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Proven competitors have showed their strength, while we increasingly see the young guns take up space among the world&rsquo;s strongest competitors.
<h2>Gerrit Nieberg &amp; Ben 431 (669)</h2>
Last year&rsquo;s surprising Aachen Grand Prix winners have proven they are no one-hit wonder. Demonstrating remarkable skill and horsemanship, they clinched the win on a similar grass arena in the Longines Grand Prix of Hamburg. Despite Ben 431's recent form taking a significant dip, dropping their Elo from 737 to 669, this performance indicates their resurgence to the top tier.
<h2>Julien Epaillard &amp; Donatello d&rsquo;Auge (728)</h2>
This pair dominated the World Cup circuit last winter, securing victories in the Lyon and Amsterdam stages. The French gelding is among the leading 10-year-olds globally right now. After a brief hiatus, Donatello has stormed back into competition, making a statement with a win in the CSI4* 155 Grand Prix at Bourg-en-Bresse. Julien and Donatello d&rsquo;Auge are all set for the summer season.
<h2>Hunter Holloway &amp; Pepita Con Spita (706)</h2>
After a phenomenal podium finish at the World Cup Finals in Omaha two months ago, which hugely boosted their Elo up in the 700s, this pair has come out shining yet again. In the CSI4* Grand Prix of North Salem, they took the victory on home soil.
<h2>Rising Rookies: 10-year-olds</h2>
Donatello d&rsquo;Auge is not the only promising ten-year-old showjumper to watch out for these days. We've noticed several noteworthy performances from younger horses on the circuit.
Ben Maher &amp; Dallas Vegas Batilly (713) Another one of the top 10 highest-rated 10-year-olds in the sport, Dallas Vegas Batilly put on an impressive show in the Grand Prix of Hamburg to finish second. This marks Ben Maher's second consecutive runner-up position in a CSI5* Grand Prix within two weeks.
Martin Fuchs &amp; Commissar Pezi (694) Despite an unfortunate four faults in the jump-off of the Grand Prix of Hamburg, this 10-year-old secured 6th place in his debut five-star Grand Prix.
Simon Delestre &amp; Dexter Fontenis (724) Adding to the notable performances of French 10-year-olds, this pair secured the 6th place in the CSI4* Grand Prix of Bourg-en-Bresse on their home turf.
Benoit Cernin &amp; Dynamite du Miral (538) This French 10-year-old clinched his biggest achievement to date by finishing 3rd in the Grand Prix of Bourg-en-Bresse.

From Hamburg to North Salem: Top Takeaways from the Jumping Weekend

The stage is set for the much-anticipated Longines Grand Prix of Hamburg, where 44 combinations will take on the course built over 160. The EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre has identified two elite pairs with the highest chance of seizing victory.&nbsp;
<h2> Win Chance 10%</h2>
Peder Fredricson &amp; Catch Me Not S (730) 17-year-old Catch Me Not S is about to participate in his first outdoor five-star event since September 2022. However, this team's vast experience is likely to offset any challenges. Their last performance at this level was impressive, marking a clear in Round 1 and finishing 7th in the Rolex Grand Prix in &lsquo;s Hertogenbosch.
Bertram Allen &amp; Pacino Amiro (731) Coming off a recent podium finish at the Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor, this Irish duo is in high spirits. Remarkably, they secured podium finishes in their last two outings at the CSI5* Grand Prix. With this momentum, will they achieve a hat trick here in Hamburg? The EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre believes they have a 21% chance of pulling it off.
<h2>Win Chance 9%</h2>
Harry Charles &amp; Romeo 88 (758) At just 23 years old, Harry has one of the most extensive string of horses in the sport right now. For today&rsquo;s Grand Prix, his Olympic and World Championship mount Romeo 88 is returning to 5* competition after a break. At their last outing at this level, at the London Excel, the pair finished in the Top 10 in both the Grand Prix and the World Cup on home soil.&nbsp;
<h2>Win Chance 8%</h2>
Eugenio Garza Perez &amp; Contago (746) The Mexican pair recently made headlines in San Miguel de Allende, securing a runner-up spot in the CSIO5* Grand Prix. With a clear rate of 57% at 5* 160 this year, they&rsquo;re set on proving their mettle on European turf.
Philipp Weishaupt &amp; Coby 8 (735) This German pair is primed for a home victory, boasting the highest probability of giving the home crowd something to celebrate.
Steve Guerdat &amp; Venard de Cerisy (747) Making their first appearance at the five-star level in 2023, they carry with them a wealth of experience. The combination of Steve, Venard, and a large grass arena has proven successful before, demonstrated by multiple podium finishes in Aachen and Calgary.
&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-LbMSm" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Catch Me Not S &amp;amp; Pacino Amiro come into this class as joint favorites, can one of them come through to win?" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LbMSm/1/" height="750" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>

Can you Catch Me (or) Not? Predictions for the Grand Prix of Hamburg

One of the most iconic grass arenas in the world is ready to welcome us in Hamburg, where numerous high-level horse-rider combinations are set to compete in the five-star event. Here are the highest-rated horses in the field.
 Romeo 88, the highest-rated horse competing in Hamburg this weekend, holds an Elo rating of 758. This horse, partnered with Harry Charles at the Olympic and World Championship level, will be participating in its first five-star show of the year. We last saw this stellar pair at the London ExCell, where they secured Top 10 finishes in both the World Cup and the Grand Prix.
Venard de Cerisy, with an Elo of 747, is another horse set to compete in its first five-star event of the year in Hamburg this weekend. On his last appearance at this level, Venard de Cerisy clinched a win in a 160 class at Geneva, expertly ridden by Steve Guerdat.
Finally, Contago (746), is a horse that has made frequent appearances at top-level competitions in 2023. Eugenio Garza Perez decided to make the journey from Mexico after a successful spring season. The pair are coming off the back of a second-place finish in the CSIO5* Grand Prix in San Miguel de Allende last month.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-h2JU0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="These are the Top 10 Elo-rated horses heading to CSI5* Hamburg" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/h2JU0/1/" height="684" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>

High Stakes in Hamburg: Who to Watch?

A total of 40 pairs have qualified for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Club de Campo in Madrid. Although the competition is taking place on Spanish territory, the favorite to win today hails from France.
Simon Delestre has been on a winning streak this weekend, already securing two victories in Madrid. He claimed the top spot on the 10-year-old I. Amelusina R52 in the Copa del Rey on Saturday, but the focus today is on his partnership with Cayman Jolly Jumper (770). The 11-year-old gelding entered the competition as the highest-rated horse in the field and lived up to expectations by winning Friday's qualifying event. The EquiRatings Prediction Centre gives the French pair a 13% chance of victory today. They have placed in the last three CSI5* Grand Prix events they've participated in but have yet to achieve an LGCT Grand Prix win. Could Madrid be the scene of their breakthrough?
We must not overlook Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P. (668), however. The Dutch duo has been in excellent form in the last two LGCT Grand Prix events this season. After finishing third in Miami Beach, they went on to place sixth in Mexico City's Grand Prix on grass. Today, on similar turf, Maikel and Beauville Z N.O.P. have a predicted 12% chance of winning.
Fresh off their impressive performance at last month's World Cup Finals in Omaha, Andreas Shou and Darc de Lux (752) are given a 9% chance of winning the Grand Prix this afternoon. This marks their first five-star appearance since finishing in the Top 5 in Omaha, and they are eager to demonstrate their continued prowess.
Christian Kukuk has the best odds of securing another German LGCT Grand Prix victory this season, with an 8% chance of winning on Mumbai (743). Belgium&rsquo;s Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga v/h Dingeshof (736) are predicted to have a 6% chance of victory. The Spanish audience will undoubtedly rally behind Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Bentley de Sury (710), who are given a 3% chance of winning.
Click <a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/16" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a>to see the EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre for the LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid.
&nbsp;

Who Will Master the Madrid LGCT Grand Prix?

The EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre has been working overtime this weekend and provides us with data-based forecasts for the outcome of the Rolex Grand Prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this weekend. Two of the sport&rsquo;s greatest combinations share the highest chance to victory.
Ben Maher&rsquo;s Explosion W (798) and Daniel Deusser&rsquo;s Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (789) have written history by becoming two of the only horses to have ever achieved an Elo of 804. While Explosion W has the championship titles and medals to back it up, Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z reached these highs by being ultra-consistent in the world&rsquo;s toughest Grand Prix tracks. Today, for the first time since the Super Grand Prix of Prague in November of 2019, we see these two powerhouses face each other in a five-star Grand Prix. The EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre has awarded each of them a win chance of 13% in this Rolex Grand Prix in Windsor. Neither horse, however, is coming into this Grand Prix on a high. As a matter of fact, this will be Explosion W&rsquo;s first five-star Grand Prix in over 10 months after his competition break had been unexpectedly prolonged due to a shoulder injury for Ben. Nor has Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z been in the best form recently, having had to retire in two of their last four outings at this level.&nbsp;
Could the Rolex Grand Prix in Windsor set the stage for the dual comeback story of these two mighty athletes? Or will another combination swoop in and steal the win?&nbsp;
Three pairs have been predicted an 8% chance of claiming victory in today&rsquo;s Grand Prix. Hometown hero Harry Charles, one of the youngest riders in the field, paired with Balou du Reventon (758), one of the oldest horses in the field, are motivated leave their mark on home soil in Windsor. The remaining two combinations have already come close to the win last year. Max K&uuml;hner on Elektric Blue P (751) and Daniel Bluman on Ladriano Z (749) finished second and third respectively in this Grand Prix last year and now have an 8% chance to improve on that performance.
Click <a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/17" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a>to see the EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre for the Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor.

Who Wins in Windsor? The Explosion W vs Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z Showdown

The youngest horses in this event were nine years of age. Interestingly, all four nine-year-olds managed to post a Round One clear, outperforming several older, more experienced horses and combinations. In total 10 horses kept the scoreboard on zero.
<h3>Nine-year-olds outshine the competition</h3>
Martin Fuchs&rsquo; nine-year-old Viper Z posted his first ever 5* win in the Defender Challenge Stakes thanks to an expertly executed Round Two. Because of his young age and limited experience at the higher level, Viper Z entered the competition on an Elo of just 558, but nevertheless managed to beat the powerhouse pair, Daniel Deusser and Kiana van het Herdershof, whose Elo comes in at 707. This result shows lots of potential for this young horse and ensures succession for Martin&rsquo;s current string of five-star steeds.
Ben Maher also used this class to give one of his nine-year-olds more experience at this level. On Enjeu de Grisien (559), Windsor&rsquo;s hometown hero posted a beautiful clear round to finish fifth just half a second faster than Max K&uuml;hner&rsquo;s nine-year-old EIC Julius Caesar (577).
With the fastest time in Round Two, but an unfortunate rail knocked, Olivier Perreau&rsquo;s nine-year-old O. Ziezo DB finished in seventh place at the mare&rsquo;s first 5* outing.
&nbsp;
<h3>Top-rated 10-year-olds demonstrate their talent</h3>
We also saw some of the highest-rated 10-year-olds in the world compete in this class. Kent Farrington&rsquo;s Landon, on an Elo of 738 currently the second-highest rated 10-year-old in the world, and Kevin Staut&rsquo;s Dialou Blue PS (724), the sixth-highest rated, also produced Round One clears, but opted not to compete in the Round Two.
Another great result was posted by William Funnell&rsquo;s ten-year-old Equine America Billy Marmite (626) who finished fourth.
A promising day for these young stars!

Nurturing the Next Generation: Top Riders Support Young Horses in Windsor Defender Stakes

Tonight marks the first time a five-star Grand Prix will be held at San Juan Capistrano in California, USA. Both the US riders and the Irish contingent are eager to compete for the victory.
 Home rider Karl Cook and his mare Kalinka van 't Zorgvliet (749) are the clear favorites to win in San Juan Capistrano today. As the second-highest rated pair in the field this week, they are predicted to have a 15% chance of victory. The 13-year-old mare has an impressive track record at the 5* 160 level throughout her career. With only 7 starts at that level, she has achieved 5 clear rounds, 3 wins, and 2 additional top 5 finishes. This combination is currently in thrilling form and could add another victory to their list of achievements.
When it comes to a jump-off, Conor Swail and Count Me In (734) are always a force to be reckoned with. The EquiRatings Prediction Centre assigns them a 12% chance of winning. The pair has proven their success on large grass arenas, delivering a crucial double clear on home soil in Dublin to help Ireland secure victory in the Nations Cup. They also achieved an impressive win in a 160 class at Spruce Meadows.
Laura Kraut has been in fantastic form recently. While she has mainly focused on her top horse Baloutinue in recent weeks, today she will be competing with the less experienced Calgary Tame (720). Despite this being the 11-year-old horse's first 160 track of the year, they still have an 11% chance of winning.
Both Andrew Bourns on Sea Topblue (706) and Lillie Keenan on Agana van het Gerendal Z (693) boast win chances of 9%.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/5ef98810-e514-46d9-b14c-efc798991dc3?width=1440&amp;height=1350" alt="Xg Bhl These Are the Top 10 Elo Rated Horses for Csio5 San Juan Capistrano" />
Click <a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a>to see the EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre for the CSIO5* Grand Prix of San Juan Capistrano.

Who Will Triumph in the Grand Prix of San Juan Capistrano? Top Contenders Revealed

On the first day of international jumping at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, the Pearl Stakes is the feature class. Over a track of 155 with a jump-off, 31 combinations will take on each other.&nbsp;
According to the EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre, two combinations are considered the top contenders. Max K&uuml;hner on Elektric Blue P and hometown hero Ben Maher on Faltic HB both have a 9% chance of claiming victory in the Pearl Stakes this afternoon. While Faltic HB will be making his first appearance at the five-star level in 2023, Elektric Blue P has already participated in three CSI5* events. With a clear rate of 66.7% thanks to two clear rounds, Elektric Blue P has proven his competence at that level. It's worth noting that Max K&uuml;hner and Elektric Blue P competed in this class last year and achieved a faultless performance, although they decided to skip the jump-off to preserve their energy for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Another hometown hero, Scott Brash, enters the competition with a 7% chance of winning aboard Hello Jefferson. Additionally, four other duos have a 6% chance each of securing victory this afternoon.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/50284930-c4fd-4b22-89a4-84ecf53b86b6?width=1520&amp;height=1544" alt="Jfi0z Span Style Font Size 100 the Top 10 Win Chances for the Pearl Stakes at Royal Windsor Horse Show" />
Click <a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a>to see the EquiRatings Jumping Prediction Centre for the Pearl Stakes at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cab9cf20-927d-448d-ae00-61cb1e729d87?width=1440&amp;height=1392" alt="F5g Ec Span Style Font Size 110 Two of the Top Three Rated Horses in the World Meet at Br Royal Windsor Horse Show" />

Faltic HB or Elektric Blue P: Who wins in Windsor today?

The Longines Global Champions Tour begins its first European event of the season this weekend at the esteemed Club de Campo in Madrid. As competitors gather on the beautiful grass field, which standout horse and rider pairs should you keep a close eye on?
<h3>The Favorite: Simon Delestre &amp; Cayman Jolly Jumper</h3>
The highest-rated horse in the LGCT field in Madrid this weekend is none other than the current leading 11-year-old in the world. Cayman Jolly Jumper has consistently delivered impressive performances at a high level and now boasts an Elo rating of 770. As the youngest horse in the top 10 highest-rated horses worldwide, Cayman Jolly Jumper maintains an 80% clear rate at 4* and 5* shows so far in 2023.
<h3>Hometown Hero: Eduardo Alvarez Aznar &amp; Bentley de Sury</h3>
With an Elo rating of 710, Bentley de Sury is the highest-rated Spanish horse in the competition. In their last appearance at the five-star level, this duo secured a second-place finish in the challenging LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach. This weekend, the hometown pair is sure to be particularly motivated to repeat or surpass that performance in front of the home crowd.
<h3>One to Watch: Pieter Devos &amp; MoM's Toupie de la Roque</h3>
This pair has made a significant impact in the 2023 season. MoM's Toupie de la Roque is the fourth-highest-rated horse competing in Madrid this weekend with an Elo rating of 751. They have already tackled nine 5* 160 classes and, thanks to seven clear rounds, maintain an impressive 77.8% clear rate at that level. Their performance surpasses the average for those courses, earning them a 4.3 on the CAS metric, better than any of their peers. Considering the current form of this duo, it would be unwise to overlook them.
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/0841b6b6-0480-416b-8806-705b7663a5e5?width=1440&amp;height=1298" alt="S K Po K These Are Top 10 Elo Rated Horses Heading to Lgct Madrid" />

Who are the Combinations to Catch at LGCT Madrid?

For the first time, San Juan Capistrano hosts a five-star Nations Cup event. Riders from across the globe travelled to California to represent the colours of their nation. Based on the EquiRatings data, these are the duos we think you should pay particular attention to.
<h3> The Favourite: McLain Ward &amp; Contagious</h3>
McLain Ward&rsquo;s Contagious comes into the CSIO5* competition in San Juan Capistrano as the highest-rated horse of the field with an Elo of 764. A venue that could very well suit this pair as they have proven time and time again to be hard to beat on a grass footing. Just last year, this duo won not one but two 160 classes on the prestigious grass arena of Aachen. This year too they are proving to be in god form, already having picked up a podium place in a CSI5* Grand Prix in Wellington in February.
<h3>Hometown Hero: Karl Cook &amp; Kalinka van 't Zorgvliet</h3>
Team USA is motivated to get their Olympic qualification and have selected a strong contingency to represent the star-spangled banner on the Nations Cup circuit this year. While McLain Ward &amp; Contagious enter as the highest-rated combination in the field, the second-highest rated is also a part of the US Team. Karl Cook&rsquo;s Kalinka van &lsquo;t Zorgvliet currently sports an Elo of 749 and is showing superb form so far this year. The pair maintain a 100% clear rate at 160 so far in 2023 over two rounds. This pair could become a valuable part of Team USA in the years to follow.
<h3>One to Watch: Conor Swail &amp; Count Me In</h3>
When this pair are on the startlist, you can be sure the competition will be fierce. This Irish pair is lightning fast and another with proven results on big grass arenas. The pair delivered a crucial double clear round on the homegrown Irish grass during the Nations Cup in Dublin, before jetting off to Calgary to claim the win over a 160 track. More recently though, the pair claimed their first Grand Prix victory of the year on the Derby Field in Wellington this February. Count Me In enters San Juan Capistrano on an Elo of 734, the third highest of the field.&nbsp;
<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/b850d4b7-4fcc-4985-9ae9-ddb99a5a3120?width=1440&amp;height=1350" alt="Xg Bhl These Are the Top 10 Elo Rated Horses for Csio5 San Juan Capistrano" />

Show jumping