Only a total of 5 steeplechases, hurdles races and crosscountry steeplechases were run in the Czech Republic in the six-month period prior to May 1st when, all of a sudden, eight jumps races were run at Pardubice. After a five-week period of hot weather and no rain, the going was firm (official going, 3.0 good) and clouds of sand and dust rose up whenever the horses crossed the ploughed fields that are, for better or for worse, a feature of Pardubice racecourse. No-one could remember quite such dry conditions at Pardubice on the May 8^th public holiday commemorating Victory in Europe day. For us spectators, it was a pleasantly warm afternoon.

There were two Category I races, both of which had attracted high-quality fields. The classical steeplechase over 3 900 metres was won by Mustamir, trained by František Holcák, ridden by Marek Stromský, after a battle with Aztek. The Opening Crosscountry, over 5 200 metres, was won by 7-y-o mare Izynka, trained by Čestmír Olehla, ridden by Lukáš Matuský, from Wild Danger, with good horses like past Velka Pardubice winners Charme Look and Ribelino, and also Vicody, Universe of Gracie and Ter Mill, further back. Sergeant Thunder, which had been unbeaten in five races since coming to František Holcák’s yard two years ago, was pulled up rather abruptly, and may have a problem. Sergeant Thunder won both of the two big chases at Wroclaw in 2016, the Crystal Cup race and the Wielka Wroclawska, so let us hope he is OK. The plan was to prepare him for the Velka Pardubicka this year.

Brog Deas, our best young hurdler in 2014 and a top classical steeplechaser in 2016, missed the 2015 and 2017 seasons, and made a comeback in a Category IV hurdle race. He finished only third, and appeared to my inexpert eye to finish lame.

Further steeplechase meetings at Pardubice this season will be run on

Saturday, May 26^th, First VP qualification race

Saturday, June 9^th, Gold Cup classical steeplechase

Saturday, June 23^rd, Second VP qualification race

Saturday, August 18^th, Third VP qualification race

Saturday, September 8^th, Fourth VP qualification race

Saturday, October 13^th First day of the Steeplechase Festival

Sunday, October 14^th Velka Pardubicka day

Saturday, October 27^th, Final race day for 2018

This year, the race meetings at Pardubice will have the first race at 2 pm. For the meetings in October, the first races will be much earlier – the first race on Velka Pardubicka day is normally at about 11.15 a.m.

Racecourse manager Martin Korba has stated that the Saturday meeting before Velka Pardubicka day is to be a part of a two-day festival meeting this year. A big classical steeplechase is to be the main event on the Saturday afternoon, but I understand that a sponsor for this race is still being sought.