THE five-star Saut Hermes show in Paris saw a very well-known list of horse and rider combinations taking part across the weekend and competition was fierce.

Friday saw the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding EIC Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco Blue (MECKL) x Celestial Up Too (ISH) by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN)), bred by Mark Sherry in Co Wicklow and ridden by Austria’s Max Kühner, finishing fifth in the five-star 1.50m speed class, with a clear round in 61.95 seconds.

The win went to Belgium’s Gilles Thomas on Qalista DN, who jumped clear in an unbeatable time of 59.82. Their nearest challenger was Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs on L&L Upgrade, who were over a second behind in 60.87.

On Saturday, Denis Lynch and Mr Boombastic placed ninth in the five-star 1.50m speed class, when they jumped clear in a time of 59.10 seconds. The class was won by Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano on Vasco 118 in a very fast time of 50.49.