No Irish challengers in Wroclaw this weekend, but a further chance for Josef Vana to give himself an unassailable lead in the Crystal Cup Trainers’ Championship as the 12 race pan-European cross country challenge reaches its fifth leg at Wroclaw Racecourse in Poland.

Vana ran just one horse at Pardubice last weekend, but has three lined up for the 172,000 zł prize (€40,000) and two of them may vie for favouritism among the nine entered. His leading owner Scuderia Aichner, is already in a commanding 28pt lead in the Owners’ Championship.

Owner standings up to and including October 12th 2025

Ramuntcho enjoyed a good summer for Vana, winning twice at Merano before being bested by stable mate Beau Saonais here at Wroclaw a month ago. He was well beaten that day by the Ilona  Hronová – trained Reggaeton, who won at Lysa in May, but has suffered from seconditis in three runs since. This 5,500m trip may be enough to blunt his rivals’ finishing speed.

Vana’s second runner needs no introduction. Winner of this race last year Gap Pierji is the stable’s standard bearer in these races, and most recently ran a valiant second to Laldann in Merano’s big cross country at the end of September. He will merit favouritism under stable jockey Jan Kratochvíl.

Sixth and last in that race was Vana’s third runner Brunch Royal, who acted as pacemaker at Merano. The 12 year old may yet win a second steeplechase, but that’s unlikely to be this time around.

White Wood, Molly Power and Go Canada all ran in this race last year behind Gap Pierji. Molly Power has struggled to find winning form in runs at Wissembourg, Aarau and Merano, so is not difficult to oppose. White Wood beat Go Canada 8l in a 4,400m steeplechase here back in June, and the receipt of 2kg is unlikely to make a difference. Go Canada looks game but lacking in finishing speed based on reaching the frame consistently in 4 races since May.

Which leaves the six year old Jadmir as a young pretender. A winner here in May over 3,400m, this is a first attempt at this distance for trainer-rider  Paweł Pałczyński. However, based on a run here behind Beau Saonais in early September, he has ground to make up on Reggaeton, Ramuntcho and Go Canada. However, with age on his side, and young legs, he might readily run into a place.

On balance, this looks like a repeat exercise for Vana’s travelling champion, Gap Pierji.

See the full list of runners here