King of the Cheltenham Cross Country, Gavin Cromwell, has never been afraid to spread his wings internationally. A string of good cross country winners at Cheltenham have shifted the balance of power in this particular genre of the sport away from Enda Bolger, for so long the only man to follow over the banks.

Cromwell has an outstanding record over Cheltenham’s cross country races through horses like Stumptown, and more recently Final Orders, winner in January and March. Stumptown was imaginatively sent to the Czech Republic for the Velka Pardubice last year, and ran out a 1 3/4l winner of the 4m 2f marathon – the first ever Irish winner.

Speaking to sponsors William Hill, Cromwell reported, “We’re planning to head back to Pardubice this year with Final Orders. It looks like there will be a good chance of getting proper good ground there and we know he enjoys that. He has proven himself on the cross-country circuit, so he deserves his chance at this.

“Stumptown is in good form at home but we’ve been there and done it with him, so we’ll take a different route with him this year.”

An international flavour is a major fillip for the Czech steeplechase on October 11th, which is bucking the trend of small fields for Jump racing. The race has been the domain of Czech trainers until last October with the gallant Gentleman de Reve also prominent for some time, now under the tutelage of Peter Maher.