The third of the four qualification races for the 2014 Velka Pardubicka was run in mild weather on good ground, after a useful rainfall on the previous day. The Czech media were interested mainly in Josef Váňa senior, who at the age of 61 got round safely in fourth place on Tiumen, after being off the pace for most of the race. There was also some media interest in Martina Růžičková, who is said to be 50 years old and to have shed 14 kg to ride in the race, on 12-y-o Rubín. Martina was unseated.

Those of us who focused on the race itself noted that only eight of the 16 runners got round and qualified for the VP. The winner was Kasim, owned and trained by Přemek Kejzlar, and ridden by Marcel Novák.

Kasim narrowly beat Gauner Danon after a battle, and then survived an objection for crossing. He did cross a bit, but I think he would have won anyway, and, in any case, the first past the post in a rough, tough long-distance cross-country race should not lightly lose the race in the stewards’ room. It is not flat racing, after all. The other VP qualifiers, in the order in which they finished, were Soros, Tiumen, Sherardo, Moula, Renard Argenté and Marinus. The favourite, Nikas, unseated his rider, but he had already qualified for the VP by winning the first qualification race, in May.

Cherwick, known to have problems with the Irish Bank, had been taken to Pardubice a day earlier to practice on that obstacle. However, in the race the horse scrambled up on to the top of the bank and was standing there, hesitating, when someone - presumably from the stable - appeared behind him at the top of the bank and gave him a whack on the rump with a strap. The horse responded by very promptly disappearing down the bank and unseating his jockey, Jaroslav Myška.

There is just one more meeting at Pardubice, on Saturday, September 13^th, before the Velka Pardubicka meeting, which will be held on October 11^th and 12^th. The main event will be the fourth VP qualification race.