ENGLISH VERSION ing display at Cheltenham in November 2024, he had been out with injury for nearly two years and was given a prep run over hurdles at Sennones where he finished 3 rd. It’ s the cross country sphere where we see him thrive and it’ ll be no surprise to see him back at Cheltenham with surely the march showpiece as his main target. Moving back further East, the crystal cup moved to Merano and the prize money on offer over the two days brought a lot of horses over for the two day festival. The group one chase saw a lot of horses from France including last year ' s winner speed emile representing the macaire and lageneste duo. Unlike last year where he won at waregem on route to victory in merano, they chose to skip the Belgique show piece and head straight to Italy which nearly paid off but it was the new trainer who’ s been making huge waves in France Mickel Seror who came and spoilt the party under young jockey Joel Phillippe. Jour Polaire was seen third finishing in a 3 rd in the listed clairefontaine chase but he took to Merano like a duck to water and was given a brilliant ride by young Phillippe who is really coming of age and didn’ t make a mistake when giving himself, the horse and his boss Seror their first grade one winner. It certainly won’ t be a day they will forget in a hurry. The final crystal cup race to have happened up until the day of writing this is the most fearsome of all the cup races and that ' s the Velka Pardubice. Four and a quarter miles in the Czech countryside through plow fields and over the infamous taxi fences demands something that no horse and jockey can train for. It ' s a race you go all in for and only ten lined up for it this year unfortunately but the 80,000 euro prize to the winner should bring more contestants to the contest in the future. Last year something had never been done before and history was made when Gavin Cromwell sent over Stumptown to give Ireland a first win in the race. If it aint broke dont fix it was surely their motto again when their Cheltenham cross country winner from March Final orders took stumptowns place in the lorry for the long journey over this year. He had some boots to fill to follow Stumptown and try and provide the best cross country jockey in the uk and Ireland Keith Donoghue with a second win in the race. Big boots he had to fill, and fill them he did as Final Orders and Donoghue denied Jan Faltezek a record breaking 8 th win in the race by fending off Godfrey the 2024 winner by half a length. It’ s a race that is 136 years old and it’ s one that I hope to continue for another 136 years. Looking ahead to the big weekend now in Auteuil where 5 group one races are staged over the weekend and provides match ups and battles that are hard to find anywhere else in the racing world. My favourite race is the group one for three year olds the prix Cambaceres and it looks like it’ ll be heading in the direction of Mr Papot but with which horse it is hard to say. Huron Bleu was undefeated and his size and stature was as large as his reputation coming into his last outing the Prix Georges de Talhouet-roy. He was however going up against his stable mate and unexposed Varsovie who won impressively the time before. With Huron Bleu carrying 3kg more on this occasion Varsovie quickened up on the standside rail and won by 3.5 lengths to King Dalee 6 lengths further back in 3 rd. It certainly wet my appetite for the rematch. Next up would be the group one for four year olds over hurdles. Leopard du berlais surely has the talent to win this based on last years undefeated season but its all fallen apart this year so possibly disregard him at your peril but don’ t be surprised if he flops either. Guadalquivir is the Zarak colt going in to the race having won the prix de maisons laffitte group three prep race last time out beating the best four year filly in France Delmegan by 7 lengths and that was after his summer break. Imagine what he will do with a run under his belt now, and does a career at stud now beckon? It will do if he wins on the 15 th of November. Another filly to take note of is Edmura for Robert collet, if she can stay on her feet she’ ll be dangerous and you cannot discount current champion trainer Seror with his two fillies,
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