April 18, 2024 
Few combinations are as exciting to watch in the ring as Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward.
But this week is exceptional even by their impossibly high standards.
After two rounds, the Swedish sensations aren’t just winning the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final. They’re dominating it.
von Eckermann and King Edward claimed their career first World Cup title in 2023, winning the first round and dropping a single rail each in the second and third rounds before delivering a clutch clear to clinch the victory in the fourth.
Defending their title in Riyadh this week, the world no. 1s have already improved their win chances over the year prior.
On Wednesday, they won the first round (again). This time by a full second over countryman Peder Fredricson and his 18-year-old SWB gelding Catch Me Not S.
On Thursday, they lengthened their lead on the Swede by a rail, topping a seven horse jump off. This time by over two seconds.
“It was a great feeling from the start to the end, both rounds,” said von Eckermann. “I couldn’t be more happy. The horse jumped fantastic. I actually rode also quite good for once. It was a good finish.”
In nine rounds at 1.60m this year, King Edward has a mind-blowing 89% clear round average, highlighted by five podium finishes and €444,640 in earnings (Jumpr). They haven’t finished outside the top 10 in a 1.60m class in 2024.
There are still two rounds of difficult jumping ahead in Saturday’s Final III and the Swedish rider is cautiously optimistic about the task ahead.
“So, so much can happen. But, if he keeps on jumping like this and I keep on riding like this, for sure it will look not so bad,” said von Eckermann.
You can bet he’ll be turning over every stone to make the win happen. The Olympic team gold medalist has continued to tweak his evolving brownband-less bridle on King Edward, adding a nose net since their last outing at the Dutch Masters.
“He’s very sensitive, like you [saw] in the prize giving—the blanket just came on his bum [and] he gets all excited and he gets a bit stressed from it. And he’s a little bit scratchy in his face. The net makes him a bit calm because it scratches a little bit and he plays with [it with] his nose.
“Everything you do, you try to find a way that the horse is just relaxed.”
The champion of the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping Word Cup Final will be crowned on Saturday. But all signs suggest he’s already wearing it…
