FEATURE CRYSTAL CUP EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHALLENGE
It’s an invigorating multi-nation contest that crowns the winning stable after 11 exciting cross-country steeplechases CRYSTAL CUP
W ith so much division in today’s world, the Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge achieves something unique – unity between many countries who have a shared passion for the particular racing discipline of steeplechase. Although the name ‘steeplechase’ stems from an informal four-mile race between two churches by two horsemen in 18th-century Ireland, it was the French who first introduced the official version of the contest. Belgium and Italy followed, and by 1874 Bohemia, now the Czech Republic, added the world’s most extraordinary cross circuit to the mix with the Velka Pardubika. Today, the Crystal Cup – a new initiative developed in 2010 that encompasses Cheltenham Racecourse for Britain – brings together the finest international horses and riders to honour the sport’s heritage. The 11-race series, with over €815,000 in prize money, is hosted by many of Europe’s premier racecourses over unique combinations of hedges,
banks, ditches and timber. This year’s challenge began in Pau in southwest France in February. The final race is at Cheltenham in December, following four further races in France and visits to Poland, Belgium, Italy and the Czech Republic for the Velka Pardubika. The series has seen the likes of Tiger Roll, Deltawork and Easysland battle it out over the cross-country fences, and this year’s Cheltenham leg in March was one of the most memorable yet. The great Tiger Roll, a household name thanks to his two Randox Grand National wins, went out on his sword in his final race when he finished a gallant second to stablemate Deltawork. The 2022 Crystal Cup series is the first since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was an exciting year in 2019, when trainer David Cottin took the Leading Trainer title, ending fellow French trainer Patrice Quinton’s five-year reign. This year is shaping up to be as close as ever, and we look forward to seeing how the tables look by the end of 11 exciting races.
You can find out more about all the racedays and racecourses online at crystalcup.org
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