3 minute read

About an hour out of Prague by train lies the city of Pardubice, home of one of the world's "must see" races.

It is a 6,900m Cross-country steeplechase over 31 jumps and over every surface imaginable. The official description says it is a "turf" race but that's only part of the story - it is over turf, dirt, ploughed fields, probably a cabbage patch but since the riders disappear from view through some trees at the back we can't be certain.

This year's edition has attracted four UK based riders who probably fear Brexit more than this. Tom Garner has the ride on Stretton whose trainer Olehla trained the wonder mare Registana who won this four times. Leighton Aspell, a Grand National winner, is on Vajgars, James Best is on Ribelino, a French bred horse who holds the record for this race from 2015 of 8 minutes 56.01. Andrew Glassonbury rides Nikko who was first past the post in 2015 but got dq'd for drugs.

The last Brit to win this was Charlie Mann in 1995.

The grand old man of the VP is Josef Váńa who has won 8 of then and has ridden in many more and now trains. His son of the same name will be on No Time To Lose, and he will also saddle Zarif, Theophile and Ange Guardian.

Tziagane du Berlais will be the mount of multiple VP winner Jan Faltejsak.

The most feared jump Taxis will come as jump no. 4 of the 31 jumps.

This event attracts huge crowds from all over Europe - I once met an Irish girl whose fiance had been a butcher in Mittagong - it's that sort of place. Families, including their pets, make this one of the most popular days of the year.