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Josef Aichner, one of the most prominent figures in Italian steeplechasing, has passed away at the age of 59. As recently as Sunday, Woods (Birchwood) did justice to his famous black and yellow silks by securing a final Group victory for him in the Criterium di Primavera. Over the years, these colours had become one of the symbols of steeplechase racing on the Italian peninsula.

A well-known entrepreneur in the property and construction sectors, Josef Aichner had discovered horse racing in 2007 thanks to Fatal Mac (Machiavellian). The latter had notably distinguished himself by winning the Cross delle Nazioni four times, the Italian leg of the Crystal Cup held in Merano.

From 2016 onwards, Scuderia Aichner had truly taken the sport to a new level. By investing in top-quality horses and drawing on the expertise of trainer Josef Váňa Jr, Josef Aichner had gradually built one of the most formidable jumps stables in Italy.

L’Estran in the legend of Merano

The first of his seven top-ranked Leading Owner titles came in 2019, thanks in particular to L’Estran (by Linda’s Lad). Having been claimed for €24,001 two years earlier, the horse had won his first Gran Premio Merano (GrI) that year.

L’Estran would go on to become a legend of this prestigious Italian race by adding three further victories to his record. With four consecutive wins between 2019 and 2022, he became one of the most iconic horses in the history of Merano Racecourse and the most famous ambassador for the Aichner colours.

Must-have colours for the Crystal Cup

The Crystal Cup also held a special place in Josef Aichner’s sporting career. His history with the European circuit had begun with Fatal Mac and his four victories in the Cross delle Nazioni, but it continued, several years later, through an ambitious overseas programme organised with Josef Váňa Jr.

Gap Pierji became Scuderia Aichner’s leading contender in the pan-European competition. During the 2023–2024 season, his performances in three legs saw him finish top of the individual standings and contribute to the first ever Czech victory in the history of the Crystal Cup, won jointly by Josef Váňa Jr. and Scuderia Aichner.

The following season, the black-and-yellow livery once again made its mark on the circuit through Aichner’s consistency and willingness to travel. Competing in more than half of the stages, Scuderia Aichner won the owners’ standings, driven in particular by Gap Pierji’s victory in Wrocław.

This momentum continued into the 2025–2026 season. Gap Pierji retained his title in the Polish leg in Wrocław and finished among the top horses on the circuit. Alongside him, Beau Saonois, Santa Klara and Brunch Royal also represented Josef Aichner in various of the European legs. This consistent presence – from Merano to Pardubice via Wrocław, Fontainebleau and Le Lion-d’Angers – was a testament to his passion for an international challenge.

More than 80 Group winners

The Scuderia Aichner colours have also been worn by many other champions. Mauricius (by Kapgarde) won several of Italy’s biggest hurdle races before passing the torch to the mare Kaja (by The Grey Gatsby).

Under the training of Josef Váňa Jr., Josef Aichner’s horses have secured over 80 Group victories in Italy, making their partnership one of the most successful in the recent history of Italian steeplechase racing.

Abroad, one of his most memorable victories will remain that of Suroit (by Linda’s Lad). Although not entirely at ease on the Merano course, the horse had found an ideal setting to shine in France. In 2023, he gave his owner a memorable victory in the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice (Gr3), before finishing fifth in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (GrI), up against the elite of French steeplechase racing.

With the passing of Josef Aichner, Italian and European racing have lost a passionate, ambitious owner who was deeply committed to the sport of steeplechasing. His black and yellow colours, worn at the very highest level in Italy and across Europe, will forever be associated with L’Estran, Merano and the Crystal Cup.

An enormous Holiday crowd cheered off the 10 runners for the 2026 Anjou-Loire Challenge on what amounts to a long weekend in France that starts with  Thursday’s Ascension Day. A substantial proportion of the workforce takes Friday off to make a four day weekend, and an evening at the picturesque Lion d’Angers Racecourse is now a standing dish.

This is a race where it helps to know the way across a bewildering 50 obstacles and 4 1/2m or 7,000m to use French parlance. Damien Thomas sent Hersent de Mee off in front, capturing a 5l lead over the rest of the field within yards, led by young pretender Saturne Pelem and Miss Laura, third last year and a valiant old favourite among this crowd.

By the time they descended the three steps of the Piano, an eclectic but accurate description of the tiered bank that might more readily have been part of last weekend’s Badminton Horse Trials, the field covered 20l, Gemini d’Ax in rear, last year’s winner Gold Allen one up.

The order remained largely unchanged to halfway, when Raphael Mayeur was unseated from Saturne Pelem at the 26th. Six fences later, Gold Allen had jumped his way into contention, and thereafter, his jumping gained him ground at each fence as the pace quickened. Long time leader Hersent de Mee went with Clement Lefebvre for a while, Miss Laura still in third, but Lefebvre asserted at the 39th, and made the best of his way home.

Running down the hill toward two out, the leader was still on the bridle, and in truth, whilst shaken up between the last two, he was untroubled to come home 10l ahead of improving Hiso, Miss Laura a bridesmaid once again.

The winner is owned by leading French owner Mme Patrick Papot, long time supporters of the Jumps game. Both winner and second were bred by Bruno Vagne, who left the world of IT to breed horses and farm on 400 acres near Moulins. If his cows are of the same standard as his horses, they’ll be cleaning up in every agricultural show in the Massif Central. The Allen line is of course well known to British and Irish racing followers through horses like Envoi and Eldorado Allen.

Happy connections with Andre Martin, President Lion d’Angers, Nicholas Landon & Crystal cup VP Mario Pirone (fro right) © Aidan Gabard

Patrice Quinton’s second consecutive victory in this race with the enduring Gold Allen offered him a late flurry in the Crystal Cup standings, but it was too little, too late to catch long time leader Josef Vana, himself a keen advocate of French-bred steeplechasers. He set out his stall to win the Crystal Cup back in September, regaining it from Quinton, winner in 2025.

For the full result, follow here

Holding ground will face the ten starters for tomorrow’s Anjou-Loire Challenge, the final leg of the Crystal Cup, with honours for the season already in the bag for Czech trainer Josef Vana and his main patron Scuderia Aichner. The pairing set up an early lead in the Challenge back in the autumn, and have never looked like being caught since, despite a late flurry of points by Gavin Cromwell.

The world’s longest steeplechase nevertheless is a fascinating contest, this year restricted solely to French-trained runners, and goes off at 1945 ET, where a rematch between last year’s first and second looks on the cards again.

12 months ago, Shawinigan was bested by Gold Allen, who ran out a 10l winner under Clement Lefebvre. After a mid-winter break, Patrice Quinton’s cross country standard bearer prepped with a 2l second to Klitcho de Belair in leg 10 at Fontainebleau, with Miss Laura behind. He is admirably consistent for the Papot family who support the sport so strongly in France.

Shawinigan has also had a break since the conclusion of the Pau season in February, so comes here with fresh legs, looking to reclaim the race he won in 2024. The pair make a strong case for sending the trophy back to Dragey-Ronthon tomorrow evening.

Three of the entries fought out the finish of a shorter cross country here at the start of April, in which Hiso prevailed against Illico and Job d’Ete. The distances of 1 1/4l and 1l mean there’s not much between this younger generation of chasers now reaching their peak. Thomas Journiac takes the ride on Hiso for Adrien Sannier and remains the strongest of the younger generation.

William Menuet’s Saturne Pelem is another youngster who may have a bearing on this race. Two previous runs at Lion d’Angers last month concluded in a short head victory over Miss Laura with Speed des Landes, Gemini d’Ax and Hersent du Mee behind. In the first of these races, won by Hiso (See above), the eight year old was well behind, but he looked to improve a fortnight later.

A compelling race looks in prospect, irrespective of the lack of overseas runners. See the full field here

A maximum of 14 will go to post for the finale of this year’s Crystal Cup at Lion d’Angers next Thursday, with an all-French field littered with previous winners of France’s longest race.

The popular 7,300m (4m 4f) cross country is a feature of Lion d’Angers’ annual calendar, and with good reason. The € 95,000 prize for this listed chase is € 40,000 more than the standard return for listed races, and the unique range of obstacles requires a versatile performer, and not merely a dour stayer.

Patrice Quinton has entered four, and whilst he has a choice of entries, the first two from 2025 will be at the top of many lists to repeat the exercise. In that instance 12 months ago, Gold Allen had 10l to spare over Shawinigan, and the choice of stable jockey Clement Lefebvre will be a good guide to their respective chances.

Quinton’s other entries include the seven year old Captain du Berlais, an 8 1/2l third to Klitchko de Belair in the Grand Cross de Lignières recently, and the veteran Hello de Sivola, who also filled the minor placings with a 12l third in Strasbourg’s Grand Cross. He will certainly need this distance, but as Vital Island proved at Punchestown last week, older horses can retain their form over these longer distances.

A British connection with this race is maintained by Joker Cauvelliere, under the guidance of Jacques Delaunay, and owned by former British and Irish trainer Sue Bramall. Now in her eighties, Sue enjoyed success at the Cheltenham Festival with Antonin in 1994. The seven year old has never run over this extended trip, but was successful over a shorter 4,100m at Pau over the winter, relegating Hello de Sivola to a 7l second place when in receipt of 4kg. They now re-oppose on level terms.

Philippe and Camille Peltier also have a strong hand with three entries, including Miss Laura, fourth in this race 24 months ago, and whose rider parted company with the 11 year old mare in last year’s renewal. Stablemate Illico has been running consistently over shorter distances, without quite hitting the sweet spot.  Also with solid credentials is 10 year old Great du Large, 1 4 1/2l fourth to Saturne Pelem here at Lion d’Angers last month, a race in which Miss Laura missed out by a short head, and Joker Cauvelliere was out back.

On the basis of that run at Lion d’Angers a month ago, Saturne Pelem has to come into the reckoning. Joel Juillet’s 8 year old, trained by William Menuet, ran on gamely to fend off the late finish of Miss Laura, his first victory since 2024. This is, however, something of a step up in class, albeit that the cross country population is quite condensed, with high transferability between grades. The form is solid however, with a number of the entries behind, including the not yet mentioned Gemini d’Ax.

Another youngster on the upgrade is Job d’Ete, a 3/4l second in a 4,500m cross country at Lion d’Angers last month, trained by Sebastien Zuliani. The winner in that race, Hiso, re-opposes on better terms, Illico was back in third on that day, with Hersant de Mee well held.

A full list of the entries is here with final declarations on Tuesday.

Busselton enjoyed a back-to-back win in the Mongey Communications La Touche Cross Country Steeplechase at Punchestown yesterday in a thrilling finish to the festival’s longest race.

The distances of 3/4l and 1/2l at the end of 4 miles and 35 fences told the story of a highly competitive race on paper, but following the withdrawal of Vanillier on veterinary advice, Busselton had this covered through, taking a prominent position from the off, and picking off long time leader Vital Island two out.

Where last year the winner had been trained by Joseph O’Brien, this time around, his handler was king of the banks, Enda Bolger, winning this race for a record 15th time, with a horse he described as hardly your orthodox cross country animal. At 15.3, he’s on the small side, but with the heart of a lion, and sound as a bell.

Joint owners Ronnie Bartlett and Justin Carthy had good reason to look pleased as punch, but this race gives disproportionate pleasure to winners, through its lengthy heritage rather than its prize fund, and plays so successfully to the grass roots of the sport.

Darragh O’Keeffe acknowledges the return of his popular winner, Busselton © Aidan Gabard

Rider Darragh O’Keeffe enjoyed a Punchestown double, enabling him to keep tabs on Jack Kennedy at the top of the Jockeys’ Championship, just 4 winners separating them. He spoke of Bolger, “He’s been massive in my career. I started out with him and he’s an absolute genius with these horses.

“I winged the second last and got left alone in front but he kind of parked going to the last. As soon as he heard the other horses coming, he battled back again.”

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Outside The Door ran the race of his life to hold off The Goffer in third, whilst 13/8 favourite Desertmore House was disappointing after a mistake at the 24th, from which he never really regained his momentum.

A majority of Bolger’s horses have always been in the ownership of the sport’s largest patron, J P McManus, whose interests are largely focused around Irish and British racing rather than cross country exploits further afield. By contrast, Ronnie Bartlett is more of an adventurer (his Galvin was touched off in the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills in October ’24), so it must be hoped that some of the more valuable cross country races will come on to their agenda, perhaps even the Velka Pardubicka won by Stumptown in October last.

Former La Touche winner Vital Island belied his 13 years in leading for much of the race, and retirement may have to wait. There’s another race in him yet.

Sadly, Vanillier’s withdrawal robbed the race of any spice for the Crystal Cup standings. It needed Gavin Cromwell’s veteran to run and win to put any pressure on Josef Vana at the top of the Trainers’ leaderboard. With a comfortable 16.5pt lead, he would need to send more than one horse to Lion d’Angers and win to challenge, so it’s a safe bet this Crystal Cup is headed for the Czech Republic.

See full result here