January 25, 2026 
Julien Epaillard’s jump-off strategy with Donatello D’Auge in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Amsterdam was the same one the flying frenchman routinely—and reliably—executes: “start fast and after go quicker!”
Because when Epaillard is in a jump off, you know he’s going for the win—and few riders make scaling 1.60m fences at breakneck speeds look so effortless. So forward. So flowing. So fast.
It’s the kind of riding that inspires standing ovations. Like they did in Amsterdam. It’s the kind of riding that puts them consistently atop five-star podiums. Like they did at Mechelen, Basel and Amsterdam—all in the past 30 days.
Epaillard and his 13-year-old homebred gelding (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) haven’t finished outside the top 10 in their past three World Cup qualifier appearances.
They were 6th in the World Cup at Mechelen at the end of December (and won a 1.50m Table A that same week). They were 5th in the qualifier at Basel last week (and 2nd in the Longines Grand Prix). And they topped a 12-horse jump off to win the qualifier in Amsterdam on Sunday—by nearly two seconds. Prompting the aforementioned standing applause in the prize giving.
“The Dutch people know a lot about horses and Dutch athletes are super level, so it’s always good for me to come here and see if I’m in a good way or in the wrong way!” said Epaillard.
As the 2025 World Cup champion Epaillard is already assured a spot at the Final in Fort Worth, Texas this April. But if there were any doubts on whether he and Donatello D’Auge are primed to defend their title, he currently sits atop the Western European League standings, with three legs remaining.
The World Cup next heads to Bordeaux (FRA) for leg 11 of the Western European League on January 25, 2026.
Tickets for the 2026 Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, this April 8–12 are on sale now at fortworth2026.com.
