Seven runners go to post for the I N G Grand Steeplechase de Flandres on Tuesday following final declarations, and with the withdrawal of the sole British representative, the race looks to be a showdown between the two leading Crystal Cup rivals of the past two seasons, Josef Vana and current title holder Patrice Quinton.
The €100,000 handicap launches a series of 12 high value cross country races that comprise the unique Crystal Cup, and the pursuit of bonuses worth €35,000 to the winning owner (2024-5 Scuderia Aichner CZ) and €10,000 to the winning trainer (2024 Patrice Quinton).
Vana, who in recent years has campaigned horses in France in greater and greater numbers, has declared 8 runners across the four Jumps contests at Waregem, all owned by Scuderia Aichner in an effort to play the French at their own game, with French-breds with impeccable jumping credentials.
His best chance appears to be with 8 year old Chez Demonmirail, who comes here fresh from winning a Group I at Merano in June, and a fourth in a shorter 3,900m chase at the same venue earlier in the month, a race he won in 2024. Jan Kratochvil takes the mount.
Second string, but only a half kilo lower in the weights, is 9 year old Grand de Thaix, second to his stablemate in the Group I at Merano, but who reversed the placings in the second race, where he was runner-up.
Quinton fields 3 in the race, but none jumps out as a clear favourite. Morlaix winner Captain du Berlais was well beaten in a Clarefontaine handicap in late July, but carries a 5kg lower weight in this race which may well play in his favour. Thomas Beaurain takes the ride.
Premier Vert hasn’t won since 2020, and his weight reflects that. A stronger case can be made for Gino des Dunes, runner-up in this race 12 months ago, and now receiving 6kg from the top-weighted Speed Emile. Felix de Giles, France’s cravache d’or, is in the plate.
Vana and Quinton are not the only show in town however. Placenet won this race a year ago, and has since changed stables to Robert Collet. He showed his limitations when a 17l fourth to Gran Diose in the Prix de la Haye Jousselin at Auteuil last November, and the drop in class to handicap is to his advantage. However, he has struggled to find the same form that won him this race 12 months ago in the intervening period.
Top weight Speed Emile had a curtailed 2024-5 season after winning Merano’s Gran Premio, a Crystal Cup qualifier, last September. He reappeared to launch the second half of this year in July at Chateaubriant, losing out by 15l in holding ground in a pipe-opener over hurdles. He’s sure to strip fitter for that run, and his weight is not prohibitive. He deserves to be top of the handicap on previous form, and looks the pick of the bunch.