The autumn part of the horseracing season at Prague Velká Chuchle has offered an unusally high number of major races for good prizemoney, and there are two more to come this Sunday, October 25th. The first edition of the Agrofert Velká Národní (Grand National) Steeplechase will be run for the Josef Váňa Cup, and for prizemoney of one million Czech crowns (EUR 38 000).

Martin Zoubek, president of Dostíhový Klub Josefa Váni, set about honouring Czech horseracing’s greatest personality by consolidating the series of classical steeplechases that carries Josef Váňa’s name. He had found an attractive and promising partner in Agrofert, the biggest agro-business company in the Czech Republic. Agrofert has naming rights for Pardubice Racecourse. The company’s founder, Andrej Babiš, also set up the ANO political movement, which achieved majorsuccess in the last national election, with significant help from an enthusiastic endorsement by Josef Váňa, and Andrej Babiš is now the Czech Minister of Finance and leader of the second largest party in the governing coalition.

Josef Váňa advised on the design of the standard steeplechase fences, which will be put up on the hurdles course. There will be 13 identical fences, which have been manufactured here, and the end of the race will be on the finishing straight of the flat course.

The race has attracted just seven declared runners, but it is an interesting field. Two of the runners, the favourite Fafintadenient and also Mazhilis, are trained by Josef Váňa. The two other Czech-trained horses both have to be beaten. Gejzir is well established as one of our leading oval track chasers, and Čáriray won the main hurdles race at the recent Velka Pardubicka meeting. Then, there are two horses, Stromberg and Jupiter, trained in Germany by Oliver Schnakenberg. Last but not least, Moss Cloud is coming from Sweden. This horse is trained by Dennis Persson and will be ridden by Henrik Engblom. Last weekend, Moss Cloud and Henrik Engblom won the last steeplechase ever to be run at Täby racecourse in Stockholm. In has been suggested that they will be the first Swedish horse and rider to appear in the suburbs of Prague since the Thirty Years war, and they will receive a much friendlier welcome than their Swedish forefathers.

Also on Sunday at Prague Velká Chuchle, the 95th Moser President of the Republic Stakes will be run. Unfortunately, the present president of the Republic, Miloš Zeman, has shown no interest in supporting his race. The race is over 3200 metres, on the flat, and has attracted 14 runners. Aztek, Amga River and Always on Sunday will be well fancied.

On Saturday, October 24th, the final meeting of the season at Pardubice will be held. This is quite a modest day of steeplechasing, but the Czech Insurance Agency Stakes, Category II, crosscountry, 4200 metres, has attracted an interesting field, including some horses that made an early exit at the VP meeting. Perhaps Love the Win, which dug his heels in and refused to start on October 11th, will be well rested and ready to do well this weekend.

On Wednesday, October 28th, which is a national holiday, the Velká Šlusovická Steeplechase has received some good sponsorship this year from Mercedes-Benz. Trezor is entered, as are three non-finishers in the Velka Pardubicka: Sherardo, Ter Mill and Gauner Danon.

The meetings at Pardubice and at Prague Velka Chuchle both have their first race at 12 midday. There is plenty of shelter at both of these courses, so a chilly afternoon would be no excuse for missing the races.

After this weekend and the national holiday, the Czech racing season will be approaching its end. The only remaining meetings will be at Benešov on Saturday, October 31st and at Kolesa, on Saturday, November 7^th.