ENGLISH TEXTS however is no mere replacement, and he got the job done comfortably by beating new young pretender Interdit de jeu by half a length. Going into this season it was Hip Hop Conti who had three wins to Saint Godfrey’ s two when they met head-to-head. It was the elder however Saint Godefroy who had the bragging rights afterwards and the contest didn’ t disappoint. De Giles was back on board his old ally and they made their intentions clear right from the get go taking off in front and never making a mistake. It was majestic to watch, these two titans battling out over the huge obstacles like a pair of cats chasing their prey in the wild. Hip hop was never off Saint Godefroy’ s tails and no inches was given, I’ m sure the jockeys instructions was“ give no quarter” and they were both textbook when doing so. It turned in to a sprint at the finish and over the trip of 5000 meters Saint Godefroy still had the legs to hold on. With a month to go all anyone could think about was who would turn up and win the big one. With an Injury to Lefebvre, it was James Reveley back on board his old Pal Hip Hop Conti who’ d he ridden to two victories earlier on in his career but lost the ride due to injury to Clement. Ironic how these things end up working out. History was made and Hip Hop Conti can count himself as a cross country great as he donned the winner’ s enclosure for the third time in a row in this prestig-
ious race. He attacked his fences and got better and better throughout the race and showed his greatest strength his ability to sprint and stay.
After Pau that left only four Crystal Cup races left. First, they went back to Cheltenham as previously mentioned which led to Stumptown taking the winning honors. From Cheltenham then back to France for the remaining two races and it’ s within the forest of Fontainebleau where the Crystal Cup train arrives. One of the oldest racecourses in France starting under the rein of king louis 16 th, in 1776. Also known as the hippodrome de la sole its set deep in hunting countryside due to the expanse of the forest it provides a wonderful spectacle as the horses run through the middle jumping the large banks. A mixture of some tight turns and galloping aspects makes it’ s a unique course. A field of 12 took their chances including some our old favorites; Roi Mage, Ever forget Me and Gamsoul along with the younger brigade of Iceo Madrik and Fraga has. The two top contenders however were Gentilhomme who disappointed in Compiegne but won the prep race on his next start and Ici Avrilly who put in a huge performance to split Hip Hop Conti and Saint Godefroy in the Pau Crystal Cup race. Having a slightly easier winter Gentilhomme stormed to victory for that duo again Gabriel
Leenders and Felix De Giles by 6 lengths to Ici Avrilly and Gamsoul filling the placings.
Since 2016 there had only been 11 Crystal Cup races as the Le Touche cup in Punchestown was no longer on the calendar. Thankfully to the delight of many it had been reintroduced as a Crystal Cup race and this year it didn’ t disappoint. Vaniller a former Liverpool grand national second was the favorite, and you could see why. The four-mile one furlong contest with 31 obstacles, would be straight up this street and his trainer Gavin Cromwell had already dominated the cross-country scene in Cheltenham with stable mate Stumptown. Vaniller had the best cross-country jockey on board too with Cromwell securing Keith Donoghue services and they made their intentions clear from the flag fall by making the running. The script doesn’ t always get written how you think it would and a gasp from the crowd at the 12 th fence told us that the intended plot had been spoiled. Vaniller unseats Donoghue leaving Busselton in the lead and the rest they say is history. Busselton had written and read his own script taking the race by the horns and put his name on the La Touche cup trophy by winning with a margin of only three quarters of a length. This victory means you can upgrade Stumptown performances too as he had beaten Bussel-
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