The Irish rider, Daniel Coyle, won the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen in memory of Landrat Hermann-Josef Pütz, a 1.50-metre jumping competition in two phases on Wednesday afternoon – which came as no surprise to him.

After all, Daniel Coyle had saddled his best horse, Legacy by Chippendale Z. His 13-year-old Zangersheider-bred mare by Chippendale Z already proved that she is in top form last weekend in Rotterdam, when she came second in the Grand Prix. Today, there was no beating her. She sped around the second phase in the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen in 29.53 seconds and left France’s Simon Delestre with the KWPN stallion I Amelusina R (30.14) and the Colombian rider, Roberto Teran Tafur, with the Irish mare BP Wakita (30.74) in second and third place behind her. Daniel Coyle: “If I ride well, she jumps good. So, the pressure predominantly lies on me. But that is how it should be.”

Incidentally, it is the Irish rider’s first time in Aachen. “All of my friends were already here, at least to watch. I haven’t even been here as a spectator before. They always told me that it is a super show. But we visit so many fantastic shows that you don’t ever think you will be that impressed when you come somewhere new. But they have everything you can possibly imagine here: Wow!”

However, he is not placing his bets on Legacy for the Grand Prix, but on a young horse instead. “Normally I’d ride her in the Grand Prix, but not this week. I have a new horse that I want to bring on up to her level. That is why I will compete with him on Sunday. I hope that works out and he goes well. I haven’t had him long, only for six months. But he is making very promising developments.” He is talking about the 12-year-old KWPN stallion, Gisborne VDL by Zirocco Blue. What Coyle didn’t mention: He has already jumped clear with the grey several times in the Nations’ Cup for the Irish team. So, he has plenty of reasons for looking optimistically ahead to Sunday.