In bright autumn conditions, Czech horses filled all the places at Wroclaw yesterday, when Jan Kratochvíl rode a textbook race on Gap Pierji to win from Molly Power, Irreverencieux running on late home to deny Beau Saonois third place.

The victory in the PLN 172,000 (€40,000) contest enables Josef Vana to leapfrog Partice Quinton into first place in the Crystal Cup leaderboard before the challenge oscillates toward western Europe for the remaining seven races.

Nine faced the starter in this 5,000m steeplechase, with the early running cut out by White Wood, with Go Canada and Gap Pierji handy. The other Vana runner, Beau Saonois, forced the pace at the third, but White Wood’s rider was having none of it, regaining the lead as they galloped through the water in front  of the stands.

Mistakes by Sophist, the only home-trained challenger, and Irony, at the bank, jumped just once in the race, put them out of contention, and Sophist was eventually pulled up.

Kratochvíl drove Gap Pierji into a 4l lead five out, extending this as they closed out the race. Pretty King ran on to close the gap to 4 1/2l, with the Veonika Lempochnerová – trained Irreverencieux running on strongly to outpoint Beau Saonois for fourth place.

The Polish race has shaken up the leaderboard, no French or British runner having ventured east. Josef Vana has established a 9pt lead over Patrice Quinton, with 37pts, but the pendulum is likely to swing back toward France or Ireland at Compiegne, destination for several of the recent winners.