistent horses against elite competition.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For German fans, much of the spotlight will fall on Richard Vogel and United Touch S. The pair arrive as the current Rolex Grand Slam live contenders and continue to establish themselves among the best. The pair came heartbreakingly close to victory in 2024, but a rail at the final fence in the jump-off denied them the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen title. Aachen always brings added pressure, but with the form and talent these combinations possess, they look more than ready for the moment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>The Horses Bringing Momentum</strong></h2>
<p>While those three will certainly arrive with expectation, others come into Aachen carrying serious recent form. These are the horses that have already been building momentum throughout the season.</p>
<p>Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone continue to establish themselves. Returning to 5* competition for the first time since November, the pair heads to Aachen with a proven record on the biggest stages and confidence on their side.</p>
<p>After producing 14 consecutive CSI5* 1.60m clear rounds, Dynastie de Beaufour is a name that stands out for her remarkable consistency at the highest level, establishing her as one of the most reliable horses in the field.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In similar company for consistency is James Kann Cruz, who has built an exceptional podium finish rate, most recently adding a third-place finish in the MLSJ 5* Grand Prix of Lexington.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Rounding out our top 10 Elo-rated horses in the world is Eddy Blue who captured a CSI5* Grand Prix win during WEF, often a strong indicator of combinations set up for major seasons ahead.</p>
<h2><strong><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/5384dded-956c-46d5-b680-b61761157715.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Aachen Preview 2"></strong></h2>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2><strong>The Defending Champions Return</strong></h2>
<p>Not every dangerous combination arrives inside the world&rsquo;s top 10 Elo rankings. Together with Martin Fuchs, Leone Jei returns as the defending Rolex Grand Prix champion. The pair have won four Rolex Grand Slam Grands Prix together and are looking to add a fifth title this week. They may not arrive as the highest Elo-rated combination in the field, but with their proven ability to perform under pressure in Aachen&rsquo;s biggest class, they remain impossible to overlook heading into the week.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/bde3b4b2-67b6-402a-a0c8-8964daca9902.jpg?width=5568&amp;height=3712" alt="Martin Fuchs"></p>
<p>Also making their return are the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix winners DSP Chakaria and Andre Thieme. Coming into Aachen following their Hamburg Grand Prix victory last week, the German pair arrive with momentum and a proven record of delivering on home soil.</p>
<h2><strong>Aachen Awaits</strong></h2>
<p>With returning legends, in-form contenders, and some of the sport&rsquo;s highest-rated horses all converging in Aachen, this week promises another elite chapter at one of show jumping&rsquo;s most iconic venues. And with this year&rsquo;s competition offering an early glimpse at what we may see back in the same arena later this summer, the spotlight feels even bigger than usual. If recent form is anything to go by, the margins will be razor-thin.</p>

A World Championship Dress Rehearsal: Elo Leaders Head to TSCHIO Aachen

<h2>Windsor</h2>
<p>The spotlight at Windsor will be on the home side, with several of Britain&rsquo;s biggest names leading the field. Ben Maher returns with Point Break, while Scott Brash brings both Hello Jefferson and Hello Folie. Harry Charles also arrives with strong contenders in Sherlock and Casquo Blue, giving the British team serious depth heading into the weekend.<br>International challengers will make a home victory far from guaranteed. Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir add speed and consistency to the field, while Martin Fuchs and Connor Jei arrive in exceptional form, having finished either first or second in their last three CSI5* Grand Prix starts, making them one of the most dangerous combinations in the field.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/9e051732-af0b-4d7b-bb87-5395e24ff2f6.png?width=411&amp;height=512" alt="Unnamed (6)"></p>
<p>Windsor combines elite sport with one of the most atmospheric settings on the calendar, and with so much British strength in the lineup, the pressure for a home win will be high.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key class: Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor &mdash; Sunday</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Hamburg</h2>
<p>Hamburg offers a completely different test, with the grass arena often rewarding experienced horses and careful riding. The show is known for producing unpredictable results, and this year&rsquo;s field looks especially competitive.</p>
<p>One of the standout names is Chadellano JRA with Eiken Sato after their strong run of form this season. Germany&rsquo;s depth is also on full display through riders such as Andr&eacute; Thieme and Christian Kukuk, while Cian O&rsquo;Connor and Donald Whitaker add further international strength.</p>
<p>Hamburg also features the iconic Derby, one of the sport&rsquo;s most demanding and historic classes, adding another layer of attention to the weekend schedule.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/c7187e5d-5e8a-43d1-93b7-a6e9113c3209.png?width=512&amp;height=502" alt="Unnamed (7)"></p>
<p>For many combinations, Hamburg is an important opportunity to prove themselves on grass before the busiest stretch of the European outdoor season begins.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key class: Longines Grand Prix of Hamburg &mdash; Saturday</p>
<p>Al Shira&rsquo;aa German Jumping Derby &mdash; Sunday</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Madrid</h2>
<p>Madrid may have the deepest mix of established stars and rising partnerships of the three events. The venue&rsquo;s large grass arena consistently rewards confidence and rhythm, and several combinations arrive in strong form.</p>
<p>ESI Rocky enters the weekend with one of the strongest recent clear-round records in the field alongside Anastasia Nielsen, while Impress-K arrives in particularly strong form after his recent CSI5* Grand Prix victory in Fontainebleau. Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P. bring major championship experience, while Stephan de Freitas Barcha arrives with two highly rated horses. Bertram Allen and Qonquest de Rigo are another pair worth watching after building momentum this season.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/bde3ea93-013c-42b1-9ea5-73938868b4df.png?width=511&amp;height=512" alt="Unnamed (8)"></p>
<p>Madrid often produces fast, competitive jump-offs, and this year&rsquo;s lineup suggests another major test ahead.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key class: Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid &mdash; Sunday</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The Shape of the Weekend</h2>
<p>What makes this weekend stand out is the variety across all three venues. Windsor brings tradition and home pressure, Hamburg provides a technical grass-field challenge, and Madrid delivers one of the strongest international lineups of the month.<br>With so many top combinations spread across Europe at the same time, this weekend feels less like a normal stop on the calendar and more like a major moment in the outdoor season. This rare triple-header of five-star sport in Europe offers thrilling storylines, including the return of stars, grass surfaces, home-nation pressure, and a lineup of horses that could reshape the rankings.</p>

Three Cities, Three Stories, One Huge Weekend

<h2>A Venue That Has Grown Into Something Special</h2>
<p>Since Madrid joined the Longines Global Champions Tour calendar in 2013, it has steadily built a reputation as one of the most prestigious stops on the circuit. The numbers tell the story: the Elo field strength, the gold standard measure of competition quality in show jumping, has risen almost every single year, from 685 at the inaugural edition to a record high of 726 in 2025, ranking that edition among the top 5 strongest LGCT Grand Prix fields of all time.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/2cffe3eb-73e8-407f-a3a9-3199b90ca866.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Oxer  Gc Madrid  (2)"></p>
<p>In thirteen editions, Madrid has produced thirteen different winners. Not one rider has managed to win this Grand Prix twice, a remarkable statistic that speaks to the relentless depth of competition the venue attracts year after year. That streak is on the line again this week.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What the Course Demands</h2>
<p>The Madrid Grand Prix is not for the faint-hearted. Across its history, just 21% of starters in Round 1 have gone clear, one of the tougher opening round statistics on the entire circuit. When a Jump-Off is reached, it has produced clear rounds 58% of the time, meaning the course regularly forces riders to choose between caution and glory.</p>
<p>The toughest edition on record came in 2023, when only one horse, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield, jumped clear in Round 1. In 2015, Luciana Diniz and Winningmood were the only combination to go clear in the Jump-Off, winning the Grand Prix in a class of their own. That same Winningmood is one of the most extraordinary stories in Madrid's history: four rounds jumped at this venue across its career, four clear rounds, a perfect record.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Horses That Have Left Their Mark</h2>
<p>Four horses have recorded multiple podiums at Madrid: Rokfeller De Pleville Bois Margot, who was retired at this very venue in 2025, alongside Verdi TN, Misanto Pret A Tout, and VDL Cartello. Each of them has competed at the sharp end of the sport's biggest occasions, and each returned to Madrid more than once to prove it was no accident.</p>
<p>Then there is the story of Explosion W. It was in Madrid in 2018 that Ben Maher and his then-nine-year-old jumped their very first 5* Grand Prix win together. That was just the beginning. Explosion W went on to win 16 CSI5* Grands Prix, claim individual Olympic gold at Tokyo 2021, and retire in December 2025 at London's International Horse Show in front of a sell-out crowd. Madrid was where it all started.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The King of Madrid: Maikel van der Vleuten</h2>
<p>If one rider owns this venue statistically, it is Maikel van der Vleuten. No rider has started more LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid editions (11), and no rider has more Grand Prix podiums at this event (4). Since 2013, Maikel has accumulated 15 podiums across all 5* classes at this venue, and leads all riders with 12 clear rounds in 160cm classes here, a tally matched only by Marcus Ehning, who is not in the field this year.</p>
<p>Alongside him this week is Beauville Z N.O.P., the top-rated horse-and-rider combination in the entire field with an Elo of 767. In 122 rounds together at 5* 160cm level, they have gone clear 68 times, a career clear rate of 56%. This record places Beauville Z among a very select group: only six horses in global records since 2010 have jumped more clears at CSI5* 160 level. Maikel arrives not just as the most experienced Madrid competitor, but as the in-form favourite.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/47737836-5a30-4d25-8af1-ad5a9cecdc5f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Oxer  Gc Madrid  (1)"></p>
<h2><br>The Form Combination: Thibeau Spits &amp; Impress-K Van't Kattenheye Z</h2>
<p>If Maikel is the headline name, Thibeau Spits is the story of the season. The Belgian combination of Spits and Impress-K Van't Kattenheye Z have posted three starts, three clears, and three Top 5 finishes in 5* Grands Prix in 2026, a perfect record. Their most recent outing together was a Grand Prix win in Fontainebleau just three weeks ago. Impress-K ranks among the top 20 rated horses in the world, and his Elo of 766 makes them the second-ranked partnership in the field, a single point behind Maikel and Beauville Z. They are LGCT Grand Prix winners together, having taken the title in Riesenbeck in 2024, and they arrive in Madrid with the kind of momentum that is very hard to argue with.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Madrid Will Deliver</h2>
<p>It always does. A course that punishes hesitation, a field that leaves no room for complacency, and a title that has never been successfully defended, Madrid has all the ingredients for another unforgettable Sunday evening. Eduardo Alvarez Aznar arrives with an entire city behind him. Maikel van der Vleuten arrives as the man who knows this venue better than anyone alive, paired with one of the greatest horses in the world right now. Thirteen editions have produced thirteen stories worth telling. The fourteenth is about to begin.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Stars of the Show: The Numbers Behind One of the LGCT of Madrid

The Toughest Aachen Grand Prix on Record

Top Stories

The Toughest Aachen Grand Prix on Record

Millstreet CCI4*-S 2026 Preview

A World Championship Dress Rehearsal: Elo Leaders Head to TSCHIO Aachen

Three Cities, Three Stories, One Huge Weekend

Stars of the Show: The Numbers Behind One of the LGCT of Madrid

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