CURRENT European Champions Richard Vogel and United Touch S swooped at the Longines CHI Classics Basel to win the eighth qualifying round of the season.

It was a masterclass performance in a world-class field, which included runners-up Kim Emmen, Martin Fuchs and another reigning champion in the 2025 World Cup winner, Julien Epaillard.

Last year, the French pair had the perfect dress rehearsal in the St Jakobshalle arena, winning both qualifier and returning for a World Cup final victory in April.

One of 17 four-fault performances in the opening round, Ireland’s Jessica Burke and Erica Nicholas’ Good Star du Bary (Rock’n Roll Semilly x Oberon du Moulin) finished 11th. However, she picked up six valuable points, currently placing her 14th in the Western European qualifier standings.

Seven clear rounds went through to the jump-off, where just three more clears - one less than the 2025 jump-off - were recorded. The sensational United Touch S (Untouched x Lux Z) added to Vogel’s three other Basel wins with Diamant de Casall and Phenyo van het Keysersbos, after a flying turn back to the wall clocked an unbeatable time of 40.12 seconds.

Richard Vogel and United Touch S greet some of their Basel fan club after their World Cup qualifier victory at Basel \ Longines CHI Classics Basel 2026/Katja Stuppia

Kim Emmen and Imagine N.O.P (Cassini Gold x Lord Z) couldn’t quite catch that (41.55), but added this second place to a brilliant Longines Grand Prix win on Friday night. The Grand Prix runner-up was Basel specialist Donatello d’Auge and Julien Epaillard.

The World Cup qualifier third place went to Norway’s Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen with Equine America Harwich VDL (Arezzo VDL x Darco), despite losing his reins in the jump-off.

Fourth was home crowd favourite Martin Fuchs and L&L Lorde (Clyde LVB Z x Elan de la Cour), fastest of the four-faulters, although their time (40.43) still wouldn’t have overtaken Vogel.

Joanne Sloan-Allen’s home-bred Oscar-A (Harley x Cardento) and Sameh El Dahan finished with eight faults in the qualifier’s first round.

The 2026 final in Texas is not Vogel’s main target this year, with the World Equestrian Games being held on home ground in Aachen.

“It’s a very special feeling. I’m very spoiled as a rider to have a horse like him, he’s out of this world,” Richard told The Irish Field afterwards. “I’m from Mannheim, over the German border, so there’s lots of family and friends here to support me, which makes this win even more special.”

An unfortunate two time faults in the first round kept Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights (Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure) out of Friday night’s Grand Prix jump-off.

The third Irish rider in action at Basel was Marta Hughes-Bravo who competed in the under 25s classes with the homebred veteran HHS Figero (Guidam x Cavalier Royale).

The World Cup points hunt continues this weekend in Leipzig, followed by Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Gothenburg and Helsinki before the final takes place in Fort Worth (April 8-12th).

After his Basel victory, Richard Vogel (56 points) takes over the lead in the Western European league, ahead of Willem Greve (52) and Julien Epaillard (46).

Basel briefs

  • Swiss riders wore black armbands and a minute’s silence was held on the show’s opening night for the victims of the recent Crans-Montana nightclub fire.
  • Dressage was the other World Cup qualifier held at Basel. Isabell Werth won Friday’s Grand Prix and the following day’s Freestyle with Wendy de Fontaine, also targeted at WEG in Aachen. Should Werth qualify for her 27th World Cup final appearance, DSP Quantaz is her pick.

    • A Swiss Star is born: Charlotta Rogerson and Bonheur de la Vie delight the Basel home crowd \ Longines CHI Classics Basel 2026/Katja Stuppia

  • A new Swiss dressage star appeared on the scene at Basel, with Charlotta Rogerson and Bonheur de la Vie’s elegant tests placing them second on both days.
  • Julien Epaillard loaned Richard Vogel a different hackamore before the Grand Prix. “He thought United might feel a bit more comfortable in it. When I came out of the arena on Friday, he immediately said, ‘See, he feels more comfortable, and we’ll meet in the jump-off on Sunday’. I’m obviously happy that I won today, but also very grateful for Julien’s help.”
  • Linda Southern-Heathcott (Award of Honour), Steve Guerdat (Swiss rider of the year) and Connor Jei’s owner Adolfo Juri (Owner of the year) were amongst those honoured in the atmospheric arena. There was also a special presentation on his birthday of a bench to Thomas Fuchs (Martin’s father) for his contribution as Swiss team trainer.
  • The 2028 World Cup final returns to Basel.
  • Joanne Sloan-Allen’s Suma’s Zorro previously competed at Basel and is currently on her winter holidays in Normandy.
  • Course design team? The renowned pair of Gérard Lachat (SUI) and Gregory Bodo (FRA).

    • What they said

    “It was my first time to Basel, an amazing show and another beautiful city. My horse [Good Star du Bary] is fantastic. I think he’s really making a name for himself, especially this year on the World Cup circuit.

    “A little bit frustrating with the four faults, but, at the same time, he’s so consistent. He’s like so close to being clear every day. I just feel like we need to ride the wave and it looks like our day is going to come.

    “We’ll have a little rest for a few weeks before we do Bordeaux and Gothenburg. The plan is to qualify for the World Cup finals. We’re very much looking forward to Texas and that’s the goal for the moment.”

    Jessica Burke.

    “Your eyes are wide open when you come to these shows, there’s so much history behind them and it’s a great opportunity to compete here.”

    Sameh El Dahan.

    “It’s a dream come true and I still need to pinch myself sometimes. It’s very, very special to be second behind Isabell [Werth]! Not long ago, I was a pony rider and admiring her. I still am and now I’m next to her.”

    Charlotta Rogerson on being seated next to her childhood heroine at the prize winners’ press conference.

    ‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award. My thanks go to Dr Straumann and the entire CHI organisation - this is a wonderful event. I would like to thank my husband Tom for his support.

    Linda Southern-Heathcott, Spruce Meadows.

    “I use Basel specifically if I’m targeting the World Cup finals. Straight away, you know, there’s no messing around, there’s nowhere to hide here. It’s a serious show, as you saw in the results. From Thursday’s speed class, Friday’s Grand Prix, Saturday night’s Championat and the World Cup qualifier, there was always just a handful of six to eight clears.

    “Brooklyn Heights’ last run was London. He had a couple of easy weeks, so that kind of explains the seventh place [Grand Prix] and also that indoor is not very forgiving. If you’re a fraction off, you’re banjaxed!

    “He ran well on Friday [Grand Prix], but I didn’t get him settled from fence two to three and he can do that sometimes. I kept him as comfortable as possible to bring him home for Sunday.

    “The time is also a major factor of a classical class - a Grand Prix, a World Cup qualifier or so on. It has to be down to height, width and technicalities. On Sunday, the time was very fair, okay, there was two extra jumps, but the time was still fair, he [course designer] gave me time to jump the jumps.”

    Denis Lynch.

    “Uh oh”

    Basel commentator’s reaction to Brooklyn Heights’ two time penalties in the Grand Prix first round.