THE CRYSTAL CUP And The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase
20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
1 The first cross country race run at Cheltenham was in 1995. It was won by McGregor The Third, trained by Gordon Richards and ridden by Brian Harding. 2 The first winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase was Spot Thedifference ridden by JT McNamara and trained by Enda Bolger. 3 Two of Cheltenham’s cross country races, the events run in December and at The Festival, are part of an international series of cross country races, collectively called The Crystal Cup. 4 The Crystal Cup series runs between August and May and as well as the two races at Cheltenham, the series visits Belgium, France, Italy, Pardubice in Czechia, Poland and Ireland. 5 The Crystal Cup is a points series that rewards owner, trainer, jockey, horse and breeder on their performances across all races, with bonus points if horses participate outside of their native country. Prize money ranges from 40,000 Euros to 100,000 Euros.
6 The current leading trainer in The Crystal Cup is Josef Vana Junior from Czechia. He leads Frenchman Patrice Quinton. 7 British trainer Nick Williams and UK-born jockey James Reveley have twice been series winners (2012 and 2013) thanks to cross country expert, Maljimar. 8 Maljimar won cross country races at Lion d’ Angers, Compiegne and Fontainebleau and also ran in the gruelling Pardubice but he never won a cross country at Cheltenham despite multiple attempts. He was second to Wichita Lineman at The Festival in 2009, in the race often celebrated for being AP McCoy’s finest ride. 9 Punchestown is the most recent addition to the Crystal Cup joining in 2024.Discussions are taking place to try and incorporate Bad Herzberg in Germany into the series where the hoses are expected to swim as well as jump.
34 The Festival Preview Magazine
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