AMARAGON, 11

žk. Pavel Složil ml.

70,0

Maxa-Nýznerov

ANGE GUARDIAN(GER), 8 j

ž. Jan Kratochvíl

70,0

Stáj Anděl strážný

HEGNUS, 8

ž. Jiří Kousek

70,0

Ševců

CHARME LOOK, 9

ž. Jan Faltejsek

70,0

Orling

NIKAS, 11

ž. Marek Stromský

70,0

Castor

PARETO, 9

ž. Jaroslav Myška

70,0

Wrbna Racing

PEINTRE ABSTRAIT(IRE), 10

ž. Lukáš Matuský

70,0

Elektromontáže Mička

PUNTARENAS, 10

ž. Josef Sovka

70,0

Nicole TJ Monty UH

RABBIT WELL(GB), 10 sj

ž. Josef Váňa ml.

70,0

Rabbit Trhový Štěpánov

REAPER(GER*), 7

žk. Jakub Spáčil

70,0

Wrbna Racing

RENDEZ VOUS, 7

Martin Liška

70,0

EŽ Praha a.s.

TEMPLÁŘ, 9

ž. Marcel Novák

70,0

Stáj Luka-trdelnik.com

TER MILL, 10

Jan Odložil

70,0

DS Malá Morávka

UNIVERSE OF GRACIE(GER), 11

Vlastislav Korytář

70,0

BORS Břeclav a.s.

ZARIF(IRE), 9

ž. Josef Bartoš

70,0

Köi Dent

Fifteen horses and their jockeys have been declared for the Velka Pardubicka, to be run on Sunday, October 9^th. Trainer Josef Váňa snr was happy that Zarif, to be ridden by Josef Bartoš, was drawn with his favourite number - number 1. He also has two other horses in the race: Rabbit Well (Josef Váňa, jnr) and Ange Guardian (Jan Kratochvíl). All three Váňa-trained horses will be well-fancied. Trainer Čestmír Olehla also has three declared runners, of which Hegnus (Jiří Kousek) probably has the best chance. Reaper, whose dam is Registana, will be ridden by Jakub Spačil, and Jaroslav Myška will be on Pareto.

Three other horses will be well backed. Nikas (Marek Stromský) was first past the post last year, but was later disqualified when banned substances were found in his test samples. Universe of Gracie, to be ridden by Vlastislav Korytář, finished 4th in VP 2014 and 3^rd in VP 2015. Last but not least, Charme Look, winner of the May qualification race, will be ridden by Jan Faltejsek, who rode Orphée des Blins to her three wins in the Velka Pardubicka (2013 – 2015).

At a press conference held at Hotel Paříž, in Prague, Josef Váňa snr, deputy president of the Jockey Club, president of the Czech Steeplechase Association, and holder of almost all records** for jockeys and trainers in the Velka Pardubicka, expressed regret that there are no foreign horses in this year’s Velka. Martin Korba, Pardubice racecourse manager since the beginning of this season, said that the new management team at Pardubice racecourse will be making efforts to attract foreign runners in future years.

** Ironically, Váňa, who rode Tiumen to victory in the race three times when he was in his late 50s, is not yet the oldest rider to win the race. He plans to put that right next year, when he will be just short of his 65^th birthday.