Today’s 77^th running of the Gran Premio at Merano produced a Czech-trained winner. Trainer Josef Váňa  won the biggest Italian steeplechase for the third time, but this time not with Alpha Two, winner of the race in 2013 and 2014. This time the winner was Mazhilis, having his first run in the Gran Premio. Running in the Köi Dent (Ivo Köhler) colours and ridden by Jan Kratochvíl, the horse dominated the race, with prizemoney of EUR 250 000, finishing ahead of French-trained favourite Allen Voran and Irish-trained challenger Alelchi Inois. Fourth place went to Váňa-trained Fafintadenient, which was followed home by a third Váňa-trained runner, Alcydon Fan.