After winning a race at Pardubice on Saturday on Avec Charme, and then winning the main steeplechase at Netolice on Step Dancer on Sunday, Jan Kratochvíl took a bad fall, broke a thigh and was transported to hospital by helicopter. Kratochvíl is well ahead at the top of our jumps jockeys’ championship, and of course he will be keen to get back into the saddle before the end of our season, and to ensure that he ends 2015 as our champion.

With his first jockey, Josef Váňa jnr, only just recovering from a broken ankle, and his second rider now doubtful for the Velka Pardubicka, the perennial question must arise: Who will now ride the horses trained by Josef Váňa snr, above all in the Velka Pardubicka?