April 2024

Punchestown cross country added to 2023-24 Crystal Cup schedule

By |April 15th, 2024|

Following the cancellation of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival due to a waterlogged track, the Crystal Cup committee has taken steps to ensure the unique pan-European competition maintains its 11 legs.

Punchestown’s Mongey Communications La Touche Cross Country Steeplechase, with a prize fund of €30,000, will be added to the series, with […]

Belair produces a thriller at Fontainebleau to deny Czech challenge

By |April 5th, 2024|

An eventful race for the Grand Cross de Fontainebleau on Good Friday saw Travel de Belair, trained by Hector de Lageneste and Guillaume Macaire, land the spoils after a gruelling 6,000m (3m 5f) in heavy ground, whilst the brave Czech challenge asserted the lead in the Crystal Cup leaderboard.

The 6 year old winner, with wins […]

March 2024

Glenfarclas Chase cancellation leaves French with Crystal Cup whip hand

By |March 13th, 2024|

The Glenfarclas Chase, leg 8 of the Crystal Cup, will not form part of the Cheltenham Festival card after the race was abandoned due to waterlogging following an 8 am inspection today.

Cheltenham confirmed that the event will not be rescheduled with an unsettled forecast meaning conditions are unlikely to improve enough later in the week. […]

Rain forces inspection for Festival leg of Crystal Cup

By |March 12th, 2024|

Cheltenham faces the unusual position of starting a festival on soft ground following a winter of very high rainfall. February was the wettest and warmest on record, with an above average volume of fixtures cancelled due to waterlogging.

That wet weather shows little sign of relenting, a trend that may impact upon the next leg of […]

Saint Godefroy franks Pau form in re-routed Grand Cross de Mont de Marsan

By |March 11th, 2024|

Hip Hop Conti’s performance in the Grand Cross de Pau was underlined yesterday as runner-up Saint Godefroy ran out a 2 1/2l winner in the Grand Cross de Mont de Marsan, under champion rider Felix de Giles.

The €52,000 contest over 4,700m (2m 7f) took place at Pau in the absence of a serviceable track at […]