Key Facts And Runners For The 2019 Velká Pardubická! + 14/1 Selection!

On Sunday, Pardubice in the Czech Republic hosts the famous Velká Pardubická, a cross-country event that has taken place since 1874. With twenty-one runners expected to line up for this year’s renewal, we should be treated to another fantastic race. We also have plenty of other horse racing tips on Sunday!

What is the Velká Pardubická?

Raced at Pardubice racecourse in the Czech Republic, the Velká Pardubická is a cross-country event raced over the 4m 2f distance. It’s quite the stamina test and the thirty-one obstacles make it quite the challenge too. It has been running since 1874 and has been won by jockey Jan Faltejsek for five of the last seven years, with that adding another fascinating angle to the contest.

What Obstacles Do They Jump?

They jump thirty-one fences in total in the Velká Pardubická, with eleven different obstacles providing a very unique challenge for both horse and jockey. The obstacles are as follows –

1. Hedge
2. Hedge With Ditch 
3. Small water jump
4. Taxis Ditch – Perhaps the most famous obstacle at Pardubice, jumped once in the contest and is only used for the Velká Pardubická. It is a one-meter deep and four-meter long ditch with a 1.5-meter high hedge.
5. Irish Bank 
6. Popkovic Ditch
7. French Jump
8. Small Gardens
9. Extended Taxis Ditch
10. English Jump, 10a Extended Taxis Ditch
11. Hedge With Ditch

Are There Any British Runners?

This year sees just one British runner making the trip to Pardubice, with that being David Pipe’s Rathlin Rose. The eleven-year-old is a popular horse, winning the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown back in 2017. He proved he retained most of his ability despite his age when winning a Class 2 handicap at Ascot back in March. Cross country racing takes him into the unknown, but it would be no surprise to see him taking to it well. If he does so, he’s got the class to be involved.

Who Are The Main Runners?

The market is headed by last year’s winner Tzigane Du Berlais, who is ridden by Jan Faltejsek, who bids for a remarkable sixth win in the past eight renewals of this race. He didn’t have Stretton far behind twelve months ago and there is unlikely to be much between the two once again.

Ange Guardian finished sixth in last year’s race and was a winner at Pardubice when last seen, landing a 3m 4f conditions race. That was a brilliant preparation run and he’s had longer to recover for this year’s Velká, which could make a positive difference. Talent has taken off since going over the marathon distances and landed a good pot over 3m 4f here back in September, beating Theophilos in a Listed contest to make it 2/2 in races beyond three miles.

Stretton To Go Two Places Better

Stretton was third in last year’s renewal under Tom Garner, running a very brave race and only being collared in the closing stages. He had a useful preparation run behind Ange Guardian over 3m 5f here back in August under Jan Faltejsek and that should have put him just right for this race. Currently priced at 14/1 in the market, with Ange Guardian at 5/1 and Tzigane Du Berlais at 7/2, he does look some value in a race where he’ll be able to show his best.