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With dressage over and done with, the leaderboard is loaded with talent and exciting combinations. Yet still, all we really want to talk about is the London 52 and fischerChipmunk FRH rivalry (well us at EquiRatings HQ do anyways). Bu we need to look at the bigger picture - tomorrow is the day that will decide this championship. However as we all know, things can and do go wrong for the favourites - that&rsquo;s what makes cross country day so compelling.
Here&rsquo;s what to watch for tomorrow because knowing the podium is one thing, but knowing the story behind it is even better.
<h2 data-start="936" data-end="971">Blenheim Palace as a Venue</h2>
Blenheim has has been the stage for some of the sport&rsquo;s most defining moments. The last time the European Championships came here in 2005, Zara Phillips and Toytown captured both individual and team gold for Great Britain.&nbsp;
The venue&rsquo;s record tells its own story. Historically, only about 60% of combinations jump clear at Blenheim, and just 10% make the time. Those figures mirror the wider European Championship average (58% clear, 13% inside the time) though the difficulty to make the time swings dramatically year to year - normally depending on the ground and weather conditions.&nbsp; At Malm&ouml; 2013, more than a third of the field caught the clock while at Haras du Pin in 2023, just 2% managed it. But with Blenheim's rolling hills and the rumours that "It's been built for the Brits," we could be in for a dramatic time test.
<h2 data-start="1400" data-end="1439">The Podium&rsquo;s Cross Country Metrics</h2>
The overnight dressage podium is important at the Europeans (well duh). No but it really is - the last 10 European champions have came from the top three after dressage. So while anything can happen, history says it's one of these three that will clinch gold on Sunday.
1. fischerChipmunk FRH &amp; Michael Jung - 18.3 XCJ10: 80%&emsp;&emsp;Rank in Class: 24th&emsp;&emsp;TSP: 87%&emsp;&emsp;Speed Rank: 24th Michael Jung&rsquo;s fscherChipmunk FRH is one of the legends of this sport but his record is not without blips. While the raw clear rate is strong, the lower speed rankings compared to the British challengers highlight where he might be vulnerable. That said no one manages championship pressure like Jung and this combination have managed to deliver before.
XC time: 15:20
2. London 52 &amp; Laura Collett - 20.6 XCJ10: 90%&emsp;&emsp;Rank in Class: 5th&emsp;&emsp;TSP: 96%&emsp;&emsp;Speed Rank: 5th London 52 has one of the best reputations (and one of the most loyal fan clubs) in the sport and the numbers back that up. A 90% XC clear rate and the speed metrics confirm he&rsquo;s one of the fastest in the field. Already a Blenheim winner, Laura will know how to deliver under pressure here.
XC time: 15:10
3. JL Dublin &amp; Tom McEwen - 26.2 XCJ10: 80%&emsp;&emsp;Rank in Class: 8th&emsp;&emsp;TSP: 95%&emsp;&emsp;Speed Rank: 8th JL Dublin is as proven as they come, having already claimed the European title in 2021 with Nicola Wilson. Now with Tom McEwen, he&rsquo;s back at the top level with unfinished business, having come agonisingly close to a major win on several occasions. With speed metrics right up there with London 52, if they deliver their usual consistency, they&rsquo;ll be right in the mix.
XC time: 14:00
<h2 data-start="2650" data-end="2676">Speed Horses in the Spotlight</h2>
If the time does play a huge part, there are a handful of combinations who stand out on paper for their pace and have potential to move up the leaderboard.
1. D. Day (Caroline Harris) - 34.4 (30th) XCJ10: 90%&emsp;&emsp;Adj XCJ10: 26%&emsp;&emsp;TSP: 98%&emsp;&emsp;Speed Rank: 1st Caroline Harris makes her senior championship debut with the Pau 2024 5* winner D. Day. One of the fastest horses in the sport, his 98% Top Speed Percentage is unmatched in this field. With a 90% clear rate across his last ten runs and proven success in heavy going, this is a combination that could climb the leaderboard.
XC time: 11:55
2. Erin (Melody Johner) - 31.5 (18th) XCJ10: 90%&emsp;&emsp;Adj XCJ10: 29%&emsp;&emsp;TSP: 96%&emsp;&emsp;Speed Rank: 2nd Still just ten years old, Erin is competing at only her second CCI4*-L. However, they have 100% strike rate so far! Melody and Erin won the mares first at Strzegom this spring, jumping double clear and adding only 1.2 penalties in show jumping to their dressage score. Switzerland&rsquo;s Melody Johner has a genuine rising star here, combining 90% reliability with speed that could pile pressure on the established names.
XC time: 12.05
3. The Phantom of the Opera (Calvin B&ouml;ckmann) - 30.9 (16th) XCJ10: 70%&emsp;&emsp;Adj XCJ10: 5%&emsp;&emsp;TSP: 96%&emsp;&emsp;Speed Rank: 3rd Few horses are quicker than Phantom and few riders attack cross country with as much confidence as Calvin B&ouml;ckmann. At just 24, he makes his senior championship debut after being an Olympic reserve last year. With a second at Aachen and fifth here at Blenheim in 2023 already on their record, this German duo bring serious speed to the table.
XC time: 14:30
<h2 data-start="4119" data-end="4138">Roll on Cross Country Day</h2>
At eight of the last ten European Championships, the cross country leaders have gone on to win gold - yet Blenheim has a habit of finding the weak spots in even the strongest contenders.
Tomorrow, two of the sport&rsquo;s best - &nbsp;London 52 and fischerChipmunk FRH will be doing everything in their power to not add any penalties while the pressure stays on from behind with JL Dublin and the speed horses will be looking to break into the frame. Tomorrow, we are one step closer to knowing who will be the 2025 European Champion.
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<h3 class="" data-start="150" data-end="200">&nbsp;</h3>
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Stopwatches, Stats, and High Stakes: Who the Numbers Favour for Cross Country Day at Blenheim

Eventing fans have been treated to some great rivalries over the years but none in recent memory have shaped the sport quite like this. London 52 and fischerChipmunk FRH - two of the most consistent, low-scoring, big-day performers in the world are head-to-head once again. Their clash at Blenheim could define how we remember this era of eventing.
We all know how it went in Paris - Laura broke the dressage record, lost a shoe on course and picked up cross-country time, and then the rails fell for both combinations. In the end, Jung climbed to gold and Laura settled for bronze. It was tense, it was dramatic, but most importantly, it was unforgettable sport.
How might it unfold this weekend? Let&rsquo;s see how the numbers stack up...
<h3 data-start="255" data-end="667">Four-Star Standings&nbsp;</h3>
One way to line these horses up is through their recent 4* records. London 52 has the edge on consistency and finishing scores, with a 27.6 average compared to Chipmunk&rsquo;s 34.5. But when it comes to winning, the gap is small - London&rsquo;s 38% win rate at this level is only slightly ahead of Chipmunk&rsquo;s 33%.&nbsp;
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/94fd9889-7b43-451b-945e-ba25ea1fedd8.png?width=1080&amp;height=672" alt="Blenheim Europeans 2025 (18)">
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<h3 data-start="674" data-end="699">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="674" data-end="699">Championship Clashes</h3>
Looking at their championship clashes, the record leans towards fischerChipmunk FRH. Yet both have had their share of high drama at the big moments - from flags and run-outs to that fall at the final water! Championships have rarely been straightforward for either pair and if history is anything to go by, there&rsquo;s no guarantee that both will end the week on the podium.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/6e4b7ebd-37fd-4191-8951-a8649d0cb8a8.png?width=1080&amp;height=665" alt="Blenheim Europeans 2025 (17)">
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<h3 data-start="1260" data-end="1288">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1260" data-end="1288">Their Form Coming Into Blenheim</h3>
On paper, it seems like London 52 and fischerChipmunk FRH are remarkably close. However, that's the beauty of EquiRatings metrics - we can identify down to the decimal place how each combination compares.
Dressage:&nbsp;Chipmunk's 6RA just pips London's with a 20.1 and a 21.9 respectively. But let's not forget that Chipmunk has led five of his six championships with Jung after dressage, though he&rsquo;s never converted one of those early leads into gold. The only time he didn&rsquo;t lead was Paris 2024, when London 52 set an Olympic record with 17.5 yet Jung came from behind to take gold.
Cross Country: London looks the safer package. His XCJ10 sits at 90% versus Chipmunk&rsquo;s 80%, and he&rsquo;s faster too - a 96% top-speed rating compared to 87%.&nbsp;
Show Jumping: Final-day rails can decide championships, and London is the tidier of the two. His SJ6&nbsp;is 1.3, against Chipmunk&rsquo;s 2.7. Adjusted to course averages, London&rsquo;s advantage is even clearer.
<h3 data-start="2375" data-end="2398">Medals on the Line</h3>
Despite their reputations, both horses have surprisingly few individual medals to their names. fischerChipmunk FRH claimed silver at the 2019 Europeans before finally securing gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. London 52, for all his brilliance, took his first and only senior championship medal in Paris as well - a hard-fought bronze.
For all their brilliance, it shows just how difficult it is to win medals. Now, with both horses reaching the peak (and perhaps twilight) of their careers, Blenheim could represent one of the final chances for either combination to add another medal to their legacy.
<h3 data-start="2769" data-end="2793">The Blenheim Factor</h3>
There&rsquo;s an added twist this weekend: London 52 knows Blenheim - having won the Blenheim 8&amp;9 yo CCI4*-S class in 2018. For Laura, this is her 17th time (since 2008) competing at the venue - few riders this weekend will know the hills better.
By contrast, Michael Jung arrives with a staggering 568 international starts since 2008 but not one of them at Blenheim. For all of his dominance, this is uncharted territory. If there&rsquo;s a home advantage, it certainly belongs to Laura.
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<h3 data-start="3060" data-end="3086">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3060" data-end="3086">The Prediction Centre</h3>
After all this speculation, it's a relief we have the&nbsp;<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/blenheim_4l_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre </a>to truly quantify it - and the numbers suggest London 52 (32% win chance) might take it over fischerChipmunk FRH (22%).
<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/blenheim_4l_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/61712337-9414-4735-96ea-bfdb8d337b8e.png?width=718&amp;height=744" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 18 154030"></a>
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<h3 data-start="3358" data-end="3373">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3358" data-end="3373">Final Word</h3>
This rivalry isn&rsquo;t just about statistics, it&rsquo;s also about history. London 52, chasing a first senior European medal for Collett. fischerChipmunk FRH, the horse who so often has led but not finished it off.
At Blenheim, one of them could finally add a European victory to their record. And whichever way it goes? It adds another twist to one of the biggest rivalries in the last decade.
Listen to the Europeans Preview Show - Kindly supported by Connolly's RED MILLS, Carr &amp; Day &amp; Martin, and Foran Equine.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38233405/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/30424c/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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From Paris to Blenheim: The Next Chapter of London 52 vs fischerChipmunk FRH

When it comes to the FEI Eventing European Championships, one rivalry has defined the last four decades: Great Britain versus Germany. Since 1981, only twice has team gold gone to anyone else &mdash; Sweden in 1983 and 1993. Every other time, it&rsquo;s been the sport&rsquo;s two giants trading blows. This week at Blenheim, the spotlight is once again on these two giants of the sport. Britain have won an extraordinary&nbsp;24 team gold medals, including nine of the 12 times the championships have been staged on home soil. But the last time the Europeans came to Britain, in 2015 at Blair Castle, it was Germany who walked away with the title - proving they know how to spoil the home party.
<h3>Home Advantage: Britain&rsquo;s Fortress</h3>
Blenheim Palace isn&rsquo;t just another venue. When the Europeans come to Britain, Team GB usually deliver. Across the 12 editions staged on home soil, they&rsquo;ve won nine times. The only exceptions came in 1959 (West Germany), 1962 (Soviet Union), and 2015, when Michael Jung led Germany to the famous victory at Blair Castle.
<h3 data-start="888" data-end="919">The Numbers Tell the Story</h3>
The medal table makes the rivalry crystal clear. Great Britain have claimed 24 team gold medals at the Europeans. Germany? Six. It's a considerable gap and one that may surprise you.
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<h3 data-start="1195" data-end="1220">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1195" data-end="1220">The Teams&nbsp;</h3>
With the trot up and opening ceremony finishing earlier this afternoon, the riders who would be on the teams and those who would be riding as individuals have just been announced:
Team GB in running order: 
<ol>
<li data-start="208" data-end="547">Yasmin Ingham &amp; Rehy DJ: Rehy DJ brings proven 5* credentials with top 10 finishes at Pau and Luhm&uuml;hlen. Consistently mid-to-high 20s in the dressage, Yasmin&rsquo;s partnership offer reliability both cross country and showjumping - coming in with one of the best final day records in the field.</li>
<li data-start="549" data-end="872">Piggy March &amp; Halo: Halo announced himself with a top-10 on 5* debut at Pau in 2024 and has been unbeaten at CCI4*-S level this season. This is a horse riding a wave of momentum, and while still new to championships, Halo is one to watch as Piggy brings her championship experience.</li>
<li data-start="874" data-end="1199">Tom McEwen &amp; JL Dublin: JL Dublin is no stranger to European gold, having won the title in 2021 with Nicola Wilson. Now partnered with McEwen, he&rsquo;s been painfully close to the very top -runner-up twice at Kentucky and fourth at the Paris Olympics. With an 18% individual win chance, this combination will need to deliver to keep the team in contention.</li>
<li data-start="1201" data-end="1533">Laura Collett &amp; London 52: The headline act. With three CCI5* wins and a 32% individual win chance, London 52 and Collett are the pair Germany will be watching most closely. Collett was on the European team that took gold in 2023, but a senior individual European medal still eludes her.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Team Germany in running order:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li data-start="190" data-end="452">Libussa L&uuml;bbecke &amp; Caramia 34: Fresh from a top-10 at Kentucky this spring, this is their first senior championship call-up. They know Blenheim well, having competed here twice before, and that experience could be vital under the pressure of a team debut.</li>
<li data-start="190" data-end="452">Malin Hansen-Hotopp &amp; Carlitos Quidditch K: Winners of the CCI4*-L at Blenheim in 2022, they&rsquo;ve already shown they can master this track. Carlitos Quidditch K has since proven himself at 5*, consistently finishing inside the top 10 and most recently posting a 24.8 in dressage to sit just behind fischerChipmunk FRH.</li>
<li data-start="190" data-end="452">J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Robin&eacute; &amp; Black Ice: One of Germany&rsquo;s most established pairs, Black Ice was 3rd at Blenheim last year and 7th at the last Europeans. They&rsquo;ve shown they can handle the big stage, and as a reliable championship partnership, they should be a banker for the team score.</li>
<li data-start="190" data-end="452">Michael Jung &amp; fischerChipmunk FRH: The anchor of the German squad. Jung has seven individual championship golds and arrives with the reigning Olympic champion. fischerChipmunk FRH is a German team stalwart and even if it's his first time at Blenheim, his win chance sits at 22%. If Germany are to take down GB on their home turf again, this is the partnership to lead the charge.</li>
</ol>
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Recent Championship Form</h3>
When looking at recent championship form, it really is Great Britain that come out on top.
<ul>
<li data-start="1842" data-end="1956">Tokyo 2021 Olympics: Great Britain claimed gold and with the no-drop-score format Germany fell off the podium</li>
<li data-start="1842" data-end="1956">Avenches 2021 Europeans:&nbsp;GB took team gold; Germany settled for silver</li>
<li data-start="1842" data-end="1956">Pratoni 2022 Worlds: Germany hit back, taking gold with fischerChipmunk FRH at the centre of the team Haras du Pin 2023 Europeans:&nbsp;Another British team gold, Germany silver again.</li>
<li data-start="1842" data-end="1956">Paris 2024 Olympics: GB took gold and Germany once again fell by the wayside with no-drop-score</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="2304" data-end="2328">What Does The Prediciton Centre Say?</h3>
EquiRatings predictive analysis puts Great Britain as the heavy favourites with a 73% chance of gold. Germany follow on 13%, their best shot coming from Jung&rsquo;s reliability. It&rsquo;s a familiar script: GB on home soil, Germany chasing, and a rivalry that feels like it will define yet another European Championship. Roll on Blenheim.
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FEI Eventing European Championships

Stopwatches, Stats, and High Stakes: Who the Numbers Favour for Cross Country Day at Blenheim

From Paris to Blenheim: The Next Chapter of London 52 vs fischerChipmunk FRH

Decades of Dominance: GB and Germany’s Fight for Team Gold

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