11:30 – 1st race
VCES a.s. Stakes – Lata Brandisová Stakes
Crosscountry steeplechase – Stakes Category I – 4+ mares – 4200 metres – CZK 200 000
Tipster’s verdict: In this year‘s Lata Brandisová Stakes, last year’s winner Babilonia will take on 5 challengers, 3 of which made their debut in crosscountry races this spring. This year, Babilonia did not run over her favoured distance until August, when she finished 2nd and impoved on the poor impression left by her runs earlier in the season. Her chances will be improved if the race is run at a high tempo. If they only start to compete at the end of the race, the younger mares will have a better chance. Four of the other mares met here in June over a shorter distance. On that occasion, SARDINIE won with a strong finish, and I expect the same kind of race today. Kubera, which finished not far behind the winner, Sardinie, is not without a chance. However, she is not a reliable jumper, so Askerana and Kamaxi seem to be a safer choice for places. In her most recent race, Kamaxi showed that a distance of more than 4000 metres suits her, and that she was currently in good form. Askerana met Babilonie in August and finished less than a length behind her. She has also been improving, but her stamina is limited. I therefore favour Kamaxi for second place. (Martin Jakoubek)
Tip: Sardinie – Kamaxi – Askerana
12:10 – 2nd race
Chládek a Tintěra, Pardubice a.s. Stakes – Czech Steeplechase Association Stakes
Crosscountry steeplechase – Stakes Category I – 4-y-o – 4200 metres – CZK 200 000
Tipster’s verdict: Just four horses have been declared to run in the top race of the season for 4-year-old crosscountry chasers. Two of them have already won a crosscountry steeplechase at Pardubice. DALIBOR was successful at the end of May, but he has not reappeared on the course since then. He was due to run in a trial race in the September meeting at Pardubice, but the raceday had to be postponed until nearer to Velka Pardubicka day because of the extreme rains and flooding. His connections therefore decided to scratch him from the trial. However, horses trained by Štěpánka Myšková are usually in good form even after quite a long break from racing. George of Beaumont has won two races, but when he met with Dalibor he lost by more than 3 lengths. Unlike Dalibor, however, he has run over today’s distance, when he won easily here in September, while the reliable Claudio battled on to take 3rd place. He should be able to continue his sequence of 3rd places. In August he was beaten by Poirot, but only a nose separated them at the winning post, and Claudio was not ridden out in the last metres (Jaroslav Fabris).
Tip: Dalibor – George of Beaumont – Claudio
12:50 – 3rd race
BICZ holding 2023 Cup – Jiří Šindler 33 Times Starter of the Velka Pardubicka Memorial
Crossccountry Steeplechase – Category III handicap – 5-y-o+ – 4600 metres – CZK 99 000
Tipster’s verdict: The top weight will be carried by Elsid, which in June crushed his rivals by 11 lengths, but in a higher category race 3 weeks ago he did not get engaged much. This may have been due to the depth of the ploughed fields, whereas he prefers quicker ground. Giorgione finished behind him that day. In a similar handicap race here in August, DANG DOSS finished 2nd. He can continue to improve, since he only began running in crosscountry races at Pardubice this year. Turion, which also only started running at Pardubice this year, passed the winning post 7 lengths behind him on that occasion. Tribute is in a similar situation. He has not done well recently, but like his half-brother Trezor, the King of the Qualification Races, he may be better over a longer distance. (Ferdinand Minařík)
Tip: Dang Doss – Turion – Giorgione
13:30 – 4th race
Governor of the Pardubice Region Stakes – Vltava Stakes
Crosscountry steeplechase – National Listed – 5-y-o+ – 4500 metres – CZK 500 000
Tipster’s verdict POPINJAY won a race over the same distance in September easing up, and announced himself as a candidate to win the Vltava Stakes. On that occasion, he came up against some interesting horses, including previously undefeated Fort Medoc. However, Popinjay put in an outstanding performance, and went away from his rivals at the end of the race. He was following up from his win in August, and it seemed that he was in excellent form. On the other hand, Fort Medoc had shown some reluctance to run away from him, and he did not jump ideally. This was Fort Medoc‘s first ever defeat, and he finished back in 6th place. He cannot be written off, as he has won two Category I races. Nevertheless, Jan Faltejsek has chosen to ride Korfu, winner of this year’s 2nd Velka Pardubicka Qualification race, instead of Fort Medoc. The Velka Pardubicka would be too long for Korfu, but he should finish right near the head of the field in the Vltava Stakes. The promising No Risk No Fun could also get into the frame. In the past he finished 2nd behind Popinjay, and the third horse in that race, Sasiro, could also do well. No Risk No Fun and Sasiro both showed that they like Pardubice, and good performances by them would be no surprise. (Michaela Moricová)
Tip: Popinjay – Korfu – Fort Medoc
14:15 – 5th race
Forests of the Czech Republic Stakes – Labe Stakes
Crosscountry steeplechase – Listed – 6-y-o+ – 5200 metres – CZK 700 000
Tipster’s verdict: In the Labe Stakes, too, we find the winner of one of the Velka Pardubicka Qualification Races. This time it is AENEAS, winner of the September qualifier. He prefers shorter distances, and since he is really a pretty good horse he can win this race for the second time in his career. He won the Labe Stakes in 2021, and then he ran twice in the Vltava Stakes. He has also gathered in numerous wins at Lysá nad Labem, where he has won again this year. Aeneas is a special concept on the Czech racecourses, but he will have some strong competition, including Coupstar. He won the Korok Opening Crosscountry Steeplechase at Pardubice, but then twice failed to get round. Nevertheless, he does have what it takes to give his connections what they want. The field also includes Brunch Royal. He did not get round in the 2022 Velka Pardubicka, but he has gathered in plenty of prizemoney in France and Italy. He has run only once in the current season, finishing 4th at Merano – not a brilliant result, but it deserves some respect. Ztracenka and String both have a lot of experience at Pardubice. Both are in quite good form, and could get into the frame. (Michaela Moricová)
Tip: Aeneas – Coupstar – Ztracenka
14:55 – 6th race
SOMI Group Popler Memorial
Crosscountry steeplechase – National Listed – 5-y-o+ – 3300 metres – CZK 300 000
Tipster’s verdict: The favourites in this race will be Erik le Viking and Angkor Wat, which finished first and second in the September trial race, separated by just half a length. While Angkor Wat had been expected to do well, Erik le Viking was a complete outsider. However, the recent form of his stable indicates that this was not a chance result, and I expect Erik to be in contention again today. If the week before the race is not sunny and dry, and if the going does not get firmer, I will favour him over Angkor Wat. To win the race, however, I select QUART DE GARDE, which was hard to beat in short-distance crosscountry races last year. He is returning to the track after a break of 5 months, but if he is on his average form he should definitely finish in the first three in this company. With the engagement of Jan Faltejsek to ride him, my expectations have risen, and I believe that he will win today. (Martin Jakoubek)
Tip: Quart de Garde – Erik le Viking – Angkor Wat
16:00 – 7th race
134th running of the Velka Pardubicka with Slavia Insurance, under the aegis of the Minister of Agriculture, Marek Výborný
Crosscountry Steeplechase – Stakes Listed – 6+ – 6900 metres – CZK 5 000 000
Tipster’s verdict: Triple participant in the Aintree Grand National Coko Beach is the highest class horse in the field, and he also has experience of crosscountry racing at Punchestown. Neverthelss, Pardubice’s crosscountry races are something different. A safer tip is therefore GODFREY, which already shaped up well last year and this year won what appeared to be the Qualification Race with the strongest field. Last year’s third past the post in the Velka, Star, is not getting any younger, but in the first Qualification Race this year he was in contention for the leading places. 4th place behind behind these two went to Sexy Lord, which is likely to set the pace in this year‘s Velka. Behind these in the first Qualification Race was Her Him, which had previously specialized in races on grass tracks. However, after gaining experience in crosscountry races at Pardubice, he can be a tip to spring a surprise. Unlike in past years, Dulcar de Sivola can be a contender, after improving considerably following a move to a new trainer. Argano has not shown as good form this year as in the past, but his performances may improve in the autumn, as in previous years, and the defensive tactics used on him may be more successful over the longer distance. Although he has not yet shown as much as in previous years, his form may improve in the autumn, and the defensive tactics that are used on him may be more effective over the longer distance of the Velka. Santa Klara is an interesting runner, though her participation in the million-crown Qualification Race was not a test her stamina. (Ondřej Blahník)
Tip: Godfrey – Coko Beach – Star
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