Jan Kratochvíl is probably still only number two jockey for the Josef Váňa stable. However, he has been our champion jumps jockey for the last two seasons. He rode Mazhilis to victory in the Gran Premio at Merano last September. And on Monday at Lysá nad Labem he became the first jockey in the 55 years of the race to win the Category I First of May Steeplechase at four years in succession.

Lysá attracted a large crowd on a dry cool sunny public holiday. The main race was won easily by Theophilos, which seems to be developing into yet another good Váňa-trained chaser. The connections think he may be a suitable horse for the Velka Pardubicka.¨

Theophilos won by 7 lengths from four horses that put in a decent performance in their opening appearance of the season, and finished within a length or two of each other: Napastnik, Al Bustan, Rockinger and Pareto.