Willem Greve Gallops for the Gold in the Grand Palais Prize CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 2026-03-21

Paris, France – March 20, 2026 – The finest riders and horses in the world sprang into action this Friday beneath the magnificent glass roof of the Grand Palais for the 16th edition of the Saut Hermès CSI 5*. Enjoying the same sense of wonder, sixty-one riders from 18 countries and 20 young talents aged under 25 took part in the first of three days of competition in Paris, at the foot of the Champs-Élysées.

The event began with the Prix du Grand Palais, which saw victory go to Dutch rider Willem Greve (NED), the first champion of this 2026 edition.

**Willem Greve** (NED) & **Candy Luck Z**

At the peak of fitness throughout the past winter, with three victories to his credit on the World Cup circuit, Dutch rider Willem Greve (NED) took the win in the Prix du Grand Palais, a two-phase event with jumps set at 1.45m, featuring 48 rider combinations at the start. On the course created by Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres (ESP), assisted by Frenchman Grégory Bodo (FRA), the pairing from the Paris Olympics 2024, Willem Greve riding Candy Luck Z, an 11-year-old mare, ranked No.24 in the world, absolutely breezed through the class and the very tricky double fence marking the end of the course in particular.

“It’s obviously the best way to kick off the competition, gushed the Dutchman. I just hope that things will end on a high on Sunday too. My mare is very quick and a wonderful ride. I competed at the Grand Palais Éphémère twice but it’s my first time on this course under the glass roof. It’s simply incredible. You can sense the weight of history. It’s really very special.”

**Julien Gonin** (FRA) & **Flam de La Chatelaine**

Second, just 17 hundredths of a second behind with Flam de La Chatelaine, an 11-year-old stallion, Frenchman Julien Gonin (FRA) was also beaming from ear to ear. “I’m happy! I’ve only had this horse for eleven months! Who would have thought it? He stepped up to the plate once again and I’m very proud of him. It’s really great and it’s an ideal way to start the competition.”