The Crystal Cup leaderboard compressed among the leaders at a scintillating Cheltenham, where Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell, whose Inothewayurthinkin won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, started his week well with first and third in the Glenfarclas Cross Country to put himself in contention for the Crystal Cup. Several of the leading trainers reconvene at Fontainebleau on Saturday, as the Challenge reaches its 10th leg, in the listed grand Cross de Fontainebleau over 6,000m (3m 6f).

The 18 entries include four individual winners of previous Crystal Cup challenges, notably Iceo Madrik, winner of the leg at Compiegne in November, who was balloted out of the handicap at Cheltenham. The Compiegne race, in which the Cottin – trained 7 year old went from first to last to first again, was perhaps not of the best quality in hindsight.

Cottin has also entered  Illico, 4th in the last two runnings of Pau’s big cross country, and Noble Run, a 4l second in his maiden run over chase fences at Nancy a week ago. This would be quite a step up in class.

Current leader in the rankings, Josef Vana, rarely runs horses over the winter, as training in Czechia during the winter presents its own challenges. However, he has entered Gap Pierji and Brunch Royal in an effort to reassert his lead. Gap Pierji of course is well known to Crystal Cup followers, winner at Wroclaw in October, whilst the 12 year old Brunch Royal steps up in class and distance for this event. Vana will be hoping to put sufficient points on the board to avoid having to travel to Punchestown.

Stalking both of these contenders is an old hand at the Crystal Cup, Patrice Quinton, who may run Iquem d’Arable and Hello de Sivola.  Iquem d’Arable was a 3 3/4l third to Hip Hop Conti in the Trophée Nationale qualifier at Lignières at the start of March, but a harsh assessment of the 7 year old would acknowledge he has only got his head in front in one of his 23 starts over obstacles.

Hello de Sivola has a similar record: one victory in 24 starts, his most recent a distance beating by Hip Hop Conti at Pau in February. However, he has been consistently running into the minor placings, and might do so again.

Notable among the remainder, 11 year old Ever Forget Me hasn’t run since Saumur last october, but is likely using this race as a precursor to a repeat of last year’s Anjou-Loire Challenge at Lion d’Angers at the end of May for his 80 year old owner, Victor Blot. Trainer Eric Leray may also run the consistent Gamsoul, and Google de Loued, for which this would be a step up in class.

The Peltier stable is represented by the admirable Miss Laura, fourth behind Ever Forget Me in Lion d’Angers’ marathon last May, but a winner three times since.

The Seror stable also has a live contender in Ici Avrilly, a seven year old most recently a 3 1/2l second behind Hip Hop Conti in Pau’s marquee cross country. She has obvious credentials to go one better.

Among the other French contenders, Elcond ‘Or Forlonge is held on his fourth to Roi Mage at Craon last September, as is Bolid du Mathan; Roi Mage, having run a  creditable seventh at Cheltenham, is likely to swerve this race in favour of the Irish Grand National. Which leaves bottom weight Kap My Sun, who comes into this race on the back of a 2 1/2l win here at Fontainebleau a month ago in a shorter race.