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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

Just two races remain in this year’s Crystal Cup, with 14 declared for the sole Irish leg at Punchestown on Thursday, a unique race which features banks larger than any among our other races. The €40,000 contest is at the bottom end of the spectrum for prize money, but right at the top for entertainment value.

Had the leaderboard been a little closer, it might have been enough to flush out a French or Czech contender, but with just one runner, second-placed Gavin Cromwell will have to run at least one horse, probably more, to overtake his Czech rival at Lion d’Angers in a fortnight and win on Thursday as well.  The destination for both the owner’s and trainer’s prize looks set for a return to the Czech Republic therefore.

However, Cromwell will not have the Mongey Communications La Touche all to himself. Vanillier has a punishing 12st 3 to carry over this extended 4m trip, and we’re 13 months on from the moment he might have covered himself in glory but for taking the wrong course when leading the festival cross country at Cheltenham in 2025. That said, he ran well to finish a 20l third to stablemate Final Orders in this race, and is a course winner here in February. He’ll know his way around under Keith Donoghue for sure.

Vanillier shares top weight with Outside The Door, trained in Kildare by Padraig Roche, whose best effort these past 12 months is a 15l second in a 0-145 handicap here 12 months back. He’s since won a lower grade race at Wexford, but this is a first tilt at this distance.

The first and second in this race last year re-oppose. Busselton came out best that time around, and has since changed stables to the king of cross country, Enda Bolger. On that occasion, Desertmore House gave way by 3/4l. Both carry an extra 5lb this year, and if Desertmore House repeats the form that won him a similar banks race here in November, he looks a big player (see Race 1 in film beneath). On that occasion, he saw off the Goffer, Vanillier, Busselton, Outside The Door and veteran Vital Island. Ricky Doyle rides for Martin Brassil and he has to be in your shortlist.

Another on the shortlist is The Goffer, whom Gordon Elliott will be hoping adds to his efforts to become champion trainer in Ireland. On his best efforts, he’s not been far away from Vanillier here in February or Desertmore House in November. With better luck in running, those tables might be turned to provide a third career win over fences under Rules.

Dorans Law is debuting on cross country racing, whilst Shannon Royale is well held on course form by Vanillier.

The remainder of the field has already been dismissed by oddsmakers, with prices in excess of 25/1. Notable among these, Vital Island’s best days are behind him; Bodhisattva has not won in 3 years, and was beaten over 50l behind Stumptown on his one previous cross country outing; Benny The Duke was out with the washing in this race 12 months ago; Walking On Glass is well held on November form with Desertmore House, a race in which Lough Derg Spirit unseated his rider.

Two of the outsiders need a special mention. Cavalry Master ran prominently in Stumptown’s Velka Pardubicka Chase in October before fading and running on at one pace, whilst The Bosses Oscar ran Desertmore House to 3/4l in a Damma House Point-to-Point in November. If repeating that form when under the guidance of Gordon Elliott, then he might produce a springer.

For a full list of runners and riders, see here

The Lageneste – Macaire stable produced a second Crystal Cup Series win at Fontainebleau this afternoon, as 7 year old Klitchko de Belair outstayed his rivals to score a 2l victory over Gold Allen in this feature 6,000m contest.

The holding ground seemed to hold no fears for the son of Walzertakt, winner of the Compiegne leg in November, and maintaining an unbeaten record of 2/2 in 2026. Always handy, the favourite was pushed up into the lead at the 16th of the 22 fences, and made the best of his way home, finishing with plenty of gusto to justify near even money support.

Gold Allen and Miss Laura, both veterans of this genre of racing, harried the favourite over the final mile, but the younger horse defied top weight and the concession of 4 and 5kg respectively to assert his authority under Kilian Dubourg.

The field was well bunched for much of the race, runners jostling for position. Only Elcond ‘Or Forlonge, always the back marker, never really figured, and he was losing touch when pulled up at the 18th.

Co-trainer Hector de Lagneste commented, “He loves this type of race. he’s been in great form and we took advantage. We’ll have a look at his programme to come; he might head for Craon.”

Crystal Cup Chair Hugues Crosnier with trainer Hector de Lageneste (left) of our leading light, with Kilian Dubourg and remaining connections

With a race in Ireland and a final race in France, this listed contest held no great relevance for the destination of this year’s Crystal Cup. The Owners’ trophy looks in the bag with gallant travellers Scuderia Aichner in a league of their own. Possession of the Trainers’ prize could be in question if Gavin Cromwell fields several and fills the places in Punchestown’s La Touche in a month’s time. A result there would force both he and Josef Vana to field runners in France’s longest race and the Crystal Cup finale, the Anjou-Loire Challenge on May 14th.

See the full result here

Runners for the Grand Cross de Fontainebleau are now declared, and an initial entry of 14 has reduced to eight, but a splendid eight at that. We are in for a treat of a race.  Winners of 40 races between them and €1,240,515 in prize money, a clash of generations sees new pretenders try their mettle against the older generation.

Patrice Quinton, who has few peers in this particular genre of the sport, has retained two of his three entries, led by Gold Allen, winner of the marathon Anjou Loire Challenge at Lion d’Angers last May, and the ten year old would be a popular winner for his elderly owners. Clement Lefebvre takes the mount in preference to the stable second string.

Carrying 2kg less, relative newcomer Encore Une Belle is yet to win over cross country obstacles. There’s a first time for everything however, and she has been running with credit into the minor placings over the winter, most recently over Fontainebleau’s shorter 4,600m course earlier in the month. This is her first time over this extended distance, perhaps hoping to blunt the finishing speed of her rivals.

French steeplechasers start early so by gallic standards, the 11 year old Miss Laura is in the twilight of here career. But what a career though, with 17 wins from 43 runs, her strike rate is impressive. In this, her eighth season of racing, she has only failed to win in one season. This is her opening bow of 2026 however, but she’s won first time out after the winter break before, and the trainer combo of Philippe and Camille Peltier will have her primed to continue where she left off, particularly as she is handily weighted against horses she’s beaten before whilst giving weight. Matthieu Chailloleau comes in for the ride.

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 merits strong consideration under stable jockey Kilian Dubourg.

It’s difficult to make a strong case for Hemevoici, whilst Elcond’or Forlonge is back running over longer trips after a spell over shorter distances. In three previous attempts over distances in excess of 5,000m, the 10 year old gelding won once, fell once and was pulled up in the other contest, so we know he’ll stay but is he up to this higher class of race? He’s the sort who may well scrape a place, particularly with Cravache d’Or rider Felix de Giles in the plate.

Of the remaining two, Desert Storm looks out of his depth, but Cape of Love has not finished out of the frame in four races around Fontainebleau this winter, and the winning distances have been short each time. This is a first step up to a longer distance  which may bring his stamina into play for trainer Christian Dubourg.

See the full field here

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.