Rare among international races nowadays, the final declarations for the 136th Velka Pardubicka, sponsored by Slavia Insurance, are concluded, including jockey bookings, for the race that is to Czechs what the Melbourne Cup is to Australia. The date of Sunday October 11th is a marquee day in the Czech racing calendar.

Just one withdrawal has taken place since entries were made, Zarate not making the cut, leaving 10 runners, comprising 8 Czech-trained, one Irish and a rare French challenger.

Cheltenham Festival winner Final Orders will be sent off a warm favourite for the race, but a partisan home crowd would likely prefer 2024 dead-heat victor Godfrey to prevent a second consecutive Irish victory. Godfrey is well fancied, with a focused preparation that culminated successfully with success in one of the qualifying races here at Pardubice in early September. Jan Faltejsek takes the ride for Dalibor Török in preference to 2023 winner Sacamiro, still in good form at 13, in pursuit of his ninth Velka.

Sacamiro’s trainer, Eva Petříková told a press conference at the famous Karlova Koruna castle, “He is easy to ride, he is a horse for a sensitive rider.” Hence her booking of Lenka Neprašová, the only woman rider in the field. She’s also a rare commodity in a country short of jockeys – a highly successful woman rider, with a career 61 winner from just under 350 rides. Sacamiro is nevertheless a fancy largely for the romantics in the crowd; without a win for 3 years, this would be a big turnaround at the highest level to win here.

Godfrey’s half-brother High In The Sky will also represent Dalibor Török. Rider Ondřej Velek, yet to win Czechia’s marquee steeplechase, remarked, “I’m sorry about the injury to Fort Medoc because he has really great potential. But High In the Sky also has a great chance and I’m grateful for the ride.” High In The Sky is held on September form against Angkor Wat and Godfrey.

Jockey Adam Čmiel will fancy his chances on 2025 third Čáryjape, but he too will need to improve on an August event where he was well behind Aaraucarias and Greek Dessert. The latter is one of 2 rides during the afternoon for James Best, both for Czech Jockey Club chairman Jiří Charvát.

Best has an enviable record in the Velka, with a 4th, 5th and 6th place among his 5 rides to date. He came by the ride on Greek Dessert through bloodstock agent Jacob Pritchard-Webb, in last year’s supporting card, when Keith Donoghue became unavailable. Of Greek Dessert, Best remarked, “He gave me a good spin last year, and jumps well, although we’ve all still got to cross the Taxis! With just 10 runners, there should be plenty of space. He only gives what you ask of him, but I’m looking forward to the ride. I love the race.”

The springer in the pack may be the French challenger, Hard Roc de Kerser, all the way from the Normandy base of Patrice Quinton. Broadly adjudged the master of the cross country scene at home, Quinton will have good reasons to send the 9 year old on the 1,500km  trip to Pardubice. His French form has not been outstanding – winnerless in 2026 – but Quinton is not to be underestimated, and he brings Jean Stephane Lebrun, sporting 10 winners from his 101 rides this year to date.

For a complete list of runners click here.