Winners of two Crystal Cup races and nearly €1.15m in prize money have thrown their hats in the ring at the entry stage for the sixth leg of the pan-European cross country series on Monday November 11th, which promises a fascinating showdown.

The €57,000 listed contest runs over 5,400m (3m 2f & 85yds) in what is likely to be testing conditions with a thoroughly international field.

Winner of the Anjou-Loire Challenge, Ever Forget Me heads the entries for octogenarian owner Victor Blot and trainer Eric Leray. He’s run just once since that memorable May day, opening his autumn season at Saumur with a 16l fifth to Miss Laura, behind him at Lion d’Angers, but he may strip fitter for this. Eric Leray may also field Google de Loued, third in the same Grand Cross de Saumur in mid-October, in which Hemevoici was also behind. His jumping may be found wanting, as his form is peppered with F and U in between good performances.

Ever Forget Me shows a clean pair of heels to rivals in the Anjou-Loire Challenge in May ’24. Photo © JCB Photo

He meets Irish raider Roi Mage, winner of this race last year, and since winner of Craon’s listed Grand Cross Louis de Guebriant in early September, for whom this is a stepping stone to the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. He has the measure of Sweet David, well behind at Craon, on that most recent form, and is a fine illustration of a foreign trainer adopting the Crystal Cup. This looks a tougher contest than 12 months ago however.

Hector Lageneste and Guillaume Macaire are represented by improving 5 year old Fraga Has, most recently winner by a nose from Sweet David at Haras du Pin over this distance. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and is already a winner at a lower grade at Compiegne. The Haras du Pin race in mid-October was a first step up to the top level, and with a 2kg advantage over the first two, he may prove troublesome as he looks on the upgrade.

Hemevoici is entered by François Nicolle. The 7 year old was well beaten at Pau in February behind Hip Hop Conti, but has since won on this ground at Lignières in a leg of the Trophée Vert, before losing out to Miss Laura at Saumur in mid-October, a race in which Ever Forget Me was a further 5 1/2l further back in 5th.

Gabriel Leenders will likely choose between his two candidates, the 5 year old Sweet David and Gentilhomme, 3 years his senior. Sweet David was well beaten by Roi Mage at Craon, but lost nothing in defeat at Haras du Pin last month, just losing out to Fraga Has. He has every right to be in this field, and there will be plenty of other races for him to win, if not necessarily this one.

Gentilhomme, on the other hand, comes into this race on the back of a hat-trick of wins, most recently at Fontainebleau, in lower grade races. He would need to step up to be a factor despite his impressive form figures.

There’s a lot to like about Great du Large, from the Peltier stable. He was a close-up third in the Haras du Pin race won by Fraga Has, a close second in each of his three previous starts in Trophée Vert qualifiers at Granville, Vittel and Rostrennen, the middle of these by just a head. He is overdue a top cross country success.

Patrice Quinton has entered Winteriscoming, but even he might admit this looks a tall ask for a horse whose recent form has been a little in and out. There are more obvious candidates. the same can be said of Gumpchop, a 3/4l second to Miss Laura at Lion d’Angers in July, but pulled up in Fraga Has’ race at Haras du Pin most recently.

David Satalia’s Why is unproven over this distance, as is stablemate Jereviendrais.

Crystal Cup leader the Czech Josef Vana brings Beau Saonais to this race from promising runs at Merano and Wroclaw in previous legs of the challenge. Fourth at Wroclaw and second at Merano, he is capable of running a big race, as is Iceo Madrik from David Cottin’s, who fell in that Merano contest, but has since regained the winning feeling at Compiegne last month in heavy ground, with Why, Je Reviendrais and Gumpchop behind.

Eric Lecoiffier has entered two, being Silver Horse and Little Winner, but neither looks as if a step up in class will reap a result in this competitive field.

Of the remaining 3 Riskman hasn’t run since enjoying a good winter at Pau, and may need the run; Cote Fleurie is a second runner for Patrice Quinton, but hasn’t run for 12 months. His previous form at this level was respectable, whilst Ironie du Lac is held by Iceo Madrik on their run at Compiegne 2 weeks ago.

Final entries close on Thursday1130 EST.