Gavin Cromwell is having to brush up on his grasp of Czech after a second winning visit to the Czech Republic’s biggest steeplechase, this time with Final Orders.

Final Orders gets the better of Godfrey in a spine-tingling finish to the 136th Velka Pardubická
© Adrien Seite

The smallest field in many years nevertheless resulted in a heart-stopping finish, Final Orders denying 2024 winner and the irrepressible Jan Faltesjek from a comeback victory that would have brought the house down.

As it is, this eclectic event – a sell-out since tickets went on sale in May – is a marquee event, no longer just for Czechs, but for lots of other European jumps enthusiasts. A marked increase in British and Irish voices among the crowd told of the focus Cromwell’s exploits last year have created here, and the cheers at the start, and as the runners pass the stands would do Cheltenham or Aintree proud.

The James Best – ridden Greek Dessert led them from the gate, swiftly joined and passed by the blinkered and free-running Araucarias. Keith Donoughue had Final Orders handy, as the field split over the Taxis, the fourth of the 31 fences, but the leader had set up a commanding lead already.

Hard Roc de Kerser parted company with his rider at the 10th, ending a rare French challenge for this race.

Drama and this race are bedfellows, unhappy or otherwise. The front-running Araucarias jumped the 11th 20l to the good, but collided with the track marker unseating Josef Bartos, whose unhappy afternoon continued after a fall earlier in the afternoon.

The pace steadied as the race reached its halfway point, Dumon Roclay contesting the lead with Donoughue happy to sit in behind alongside Greek Dessert, but he was back in the van by the 16th as Final Orders’ ears pricked; unlike stable companion Stumptown the previous year, he was visibly enjoying himself.

With 10 fences to go, Faltesjek has crept 2024 winner Godfrey into the picture, heading a field covered by no more than 5l. Faltesjek of course needs no lessons in riding this race, having enjoyed success no less than 7 times. Only Czech legend Josef Vana Snr has ridden more Velka winners, and his record must be under threat.

Four out, a handkerchief could have covered the remaining 7, Greek Dessert the only one coming under pressure. At the second last, a mistake put paid to the chances of Angkor Wat, who’d run well throughout, and Marcel Novák was unseated from Dumon Roclay.

As they turned in, Donoughue asked his mount for a final effort, but the game Godfrey, under strong driving from Fatesjek wouldn’t give in, the margin at the line just half a length.

Cromwell, surrounded by an enormous trop of syndicate owners on a memorable weekend to Pardubice, remarked, “I couldn’t have done it without a terrific jockey,” paying testament to Donoughue, whose record in cross country races among current riders is pretty much unassailable.

Keith Donoughue loses an iron over the Taxis but recovers to win the 136th running of the Velka Pardubicka © Adrien Seite

His rider told Czech TV,”I thought I was going to win easier turning in and it was a good battle. He’s a very tough horse and it’s great to do it again.” Donoughue also enjoyed his own excitements during the race, losing an iron at the Taxis, and meeting a little local difficulty at the double last time round.

The 10 year old has given untold pleasure to his syndicate, taking them to success at Cheltenham twice as well as this marquee event. The winner had a hard race though, and next month at Cheltenham may well come too soon.

Faltesjek can rue one that got away, but he had a successful afternoon, with a double in the preceding races. There may yet be other occasions for him, and a sporting hug on the podium with Donoughue tells you everything about the camaraderie among riders in this race and the welcome for foreign riders among the home team.