Twenty-one horses have been declared for the Velka Pardubicka, to be run on October 13^th. The Czech runners are more or less as expected. Ronino, Valldemoso and Bremen Plan were known not to be in prime shape, and their absence from the field is no surprise.

The main unexpected element is the number of runners that are trained abroad. No fewer than three of the declared horses are trained in Ireland by Enda Bolger: Zest for Life, as expected, and also Freneys Well and Mount Sion, both owned by J. P. McManus. As expected, Shalimar Fromentro, trained in the UK by Nick Williams, has been declared. Nick Williams is the leading trainer in the Crystal Cup series, of which the Velka Pardubicka is a part. Bodyguard is trained in Slovakia by Michal Rocak. When Tropic de Brion was entered, he was trained in France by Patrice Quinton, but now his trainer is given as Pavel Vrba.

Big fields have also been declared for all other races on VP day.

The time of the first race will be about 11.45 a.m., and the Velka Pardubicka will be the last of eight races, at 4.30 p.m.