The Longines FEI World Cup Final arrives in the heart of Paris

After taking place once before at the venue, in 1987, the World Cup Jumping Final is making its return to the multi-sports complex of Paris Bercy, renamed AccorHotels Arena at the end of 2015. The final highlight of the indoor circuit for this equestrian discipline, the championship will begin tonight at 8:30 p.m. with a speed class. More than three dozen riders, qualified after coming out on top of 16 leagues worldwide over 10 months of competition, will take to the course designed by chef de piste Santiago Varela.

Among those entered, the favourites have to be American McLain Ward and his mare HH Azur. Title holders since winning the Final last year in Omaha, Nebraska, the duo also was in the spotlight last night, with the elite bay being named best horse of 2017. Leader of the overall European league table, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann will also have a nice hand to play in Paris, with his consistent Mary Lou. The German veteran Marcus Ehning, three-time winner, can never be overlooked; nor can Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands, runner-up at the European Championships last summer in Gothenburg, Sweden (and winner almost everywhere else).

Michael and Robert Whitaker (with mounts El Wee Widge and JB’s Hot Stuff and Cash Sent and Catwalk IV respectively) are in the French capital representing Great Britain, while Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Mark McAuley (All Star 5 and Van Helsing, Miebello and Vivaldi du Theil) will also be going for the 2018 Show Jumping Final title.