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Sweet David, runner up to Roi Mage at Craon back in September, went one better in an eventful race at Cheltenham on Friday to set himself up as a player in the later stages of the Crystal Cup.

Tracking long time leader and favourite Tommie Beau, who took the wrong course two out as they re-joined the racecourse, Felix de Giles eased through to the lead and won going away, despite being well out of the handicap.

Mister Coffey and twice winner of this race, Back On The Lash, ran on to fill the places, with top weight Conflated weakening dramatically to finish well down the field.

Of Cheltenham’s three cross country races, this first is not a leg of the Crystal Cup, so the leaderboard remains unchanged, despite a race in which several candidates may well be players in the Series’ remaining 6 races.

SWEET DAVID and Felix de Giles are led over the water by Back On The Lash 15/11/24 PHOTO © Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723

In truth, this was a substandard renewal of this usually popular race, brought about by unseasonably dry conditions that rendered the ground no slower than good, which thinned out the entry considerably. this had doubtless coloured trainer Gabriel Leenders’ decision to run at Cheltenham rather than taking in the altogether more competitive cross country at Compiegne four days earlier, where he’s also held an entry.

But it also showed that the typical calibre of horses running in races of this nature is not among horses rated 150+, but those rated 140 or less, and for many, usually running off top weight in 0-140 handicaps, or pushed into open handicap company, the cross country genre can prove a viable alternative, especially if including the very few races beyond Britain & Ireland.

Tommie Beau’s trainer, Seamus Mullins, is certainly one to have recognized the appeal of running of level weights in cross country races, and Pau’s calendar, including the Grand Cross in February, may be on the agenda for the unlucky 9 year old.

Winning trainer Gabriel Leenders, successful here in the Cleeve Hurdle with Gold Tweet in January, is likely to try his hand again in the Festival Cross Country, but may swerve Pau’s winter season in favour of a run on the flat instead with Sweet David, who needs to come into his races fresh.

Either way, we are likely to see more of him in the Crystal Cup in the later stages.

Two races, one on each side of the English Channel, may decide the leading cross country horse in Europe this week.

Compiegne’s international cracker

This afternoon at Compiegne, 11 go to post for the Listed Grand Steeplechase Cross Country de Compiegne, over 5,400m (3m 3f) whilst on Friday, Cheltenham  stages the first of 3 cross country chases this season in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap.

The Compiegne race has settled to 11 from its original entry of 19, but a majority of the key players remain. Irish raider Roi Mage carries top weight, seeking to win this race a second time following a successful foray to France 12 months ago. On that occasion, the competition was weaker, and he was able to give a 3l beating to Gasby des Planches. He carries 69kg, including a 2kg penalty for winning at Craon in September.

The Macaire/Lageneste team has left in Fraga Has, who stepped up to 5,000m+ for the first time at Haras du Pin to beat Sweet David a nose. With a 2kg weight allowance over Roi Mage, and 7 years his junior, he is the best of the young pretenders and may retain the trophy at home.

Behind him at Haras du Pin was Gumpchop, also in this field.

Don’t rule out Great du Large, 1 1/4l third behind Fraga Has at Haras du Pin, when carrying 2kg more. Now running off 65kg, the turnaround of 4kg would be more than enough to turn the tables.

The Czech runner, Beau Saonais, is a valiant participant, but his performances to date leave him something to find on the home-trained talent.

Of more interest is David Cottin’s Iceo Madrik, who has been knocking on the door since switching from David Pipe’s in England. A winner here over 4,700 (2m5f) 3 weeks ago, he is sure to be fit enough, if good.

Riskman hasn’t run since March, but enjoyed a good winter in Pau. This is his first run over more than 4,700m, so he is unproven over the distance.

Raise a dram to Cheltenham’s opening cross country chase

Cheltenham’s Countryside raceday cross country does not figure in the Crystal Cup, the Cheltenham legs being in December and March. Nevertheless, what happens on Friday should be of intense interest to followers of this genre of the sport.

24 entries have been posted for the £35,000 handicap over 6,000m (3m 5f), headed up by Galvin, so nearly a winner recently in the Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills in New Jersey. His 8 1/2l fourth in the Grand National illustrates his capacity for the distance, and he was second to Delta Work in the March race 18 months ago.

Galvin is one of five entries from Gordon Elliott, the others a triumvirate of Gigginstown horses that have all become cross country specialists. Delta Work has an excellent record over these obstacles, and his 7 1/2l second to I AM Maximus at Aintree in April was a storming effort. He was well beaten at Downpatrick at the start of the month in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase behind Envoi Allen on his reappearance, but that was hot company.

Conflated is another Gigginstown candidate with an excellent record, but a debutant over this style of obstacle. Well beaten on his reappearance at Wetherby behind The Real Whacker, he is an interesting recruit to cross country.

Stable companion Coko Beach knows cross country well, and comes here on the back of a valiant effort in the Velka Pardubicka. The 9 yo was running very well until unseating his rider 4 out.

Elliott has also entered Flanking Manoever, a Gigginstown cast-off, who hasn’t excited the judge in his two runs so far this term.

Gavin Cromwell’s three candidates also have form over these fences. Stumptown unseated in the La Touche in May, but ran again 2 days later to beat Fameaftertheglory over a mile shorter distance. The latter has run well her before, but lacks a finishing punch to carry through to the winner’s berth. Vanillier is an out-and-out stayer taking the cross country route to Aintree again.

If Joseph O’Brien opts to run Fakir d’Oudairies, this would be an interesting addition to cross country ranks. On his best form, the 9yo Mcmanus-owned gelding is right up there, based on a 4 1/4l second to Pic d’Orhy in the Melling Chase 18 months ago. He has yet to show any quality form this autumn.

Handicappers Tommie Beau, Farceur du Large, Mister Coffey and Back On The Lash will all win races, but most likely not against this quality of opposition.

Gabriel Leenders swerves Compiegne this afternoon to send Sweet Davis to Cheltenham, but it looks like a case of “out of the frying pan, into the fire”. This is a tough ask.

At the bottom of the handicap, Streets of Doyen was another running well in the Velka Pardubicka before unseating his rider. If he puts in a similar performance, he might run into a place, even though he is currently 9lbs out of the handicap.

Winners of two Crystal Cup races and nearly €1.15m in prize money have thrown their hats in the ring at the entry stage for the sixth leg of the pan-European cross country series on Monday November 11th, which promises a fascinating showdown.

The €57,000 listed contest runs over 5,400m (3m 2f & 85yds) in what is likely to be testing conditions with a thoroughly international field.

Winner of the Anjou-Loire Challenge, Ever Forget Me heads the entries for octogenarian owner Victor Blot and trainer Eric Leray. He’s run just once since that memorable May day, opening his autumn season at Saumur with a 16l fifth to Miss Laura, behind him at Lion d’Angers, but he may strip fitter for this. Eric Leray may also field Google de Loued, third in the same Grand Cross de Saumur in mid-October, in which Hemevoici was also behind. His jumping may be found wanting, as his form is peppered with F and U in between good performances.

Ever Forget Me shows a clean pair of heels to rivals in the Anjou-Loire Challenge in May ’24. Photo © JCB Photo

He meets Irish raider Roi Mage, winner of this race last year, and since winner of Craon’s listed Grand Cross Louis de Guebriant in early September, for whom this is a stepping stone to the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. He has the measure of Sweet David, well behind at Craon, on that most recent form, and is a fine illustration of a foreign trainer adopting the Crystal Cup. This looks a tougher contest than 12 months ago however.

Hector Lageneste and Guillaume Macaire are represented by improving 5 year old Fraga Has, most recently winner by a nose from Sweet David at Haras du Pin over this distance. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and is already a winner at a lower grade at Compiegne. The Haras du Pin race in mid-October was a first step up to the top level, and with a 2kg advantage over the first two, he may prove troublesome as he looks on the upgrade.

Hemevoici is entered by François Nicolle. The 7 year old was well beaten at Pau in February behind Hip Hop Conti, but has since won on this ground at Lignières in a leg of the Trophée Vert, before losing out to Miss Laura at Saumur in mid-October, a race in which Ever Forget Me was a further 5 1/2l further back in 5th.

Gabriel Leenders will likely choose between his two candidates, the 5 year old Sweet David and Gentilhomme, 3 years his senior. Sweet David was well beaten by Roi Mage at Craon, but lost nothing in defeat at Haras du Pin last month, just losing out to Fraga Has. He has every right to be in this field, and there will be plenty of other races for him to win, if not necessarily this one.

Gentilhomme, on the other hand, comes into this race on the back of a hat-trick of wins, most recently at Fontainebleau, in lower grade races. He would need to step up to be a factor despite his impressive form figures.

There’s a lot to like about Great du Large, from the Peltier stable. He was a close-up third in the Haras du Pin race won by Fraga Has, a close second in each of his three previous starts in Trophée Vert qualifiers at Granville, Vittel and Rostrennen, the middle of these by just a head. He is overdue a top cross country success.

Patrice Quinton has entered Winteriscoming, but even he might admit this looks a tall ask for a horse whose recent form has been a little in and out. There are more obvious candidates. the same can be said of Gumpchop, a 3/4l second to Miss Laura at Lion d’Angers in July, but pulled up in Fraga Has’ race at Haras du Pin most recently.

David Satalia’s Why is unproven over this distance, as is stablemate Jereviendrais.

Crystal Cup leader the Czech Josef Vana brings Beau Saonais to this race from promising runs at Merano and Wroclaw in previous legs of the challenge. Fourth at Wroclaw and second at Merano, he is capable of running a big race, as is Iceo Madrik from David Cottin’s, who fell in that Merano contest, but has since regained the winning feeling at Compiegne last month in heavy ground, with Why, Je Reviendrais and Gumpchop behind.

Eric Lecoiffier has entered two, being Silver Horse and Little Winner, but neither looks as if a step up in class will reap a result in this competitive field.

Of the remaining 3 Riskman hasn’t run since enjoying a good winter at Pau, and may need the run; Cote Fleurie is a second runner for Patrice Quinton, but hasn’t run for 12 months. His previous form at this level was respectable, whilst Ironie du Lac is held by Iceo Madrik on their run at Compiegne 2 weeks ago.

Final entries close on Thursday1130 EST.

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.