Pardubice, October 8th, 2017 – On heavy ground, happy winners emerged from a tough race. Twenty-six-year-old Jan Kratochvíl inscribed his name for the first time on the list of winning jockeys, and 8-y-o No Time To Lose produced a performance that pleased his trainer Josef Váňa senior. For Váňa, this was his 10th win as a trainer in the legendary race. Apart from the winner, the

No Time To Lose was the second best-backed of the fourVáňa-trained runners. Last year, he won the Vltava Stakes on VP day. This year, he had already taken 2nd place in two of the four qualification races that are held each year at Pardubice racecourse. The 8-y-o bay gelding was one of the obvious contenders for the big race this year.

“This is one of my dreams fulfilled, but I don’t think it is the end of the story. I’d like to win the race a few more times,”said smiling successful jockey Jan Kratochvíl.“There’s nothing better than this. Last year I said that winning the Grand Premio at Merano [on Váňa-trained Mazhilis] was fantastic, but that’s in another country. Our biggest race in the Czech Republic is the dream of every jockey here.”

Nineteen horses set off for the race, after the French connections scratched their most-fancied horse, Virtus d´Estruval, because of the health problems of their engaged jockey, Jan Faltejsek [severe back pains]. Jockey Lukáš Matuský had another unfortunate year as far as the Velka Pardubicka is concerned. For the third successive year, injury prevented him riding in the race, this year due to a fall earlier in the afternoon. Petr Tůma took the ride on Nikas. Pareto and Templář’s races came to an end at the Taxis, and at the next obstacle, another of the well-fancied French-trained runners, Songe d´Estruval, was eliminated. Several horses were subsequently pulled up in the heavy going, including last-year’s winner Charme Look and Czech racegoers’ favourite Nikas.

The third French-trained runner, Urgent de Gregaine, showed great strength. His jockey, Felix de Giles, let him go to the front as early as the Big Water Jump. He seemed to be heading for victory, but No Time To Lose got past him in the run in.“The French horse took quite a lead, but perhaps he was too bold. I’m happy that we were able to beat such a good French-trained horse,”Josef Váňa said. In the end, No Time To Lose won by one and a half lengths from Urgent de Gregaine, with Delight My Fire finishing eight lengths further back in third place.

“I’d like to thank Mr Váňa. I’d like to thank Team Váňa, including the stable staff, the grooms, Honzík [Kratochvíl], and Pepa [Váňa] … I think that the end of the race sums it all up,”owner Miloslav Gančárčík told journalists in the press conference after the race.

The only mare in this year’s VP, Delight My Fire, took third place behind No Time To Lose and Urgent de Gregaine. She has been picking up experience this year running abroad, including her second place in the Crystal Cup series race at Wroclaw. This was her first appearance in the Velka. Swedish jockey Niklas Lovén, who is her regular rider, rode her in another good performance.

Fourth and fifth places went to two other Váňa-trained horses, highly-experiened Zarif, ridden by two-time race winner Josef Bartoš, and Ange Guardian, which had appeared, until Havel’s Jump [fourth from home] to be the main challenger to Urgent de Gregaine. Lat year, Ange Guardian was ridden into second place in the VP by Jan Kratochvíl, but this year he was ridden by the trainer’s son, Josef Váňa junior.

The prizemoney for 6th and 7th places went to Universe of Gracie, ridden by Jiří Kousek, and Bridgeur, ridden by Jaroslav Myška. The only other finisher was Kasim, ridden by Marcel Novák.

127th running of the Velka Pardubicka, with Česká pojišťovna
Steeplechase crosscountry, kategorie: L, 6900m, 5.000.000 Kč

Non-runner: VIRTUS D`ESTRUVAL(FR)
Time: 09:39.98
Owner: DS Paragan, Trainer: Josef Váňa senior 

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For the Dostihový spolek web site. Translated by Robin Healey