A maximum of 14 will go to post for the finale of this year’s Crystal Cup at Lion d’Angers next Thursday, with an all-French field littered with previous winners of France’s longest race.

The popular 7,300m (4m 4f) cross country is a feature of Lion d’Angers’ annual calendar, and with good reason. The € 95,000 prize for this listed chase is € 40,000 more than the standard return for listed races, and the unique range of obstacles requires a versatile performer, and not merely a dour stayer.

Patrice Quinton has entered four, and whilst he has a choice of entries, the first two from 2025 will be at the top of many lists to repeat the exercise. In that instance 12 months ago, Gold Allen had 10l to spare over Shawinigan, and the choice of stable jockey Clement Lefebvre will be a good guide to their respective chances.

Quinton’s other entries include the seven year old Captain du Berlais, an 8 1/2l third to Klitchko de Belair in the Grand Cross de Lignières recently, and the veteran Hello de Sivola, who also filled the minor placings with a 12l third in Strasbourg’s Grand Cross. He will certainly need this distance, but as Vital Island proved at Punchestown last week, older horses can retain their form over these longer distances.

A British connection with this race is maintained by Joker Cauvelliere, under the guidance of Jacques Delaunay, and owned by former British and Irish trainer Sue Bramall. Now in her eighties, Sue enjoyed success at the Cheltenham Festival with Antonin in 1994. The seven year old has never run over this extended trip, but was successful over a shorter 4,100m at Pau over the winter, relegating Hello de Sivola to a 7l second place when in receipt of 4kg. They now re-oppose on level terms.

Philippe and Camille Peltier also have a strong hand with three entries, including Miss Laura, fourth in this race 24 months ago, and whose rider parted company with the 11 year old mare in last year’s renewal. Stablemate Illico has been running consistently over shorter distances, without quite hitting the sweet spot.  Also with solid credentials is 10 year old Great du Large, 1 4 1/2l fourth to Saturne Pelem here at Lion d’Angers last month, a race in which Miss Laura missed out by a short head, and Joker Cauvelliere was out back.

On the basis of that run at Lion d’Angers a month ago, Saturne Pelem has to come into the reckoning. Joel Juillet’s 8 year old, trained by William Menuet, ran on gamely to fend off the late finish of Miss Laura, his first victory since 2024. This is, however, something of a step up in class, albeit that the cross country population is quite condensed, with high transferability between grades. The form is solid however, with a number of the entries behind, including the not yet mentioned Gemini d’Ax.

Another youngster on the upgrade is Job d’Ete, a 3/4l second in a 4,500m cross country at Lion d’Angers last month, trained by Sebastien Zuliani. The winner in that race, Hiso, re-opposes on better terms, Illico was back in third on that day, with Hersant de Mee well held.

A full list of the entries is here with final declarations on Tuesday.

Busselton enjoyed a back-to-back win in the Mongey Communications La Touche Cross Country Steeplechase at Punchestown yesterday in a thrilling finish to the festival’s longest race.

The distances of 3/4l and 1/2l at the end of 4 miles and 35 fences told the story of a highly competitive race on paper, but following the withdrawal of Vanillier on veterinary advice, Busselton had this covered through, taking a prominent position from the off, and picking off long time leader Vital Island two out.

Where last year the winner had been trained by Joseph O’Brien, this time around, his handler was king of the banks, Enda Bolger, winning this race for a record 15th time, with a horse he described as hardly your orthodox cross country animal. At 15.3, he’s on the small side, but with the heart of a lion, and sound as a bell.

Joint owners Ronnie Bartlett and Justin Carthy had good reason to look pleased as punch, but this race gives disproportionate pleasure to winners, through its lengthy heritage rather than its prize fund, and plays so successfully to the grass roots of the sport.

Darragh O’Keeffe acknowledges the return of his popular winner, Busselton © Aidan Gabard

Rider Darragh O’Keeffe enjoyed a Punchestown double, enabling him to keep tabs on Jack Kennedy at the top of the Jockeys’ Championship, just 4 winners separating them. He spoke of Bolger, “He’s been massive in my career. I started out with him and he’s an absolute genius with these horses.

“I winged the second last and got left alone in front but he kind of parked going to the last. As soon as he heard the other horses coming, he battled back again.”

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Outside The Door ran the race of his life to hold off The Goffer in third, whilst 13/8 favourite Desertmore House was disappointing after a mistake at the 24th, from which he never really regained his momentum.

A majority of Bolger’s horses have always been in the ownership of the sport’s largest patron, J P McManus, whose interests are largely focused around Irish and British racing rather than cross country exploits further afield. By contrast, Ronnie Bartlett is more of an adventurer (his Galvin was touched off in the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills in October ’24), so it must be hoped that some of the more valuable cross country races will come on to their agenda, perhaps even the Velka Pardubicka won by Stumptown in October last.

Former La Touche winner Vital Island belied his 13 years in leading for much of the race, and retirement may have to wait. There’s another race in him yet.

Sadly, Vanillier’s withdrawal robbed the race of any spice for the Crystal Cup standings. It needed Gavin Cromwell’s veteran to run and win to put any pressure on Josef Vana at the top of the Trainers’ leaderboard. With a comfortable 16.5pt lead, he would need to send more than one horse to Lion d’Angers and win to challenge, so it’s a safe bet this Crystal Cup is headed for the Czech Republic.

See full result here

Just two races remain in this year’s Crystal Cup, with 14 declared for the sole Irish leg at Punchestown on Thursday, a unique race which features banks larger than any among our other races. The €40,000 contest is at the bottom end of the spectrum for prize money, but right at the top for entertainment value.

Had the leaderboard been a little closer, it might have been enough to flush out a French or Czech contender, but with just one runner, second-placed Gavin Cromwell will have to run at least one horse, probably more, to overtake his Czech rival at Lion d’Angers in a fortnight and win on Thursday as well.  The destination for both the owner’s and trainer’s prize looks set for a return to the Czech Republic therefore.

However, Cromwell will not have the Mongey Communications La Touche all to himself. Vanillier has a punishing 12st 3 to carry over this extended 4m trip, and we’re 13 months on from the moment he might have covered himself in glory but for taking the wrong course when leading the festival cross country at Cheltenham in 2025. That said, he ran well to finish a 20l third to stablemate Final Orders in this race, and is a course winner here in February. He’ll know his way around under Keith Donoghue for sure.

Vanillier shares top weight with Outside The Door, trained in Kildare by Padraig Roche, whose best effort these past 12 months is a 15l second in a 0-145 handicap here 12 months back. He’s since won a lower grade race at Wexford, but this is a first tilt at this distance.

The first and second in this race last year re-oppose. Busselton came out best that time around, and has since changed stables to the king of cross country, Enda Bolger. On that occasion, Desertmore House gave way by 3/4l. Both carry an extra 5lb this year, and if Desertmore House repeats the form that won him a similar banks race here in November, he looks a big player (see Race 1 in film beneath). On that occasion, he saw off the Goffer, Vanillier, Busselton, Outside The Door and veteran Vital Island. Ricky Doyle rides for Martin Brassil and he has to be in your shortlist.

Another on the shortlist is The Goffer, whom Gordon Elliott will be hoping adds to his efforts to become champion trainer in Ireland. On his best efforts, he’s not been far away from Vanillier here in February or Desertmore House in November. With better luck in running, those tables might be turned to provide a third career win over fences under Rules.

Dorans Law is debuting on cross country racing, whilst Shannon Royale is well held on course form by Vanillier.

The remainder of the field has already been dismissed by oddsmakers, with prices in excess of 25/1. Notable among these, Vital Island’s best days are behind him; Bodhisattva has not won in 3 years, and was beaten over 50l behind Stumptown on his one previous cross country outing; Benny The Duke was out with the washing in this race 12 months ago; Walking On Glass is well held on November form with Desertmore House, a race in which Lough Derg Spirit unseated his rider.

Two of the outsiders need a special mention. Cavalry Master ran prominently in Stumptown’s Velka Pardubicka Chase in October before fading and running on at one pace, whilst The Bosses Oscar ran Desertmore House to 3/4l in a Damma House Point-to-Point in November. If repeating that form when under the guidance of Gordon Elliott, then he might produce a springer.

For a full list of runners and riders, see here

The Lageneste – Macaire stable produced a second Crystal Cup Series win at Fontainebleau this afternoon, as 7 year old Klitchko de Belair outstayed his rivals to score a 2l victory over Gold Allen in this feature 6,000m contest.

The holding ground seemed to hold no fears for the son of Walzertakt, winner of the Compiegne leg in November, and maintaining an unbeaten record of 2/2 in 2026. Always handy, the favourite was pushed up into the lead at the 16th of the 22 fences, and made the best of his way home, finishing with plenty of gusto to justify near even money support.

Gold Allen and Miss Laura, both veterans of this genre of racing, harried the favourite over the final mile, but the younger horse defied top weight and the concession of 4 and 5kg respectively to assert his authority under Kilian Dubourg.

The field was well bunched for much of the race, runners jostling for position. Only Elcond ‘Or Forlonge, always the back marker, never really figured, and he was losing touch when pulled up at the 18th.

Co-trainer Hector de Lagneste commented, “He loves this type of race. he’s been in great form and we took advantage. We’ll have a look at his programme to come; he might head for Craon.”

Crystal Cup Chair Hugues Crosnier with trainer Hector de Lageneste (left) of our leading light, with Kilian Dubourg and remaining connections

With a race in Ireland and a final race in France, this listed contest held no great relevance for the destination of this year’s Crystal Cup. The Owners’ trophy looks in the bag with gallant travellers Scuderia Aichner in a league of their own. Possession of the Trainers’ prize could be in question if Gavin Cromwell fields several and fills the places in Punchestown’s La Touche in a month’s time. A result there would force both he and Josef Vana to field runners in France’s longest race and the Crystal Cup finale, the Anjou-Loire Challenge on May 14th.

See the full result here

Runners for the Grand Cross de Fontainebleau are now declared, and an initial entry of 14 has reduced to eight, but a splendid eight at that. We are in for a treat of a race.  Winners of 40 races between them and €1,240,515 in prize money, a clash of generations sees new pretenders try their mettle against the older generation.

Patrice Quinton, who has few peers in this particular genre of the sport, has retained two of his three entries, led by Gold Allen, winner of the marathon Anjou Loire Challenge at Lion d’Angers last May, and the ten year old would be a popular winner for his elderly owners. Clement Lefebvre takes the mount in preference to the stable second string.

Carrying 2kg less, relative newcomer Encore Une Belle is yet to win over cross country obstacles. There’s a first time for everything however, and she has been running with credit into the minor placings over the winter, most recently over Fontainebleau’s shorter 4,600m course earlier in the month. This is her first time over this extended distance, perhaps hoping to blunt the finishing speed of her rivals.

French steeplechasers start early so by gallic standards, the 11 year old Miss Laura is in the twilight of here career. But what a career though, with 17 wins from 43 runs, her strike rate is impressive. In this, her eighth season of racing, she has only failed to win in one season. This is her opening bow of 2026 however, but she’s won first time out after the winter break before, and the trainer combo of Philippe and Camille Peltier will have her primed to continue where she left off, particularly as she is handily weighted against horses she’s beaten before whilst giving weight. Matthieu Chailloleau comes in for the ride.

The field is headed by Klitchko de Belair, who has been running admirably at this level since winning at Craon last June. He was a 3l second to Roi Mage in Craon’s Grand Cross last September, and had Jade de la Roque 13l in arrears when winning Compiegne’s Grand Cross in November too. Those two victories have won him a penalty of 7kg extra, but at just 7, he has a few years on some of his rivals here that are more exposed, and as the only representative of the Lageneste-Macaire stable, he merits strong consideration under stable jockey Kilian Dubourg.

It’s difficult to make a strong case for Hemevoici, whilst Elcond’or Forlonge is back running over longer trips after a spell over shorter distances. In three previous attempts over distances in excess of 5,000m, the 10 year old gelding won once, fell once and was pulled up in the other contest, so we know he’ll stay but is he up to this higher class of race? He’s the sort who may well scrape a place, particularly with Cravache d’Or rider Felix de Giles in the plate.

Of the remaining two, Desert Storm looks out of his depth, but Cape of Love has not finished out of the frame in four races around Fontainebleau this winter, and the winning distances have been short each time. This is a first step up to a longer distance  which may bring his stamina into play for trainer Christian Dubourg.

See the full field here