The declared runners and riders for the Velka Pardubicka were announced on Wednesday, September 27^th. Three entered horses were not declared. French-trained Polinuit ran in the Gran Premio at Merano last weekend, instead of the Velka Pardubicka, and finished third. Gap Pierji, one of two entries owned by Scuderia Aichner, ran in the Crystal Cup race at Merano last weekend, and finished second. The other non-runner is outsider Paris Eiffel.

Top jockey Josef Bartoš broke a bone in a fall in the Gran Premio at Merano on L’Estran. The horse and jockey failed in their attempt to win this top race for the fifth year in succession. Bartoš and will miss the ride on Santa Klara, which will be Scuderia Aichner’s only runner in the Velka. He will be replaced by Jan Kratochvil. Jan Faltejsek, who missed the winning ride on First of All in the Gran Premio due to an injury, has been booked to ride Sacamiro in the Velka. He has good rides in all seven races on October 8th.

Last year’s VP winner, Mr Spex, will be ridden by long-time champion Irish amateur rider Patrick Mullins. Last year, Mr Spex  was  ridden in the Velka by Lukáš Matuský, who is without a ride in this year’s Velka. French jockey Ludovic Solignac, who rode Imphal in the September qualification race, will ride him again in the Velka.

The two horses trained in Ireland by Peter Maher have been declared to run. Jet Fighter will be ridden by Irish jockey Sean O’Keeffe, and Czech jockey Petr Tůma will be on Alpha Male.