After the third of the four qualification races held this season at Pardubice racecourse, 22 Czech- and Slovak-trained horses have fulfilled the entrance qualifications for the Velka Pardubicka, which is to be run on Sunday October 13th: Bodyguard, Bremen Plan, Broker, Budapest, Cabernet, Cim, Ilion, Imbir, Kasim, Klaus, Nikas, Orphee des Blins, Peintre Abstrait, Sauron, Sešlost, Status Quo, Tiumen, Tomis, Trezor, Valldemoso, Zagroškudla and Zarif

The conections of intended runners in the VP would have preferred their horses to be qualified by now, but there are still several options for the unqualified horses.They are required to complete any steeplechase of three miles or longer in Ireland, the UK or France, or any race in the Crystal Cup series, or there is the final qualification race at Pardubice on September 14th. Crystal Cup races at Waregem and Craon take place in the next two weeks, but it is not likely that this route to qualification will be used this year, and a long and expensive journey to an unfamiliar course in Ireland, the UK or France is not an attractive option. Most likely, however, some of the 21 locally-trained horses entered for the VP but not yet qualified will appear at Pardubice in mid-September.

Mr Yocker and Lingarry have failed to get round in both of the last two qualification races, and Nikan and Cantridara failed to get round on August 24th. None of these seem to have a chance on October 13th. More modest targets than the VP would be appropriate for most of the unqualified horses (and for several that are qualified).

Two horses trained by Cestmir Olehla might have a chance in the VP. Ronino, owned by Wrbna Racing, won the September qualification race last year, and went on the finish second in the VP. Cherwick, owned by Jiri Charvat, won the Labe Prize at the VP meeting last year, and is a very promising 6-y-o. Amaragon ran well to finish 2nd to Orphee des Blins on August 24th. Age of Jape won 12 races in succession on the flat, including the Czech triple crown and two Slovak classics, and since then he has won 6 out of 10 races over hurdles and fences. It is not at all clear that the VP is the right target for Age of Jape, but it is the declared aim, this year or next year, of his new owners.

Čmaňa, Marinus and Mlýn have fulfilled the qualifications, but are not entered. There is no logical reason why any of these three moderately good horses should be expensively supplemented.