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Fourteen entries comprise leg 10 of the Crystal Cup as it descends upon Fontainebleau this Sunday and with an all-French field, it’s an opportunity for the traditional leaders in the Crystal Cup to reassert their credentials, although the chances of a French victor carrying off this year’s Crystal Cup are minimal.

The field is headed by Klitchko de Belair, who has been running admirably at this level since winning at Craon last June. He was a 3l second to Roi Mage in Craon’s Grand Cross last September, and had Jade de la Roque 13l in arrears when winning Compiegne’s Grand Cross in November too. Those two victories have won him a penalty of 7kg extra, but at just 7, he has a few years on some of his rivals here that are more exposed, and as the only representative of the Lageneste-Macaire stable, he is likely to stand his ground.

Patrice Quinton has a choice of three candidates to declare. Shawinigen has run some great races, including a noble second to Gold Allen in the Anjou-Loire Challenge of last year, and a stirring victory at Haras du Pin where he nabbed Klitchko de Belair on the line when in receipt of 3kg. This longer distance should not inconvenience him.

Stable mate Gold Allen was well behind in that race, yet brought out his best at Lion d’Angers last may for the longest race in the calendar, and is likely being prepped for a repeat for nonogenarian owner Mme Patrick Papot.

Quinton may also introduce 7 year old mare Encore Une Belle who has been running over shorter distances, so far without striking gold. off a weight of just 66kg, however, the scales are gradually turning in her favour.

Also stepping up in trip for the first time is 6 year old mare Katell des Blins, trained by Kevin Communier. She’s not run over more than 4,650m before, but carries a penalty for two wins at Pau in January, both within 10 days of each other.

Hemevoici under the guidance of Francois Nicolle, who attended Cheltenham, was a distant fifth at Lignières recently but won an amateur cross country at Pau back in January over a shorter trip.

Emanuel Clayeux has a choice of two entries in Irundo and Ilbao. Irundo is stepping up both in trip and class, this his first race over more than 5,200m. He had Encore Une Belle behind when winning over a shorter distance here at Fontainebleau earlier this month and is on a hat-trick. Ilbao has a bit to find on his attempts to date although he ran Etonnant to 2 1/2l at Lyon earlier this month.

Philippe Peltier has Miss Laura entered, a mare that has given immeasurable pleasure to her co-owner Daniel Miloux. The 11 year old has won 17 of her 43 races and appears to be improving with age. Three victories in 2025 included cross countries at Lion d’Angers, Saumur and Durtal, and she is handily weighted against horses she’s previously given weight to. Despite being the old lady of the field, she is still quite capable of upsetting the odds.

Elcond ‘Or Forlonge has run consistently well at Fontainebleau, and took the shorter Colonel Bernard Marlin Challenge here in November. He has the makings of a place.

It’s difficult to make a case for Desert Storm, maiden Cape Of Love or Royal Paloma. Last word perhaps for Jade de la Roque, who meets Klitchko de Belair on 5kg better terms than when a 13l second at Compiegne in November. Even so, the winner won with something in hand, but Spring ground may allow her to keep closer order.

Full entries here. Declarations Thursday.

Velka Pardubicka winner Stumptown bids for back to back Festival success in Wednesday’s Glenfarlcas Cross Country Handicap Chase on the second day of the annual Cheltenham Festival, and punters look set to send him off favourite in the fourteen runner field for leg 9 of the Crystal Cup.

Rarely has a Festival race been so dominated by horses from Ireland as this. Just four runners hail from the home team, the last of the European entries withdrawn at 48 declaration stage. Indeed, it looks a straight fight between the yards of Gordon Elliott, who fields four against Gavin Cromwell’s three. Only Martin Brassil or Nicky Richards seem capable of upsetting an inevitable victory by these two leading pretenders.

Stumptown has been tenderly handled this season, opening his account in Pardubice last October with an accomplished win in the Czech Republic’s most famous steeplechase. That performance and his 7l win over Latenightpass in the corresponding race last year have landed him top weight of 11st 10, but rider Keith Donoughue has no peer over these fences, and will take the shortest route.

Cromwell fields veteran Vanillier and December Crystal Cup winner here over the same course and distance, Final Orders, but Donoughue has opted for the market leader, which tells its own story in a race where experience counts double.

A resurgent Caloundra is looking to bounce back after a torrid Cheltenham 12 months ago, and in Favori de Champdou, Elliott and Gigginstown look to have unearthed a suitable candidate to put them in with a big shout for another Festival cross country  success, from a yard more than familiar with the race after Tiger Roll (3) and Delta Work (1).

Favori de Champdou pulled hard and hit the floor in his first outing over the cross country obstacles in December, but has made good since in the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, and subsequently here at Cheltenham at the end of January, a race postponed from early autumn when the course was unfit. He was a comfortable 8l winner that day with Latenightpass and Final Orders well held.

If there’s to be an upset, then it may come from Desertmore House. Martin Brassil’s 11year old has spent much of his career in top class handicap company, but showed a liking for the cross country genre in Punchestown’s La Touche last May, running Busseltown to a 3/4l second, and following up over the same course albeit a shorter distance in January, with Final Orders, Vanillier and the perennial The Goffer behind. Whilst in the twilight of his career, he can capitalize on any weakness among the top two in the market.

Lower down the handicap, the sole British raider not yet exposed at this level is Nicky Richards’ Famous Bridge. This autumn’s performances have not troubled the judge much, but on a line through his disqualified first place in Haydock’s Grand National Trial of February 2025, he’d merit consideration if he takes to the unorthodox style of fences.

As to the Crystal Cup standings, a win for Cromwell would bring him within hailing distance of long time leader Josef Vana, but that ship has by and large sailed. Stumptown could yet, however, pull off the accolade of Leading Horse.

For a final list of runners & riders, click here

With weights published for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a fortnight today, the race may exclude any home-trained horse, as remarkably only David Cottin’s Karre D’As can run off a true handicap mark among the 9 entries not from Ireland.

Market favouritism is headed by Stumptown and Favori de Champdou, both previous winners over course and distance. Stumptown, top-weighted at 11st 10 has been prepped for this race, having been off the racecourse since his spectacular demolition of the home challenge for the Velka Pardubicka last October. Favori de Champdou, newer to this genre of the sport, has been getting his hand in, most recently beating J’Arrive de l’Est at Cheltenham over course and distance in January.

With Stumptown an intended runner, the chance for others lower down the handicap to get in is diminished, albeit that Gordon Elliott may choose not to run all 5 of his entries. It’s  great credit to the race that is attracting horses like Stumptown, rated 175 – a mark more than good enough to compete in the Gold Cup.

Among the leading fancies, few hold engagements elsewhere than Cheltenham, or indeed this race. J’Arrive de l’Est is entered in the Kim Muir and also the Midlands Grand National. That this race is a specialist event means few are looking elsewhere and several will likely be disappointed.

The best of the British contingent, Famous Bridge, is running from 5lb out of his handicap mark if he gets in, whilst you can surely discount the bottom weight, Knockanore, given he would be running 20lbs above his mark.

The ninth leg of the Crystal Cup returns to the home of Jump racing in 3 weeks’ time as runners from Britain, Ireland and France go head to head in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday March 11th.

Winner twice over course and distance last season, and not seen since a memorable triumph at Pardubice in October, Stumptown will vie for favouritism, and will top the weights for this limited handicap, published on February 25th.  He is one of three entries for Gavin Cromwell, who carried all before him last year with a win in the Gold Cup with Inothewayurthinkin. the other Cromwell entries are Vanillier, who could likely undertake this course blindfold, and Final Orders, who came out best in the previous Crystal Cup leg at Cheltenham last December.

Culendra has five entered to ensure the prize heads back to Ireland. Gordon Elliott has a much stronger set of candidates for this year, having endured a miserable Festival 12 months ago by his exacting standards. January Cheltenham cross country winner Favori de Champdou heads the list, supported by The Goffer, Pied Piper and Chemical Energy, with the class act Conflated, a one-time Grade I winner now confined to handicaps and banks races.

Enda Bolger, so long the king of the banks races, has just the single J P Mcmanus entry of Fakir d’Oudairies, but this is unlikely to be the Irish billionaire’s best chance of a Festival winner in 2026.

Another emerging talent, Emmet Mullins, has the able J’Arrive de l’Est, among the youngest in the field still, and runner-up in both previous outings over course and distance this season.

David Cottin has run the Caroline Tisdall owned pair Placenet and Iceo Madrik in previous editions of this race, but they look well exposed on January running, so he replaces them with Karre Das, winner of the Grade III Prix Fondeur at Auteuil last November, the race that launched Il Est Francais 15 months ago.

The best of the British contingent is probably among horses fresh to this genre of race. Most interesting of these is Famous Bridge, disqualified from the Haydock Grand National Trial 12 months ago, but struggling to rediscover that form presently. The same return to form is required by Heather Main’s Numitor, 3lbs separating their ratings at 145 and 142 respectively.

The remainder are well exposed at this level, although this does not preclude them running on through beaten horses into a place.

The entry of 23 is well down on 2025, and requires just 7 to be scratched to ensure a run. Weights will be published on February 25th. Full list of entries here