First race

This is our championship race for 3-y-o hurdlers, over 3200 metres. 3-y-o hurdles races are not for elite horses, and I don’t think we have any outstanding Czech-trained prospects here. Polish-trained SPRING won quite well here in July. Sundara finished second here in August.

Second race

This is our all-age hurdles championship, over 4100 metres, and is quite an attractive and decent quality race. Slovak-trained Luminator won this race in style last year. SOKOL and Khalshani have been leading hurdlers/classical chasers over easy fences for some time. Barateus has a good record on the flat, and has taken well to hurdling. Atack was very useful on the flat, and shows signs that he could be very useful over fences.

Third race

The Czech Steeplechase Association Cup, crosscountry, is for 4-y-os over 4500 metres. Again, elite horses are not necessarily prepared for a race like this, when they are 4-y-os, and there does not seem to be anything outstanding in this field. Barakin won small races here in August and in September. Al Bustan and MODERATOR were not far behind him in August, and Moderator’s win in June was quite promising.

Fourth race

The Vltava Prize is a prestigious crosscountry race over 4500 metres. There are twenty, and a lot of them have a chance. NATALIE won the Czech Steeplechase Association Cup here a year ago, and won well here in August. Quatiki has won here three times this year, though not against top opposition. Registana’s son, Reaper and Zugor have some good form behind them. Plenty of others are useful enough to have a chance here.

Fifth race

The Popler Memorial is a crosscountry sprint, over 3200 metres. SHAMAN won the trial race here in September, and can win again today. Swedish-trained Silk Drum did well to finish 3^rd on an unfamiliar course in that race. Ursan was a major force in 2011, and is still a good and consistent horse.

Sixth race

The Labe Prize is a crosscountry chase over 5200 metres, and is mainly regarded as a stepping stone for younger horses not yet ready for the Velka Pardubicka. This year there are some quite promising runners. MODENA, Sheron and Goscater have competed against each other a few times, without deciding conclusively which of the three is best. Hinton produced a couple of good performances before failing to get round in the September VP qualification race.     

 Seventh race

Oh dear, the Silver Trophy, over 4400 metres on the classical steeplechase circuit is supposed to be one of our top races of the year, and we had hoped to see Brog Deas, which has made a big impression here after arriving from Ireland for this season, run against decent opposition. However, Brog Deas was not declared to run, and we are left with these six. GEJZIR will surely win very easily. Fafintadenient used to be a top chaser in Italy, but he took a scary fall here in August, and was then pulled up at Merano in the Gran Premio. No Time to Lose should be able to pick up some very easy place money. The other three are no good.  

Eighth race

The Velka Pardubicka, crosscountry, 6900 metres. Is dealt with elsewhere.