An initial entry of 25 has whittled down to 7 runners for the first leg of the Crystal Cup, the €100,000 ING Grand Steeplechase de Flandres, at Waregem on Tuesday, in what looks a showdown between the leading proponents of cross country racing: Patrice Quinton and Josef Vana. However, whilst they field five of the seven, others may well spoil the party.

Topping the handicap at 70kg is the 2024 winner Placenet, bested into second place 12 months ago, and whose campaign since has been in pursuit of Cheltenham glory over the cross country obstacles at Jump racing’s HQ. It was no disgrace to finish 10 1/2l 4th to Final Orders at Cheltenham in December, and he’s subsequently been placed at Compiegne, on both occasions playing second fiddle to his owner’s Iceo Madrik. He comes here from a sharpener in a hurdle race at Compiegne. Over a distance too short for him, he never really got on terms before parting company with his jockey at the last, but he clearly relishes this course based on form figures at Waregem of 1-2. This could readily be his opportunity to win another big contest for octogenarian British owner Caroline Tisdall.

Heraliste is the other interloper in this private duel between Quinton and Vana. trained by Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, he comes here from placed efforts in lower grade chases at Dieppe and Lion d”Angers. Receiving 8kg from the top weight gives him some sort of chance, but this would be his first win at this level since a Gr III at Auteuil 23 months ago.

Vana’s pair are both French-breds purchased for leading owner Josef Aichner, whose family are continuing his enthusiasm for the sport following his death in mid-summer. Ches Demonmirail fell here 12 months ago, but based on his performances at Merano this summer, he’s got his act together, listing a win and second place at listed level, and a second berth at Gr II. Whilst the quality of Italian Graded races does not necessarily match French, British or Irish, he’s a progressive gelding reaching the peak of his ability.

Six year old Krokodile Dundee has also enjoyed a successful summer at Merano and Pardubice, but despite receiving 3.5kg from the top weight, he has still to improve to win this. Stable jockey Josef Bartos has chosen the younger horse in favour of Ches Demonmirail, which tells its own story.

And so to the King of the Grand Steeplechase de Flandres: Patrice Quinton. Were the race to enjoy a perpetual trophy, it barely merited it leaving Quinton HQ in Dragey-Ronthon during the second decade of the C21st. Ten consecutive winners of the race between 2011 and 2021 were only spoiled by the cancellation of the race in 2020 through the pandemic. Royal Fou (2011), Martalin (2012-14), Taupin Rochelais (2015-18), Calisco de Kerser (2019) and Gino des Dunes (2021) stretched a spectacular unbroken sequence which might have continued but for the last two runnings. The last British winner was in 1975: Kildagin, owned by Tommy Pilkington and ridden by John Sutherne. I find myself asking why the British and irish have largely ignored such a valuable contest this early in the season: a perfect opportunity for summer jumping horses rated 125+.

Quinton saddles 3 in Fan d’Apples, General Desjy, and Premier Vert.

Fan d’Apples showed good speed to see off 9 rivals in a limited handicap at Dieppe at the end of June off top weight, and followed up running on at one pace when well beaten at Clarefontaine a month later.

General Desjy was third in this race back in 2023, but he has plenty to find on his 14l second at Pompadour at the start of August. He is however the preferred mount of Cravache d’Or rider Felix de Giles, so hopes must rest on him from Quinton’s Normandy base.

Premier Vert was behind his stablemate in the Pompadour race, but was a comprehensive winner last autumn over a similar distance at Haras du Pin. You can never rule out a Quinton runner, but he looks the least likely of the trio.

A fascinating contest in prospect then, which may shape the final destination of the Crystal Cup next May.

Full list of runners here.

A strong entry of 24 marks this year’s Grand Flanders Steeplechase at Waregem on September 1st, the opening leg of the 12 race Crystal Cup, featuring the winners in each of the past two years.

Speed Emile, just 6 when he won this race 12 months ago, meets the 2024 winner Placenet, representing the sporting owner Caroline Tisdall. However, Crystal Cup rivals Patrice Quinton and Josef Vana are strongly represented, the Normandy trainer with no less than 9 entries, Vana with 3.

Speed Emile has enjoyed a fruitful 12 months, rarely finishing out of the frame and scoring twice in graded company at Merano. Interchanging between hurdles and chases, he’s shown good versatility and been well placed since scoring here in a rare first Flanders Steeplechase triumph for Guillaume Macaire and Hector Lageneste. It’s no surprise to see him entered here for a repeat, given the style of his success then., and he’s likely to be sent off favourite, despite top weight.

Placenet, second to Speed Emile last year, receives 3kg, a miserly concession by the handicapper given his disappointing exploits at Cheltenham that followed Waregem. In preparation for March, David Cottin sent him over for the December leg of the Crystal Cup to finish an 11l fourth to Final Orders. Albeit that was over a longer distance of 3m 5f, a full mile further, he looked one-paced, and he was already well beaten when pulling up before the last when returning for a second crack in January. There seems no reason he would alter the placings with the younger horse.

Both trainers may be double-handed however. Team Royan field 7 year old Jet d’Estruval, who is riding high on a hat-trick after a short head chase success at Meral, followed by a sharpener over hurdles at Pompadour last month. This handicap is quite a step up from his Meral success, but he’s on the upgrade and in receipt of 6.5kg from the topweight.

Also 7, Hill of Bamboo is another seeking a hat-trick for Cottin after a 2l success in a limited handicap at Strasbourg in mid June, and a 1 3/4l victory over the smaller obstacles at Dieppe last month, so as not to compromise his handicap mark. He is in receipt of an attractive 9kg over Speed Emile.

The last 3 years have seen a stream of Czech-trained horses purchased in France competing in the Crystal Cup, ensuring Josef Vana the overall Crystal Cup winner twice in the last 3 seasons. He is one to capitalize on the early fixtures, particularly here and at Merano, although now his principal owner has died, that momentum may be halted. Let us hope not for the spirit of international competition.

The Aichner-Vana partnership has registered 3 contenders for our opening race in Chez Desmonmirail, Krokodile Dundee and Grand de Thaix. the old man of the party, Grand de Thaix finished fourth here 12 months back, but evidence of his runs this summer in Merano suggests he is tapped for toe.

Vana’s other pair have been running up against each other in races at Merano this summer. Krokodile Dundee got the best of this clash in a chase over 3,900m in early May by 6l, but those placings were reversed in the Gr I Grand Premio d’Europa 3 weeks later, albeit both were behind topweight Speed Emile. All three may clash again in Merano’s Crystal Cup leg in late September, a more likely denouement than Waregem.

Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm have never won this race, but their syndicate, the Franglais Partnership, is represented in a pair of runners entered, one in the Grand Steeplechase, one in the lower value Prix Rallye Waregem. Eight year old Iltone doesn’t know how to run a poor race. Bought out of a Hexham novices hurdle for £20,000, he has been successfully campaigned in France to win 8 races to date and over €165,000. Small but with the heart of a lion, this is nevertheless a considerable step up in class.

Patrice Quinton is no stranger to success in this race, and his 9 entries illustrate an appetite to add to that record. Winners all nine, his choice as to how many to run will dictate the volume of runners in the field, which often cuts up to under 8.  Youngster of the party Loyd d’Erable is a 5 year old, but hasn’t been seen on the track since winning at Lignières in March; seven year old Winteriscoming has been hitting the crossbar regularly, but his inability to secure a win suggests he may be one-paced in a finish; Fan d’Apples is held on Lion’Angers form against him in May; Kiss Kiss has revealed some decent form in the past, but nothing since being pulled up in a Gr III at Auteuil in the Spring and is best watched.

The most encouraging indicators come from four: Jeriko de Kerser is a winner over course and distance, in a different race here 12 months ago, since when he has run just once, a distant 6th to Galant Chaba at Sennones in July, a race in which Speed Emile finished second; Easter Sunday is the 2l winner of the Grand Steeplechase de Toulouse at the end of May; Jibe de Dunes won the Grand Cross at Granville in August 2025 and is entered for its repeat this weekend; and 9 year old Premier Vert won at Haras du Pin last October, but hasn’t troubled the judge since. Despite his strong entry, there are other more obvious candidates, provided they stand their ground.

You’re never advised to leave François Nicolle out of the reckoning in major races, and in 6 year old Konfiner, he has a horse on the upgrade. Four from four in 2026, these have included facile wins at Pompadour in July which suggests this is a horse with upward momentum, ready for Gr I company.

Gabriel Leenders fields Dieppe winner Lady Lady whilst the Peltier combination have entered Keep Calm Dariyan, who continues to defy high weights in handicaps at Lignières, Lion d’Angers and Dieppe this summer.

The  final three include a pair under the guidance of Arnaud Chaille-Chaille in seven year old L’Arriabato, a recent handicap winner at Clarefontaine, and Heraliste, and the Anne-Laure Guidoux – trained winner of an amateurs cross country at Le Dorat, who will need to step up in class to win this.

Josef Aichner, one of the most prominent figures in Italian steeplechasing, has passed away at the age of 59. As recently as Sunday, Woods (Birchwood) did justice to his famous black and yellow silks by securing a final Group victory for him in the Criterium di Primavera. Over the years, these colours had become one of the symbols of steeplechase racing on the Italian peninsula.

A well-known entrepreneur in the property and construction sectors, Josef Aichner had discovered horse racing in 2007 thanks to Fatal Mac (Machiavellian). The latter had notably distinguished himself by winning the Cross delle Nazioni four times, the Italian leg of the Crystal Cup held in Merano.

From 2016 onwards, Scuderia Aichner had truly taken the sport to a new level. By investing in top-quality horses and drawing on the expertise of trainer Josef Váňa Jr, Josef Aichner had gradually built one of the most formidable jumps stables in Italy.

L’Estran in the legend of Merano

The first of his seven top-ranked Leading Owner titles came in 2019, thanks in particular to L’Estran (by Linda’s Lad). Having been claimed for €24,001 two years earlier, the horse had won his first Gran Premio Merano (GrI) that year.

L’Estran would go on to become a legend of this prestigious Italian race by adding three further victories to his record. With four consecutive wins between 2019 and 2022, he became one of the most iconic horses in the history of Merano Racecourse and the most famous ambassador for the Aichner colours.

Must-have colours for the Crystal Cup

The Crystal Cup also held a special place in Josef Aichner’s sporting career. His history with the European circuit had begun with Fatal Mac and his four victories in the Cross delle Nazioni, but it continued, several years later, through an ambitious overseas programme organised with Josef Váňa Jr.

Gap Pierji became Scuderia Aichner’s leading contender in the pan-European competition. During the 2023–2024 season, his performances in three legs saw him finish top of the individual standings and contribute to the first ever Czech victory in the history of the Crystal Cup, won jointly by Josef Váňa Jr. and Scuderia Aichner.

The following season, the black-and-yellow livery once again made its mark on the circuit through Aichner’s consistency and willingness to travel. Competing in more than half of the stages, Scuderia Aichner won the owners’ standings, driven in particular by Gap Pierji’s victory in Wrocław.

This momentum continued into the 2025–2026 season. Gap Pierji retained his title in the Polish leg in Wrocław and finished among the top horses on the circuit. Alongside him, Beau Saonois, Santa Klara and Brunch Royal also represented Josef Aichner in various of the European legs. This consistent presence – from Merano to Pardubice via Wrocław, Fontainebleau and Le Lion-d’Angers – was a testament to his passion for an international challenge.

More than 80 Group winners

The Scuderia Aichner colours have also been worn by many other champions. Mauricius (by Kapgarde) won several of Italy’s biggest hurdle races before passing the torch to the mare Kaja (by The Grey Gatsby).

Under the training of Josef Váňa Jr., Josef Aichner’s horses have secured over 80 Group victories in Italy, making their partnership one of the most successful in the recent history of Italian steeplechase racing.

Abroad, one of his most memorable victories will remain that of Suroit (by Linda’s Lad). Although not entirely at ease on the Merano course, the horse had found an ideal setting to shine in France. In 2023, he gave his owner a memorable victory in the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice (Gr3), before finishing fifth in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (GrI), up against the elite of French steeplechase racing.

With the passing of Josef Aichner, Italian and European racing have lost a passionate, ambitious owner who was deeply committed to the sport of steeplechasing. His black and yellow colours, worn at the very highest level in Italy and across Europe, will forever be associated with L’Estran, Merano and the Crystal Cup.

An enormous Holiday crowd cheered off the 10 runners for the 2026 Anjou-Loire Challenge on what amounts to a long weekend in France that starts with  Thursday’s Ascension Day. A substantial proportion of the workforce takes Friday off to make a four day weekend, and an evening at the picturesque Lion d’Angers Racecourse is now a standing dish.

This is a race where it helps to know the way across a bewildering 50 obstacles and 4 1/2m or 7,000m to use French parlance. Damien Thomas sent Hersent de Mee off in front, capturing a 5l lead over the rest of the field within yards, led by young pretender Saturne Pelem and Miss Laura, third last year and a valiant old favourite among this crowd.

By the time they descended the three steps of the Piano, an eclectic but accurate description of the tiered bank that might more readily have been part of last weekend’s Badminton Horse Trials, the field covered 20l, Gemini d’Ax in rear, last year’s winner Gold Allen one up.

The order remained largely unchanged to halfway, when Raphael Mayeur was unseated from Saturne Pelem at the 26th. Six fences later, Gold Allen had jumped his way into contention, and thereafter, his jumping gained him ground at each fence as the pace quickened. Long time leader Hersent de Mee went with Clement Lefebvre for a while, Miss Laura still in third, but Lefebvre asserted at the 39th, and made the best of his way home.

Running down the hill toward two out, the leader was still on the bridle, and in truth, whilst shaken up between the last two, he was untroubled to come home 10l ahead of improving Hiso, Miss Laura a bridesmaid once again.

The winner is owned by leading French owner Mme Patrick Papot, long time supporters of the Jumps game. Both winner and second were bred by Bruno Vagne, who left the world of IT to breed horses and farm on 400 acres near Moulins. If his cows are of the same standard as his horses, they’ll be cleaning up in every agricultural show in the Massif Central. The Allen line is of course well known to British and Irish racing followers through horses like Envoi and Eldorado Allen.

Happy connections with Andre Martin, President Lion d’Angers, Nicholas Landon & Crystal cup VP Mario Pirone (fro right) © Aidan Gabard

Patrice Quinton’s second consecutive victory in this race with the enduring Gold Allen offered him a late flurry in the Crystal Cup standings, but it was too little, too late to catch long time leader Josef Vana, himself a keen advocate of French-bred steeplechasers. He set out his stall to win the Crystal Cup back in September, regaining it from Quinton, winner in 2025.

For the full result, follow here

Holding ground will face the ten starters for tomorrow’s Anjou-Loire Challenge, the final leg of the Crystal Cup, with honours for the season already in the bag for Czech trainer Josef Vana and his main patron Scuderia Aichner. The pairing set up an early lead in the Challenge back in the autumn, and have never looked like being caught since, despite a late flurry of points by Gavin Cromwell.

The world’s longest steeplechase nevertheless is a fascinating contest, this year restricted solely to French-trained runners, and goes off at 1945 ET, where a rematch between last year’s first and second looks on the cards again.

12 months ago, Shawinigan was bested by Gold Allen, who ran out a 10l winner under Clement Lefebvre. After a mid-winter break, Patrice Quinton’s cross country standard bearer prepped with a 2l second to Klitcho de Belair in leg 10 at Fontainebleau, with Miss Laura behind. He is admirably consistent for the Papot family who support the sport so strongly in France.

Shawinigan has also had a break since the conclusion of the Pau season in February, so comes here with fresh legs, looking to reclaim the race he won in 2024. The pair make a strong case for sending the trophy back to Dragey-Ronthon tomorrow evening.

Three of the entries fought out the finish of a shorter cross country here at the start of April, in which Hiso prevailed against Illico and Job d’Ete. The distances of 1 1/4l and 1l mean there’s not much between this younger generation of chasers now reaching their peak. Thomas Journiac takes the ride on Hiso for Adrien Sannier and remains the strongest of the younger generation.

William Menuet’s Saturne Pelem is another youngster who may have a bearing on this race. Two previous runs at Lion d’Angers last month concluded in a short head victory over Miss Laura with Speed des Landes, Gemini d’Ax and Hersent du Mee behind. In the first of these races, won by Hiso (See above), the eight year old was well behind, but he looked to improve a fortnight later.

A compelling race looks in prospect, irrespective of the lack of overseas runners. See the full field here