Crystal Cup finale to be run at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse will host the final race of the Crystal Cup Challenge for 2013 at The International on Friday, December 13th, when the leading European cross country champion will be crowned.

The Crystal Cup brings together a total of 10 races across Europe staged in France, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Great Britain, with combined prize money of almost €700,000. The most successful stable, accumulating the highest number of points throughout the series, will receive the Crystal Cup and a cash bonus to be shared between the leading Trainer and Owner.

The 10-race series is hosted by many of Europe's premier racecourses, over unique combinations of hedges, banks, ditches and timber.

The Challenge began in Pau in South West France in February and the final race is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.

Throughout the year the series took in four further races in France and visits to Punchestown for the La Touche Cup, Waregem in Belgium for the Grand Steeple Chase of Flanders, Merano in Italy for the Grand Cross and to the Czech Republic for the Velka Pardubika.

Following nine races, the husband and wife team of Nick and Jane Williams from Devon lead the Crystal Sup series.

Nick, the current leading Trainer and Jane, the current leading Owner also won the series in 2012.

This year they have travelled with various horses throughout Europe scoring points at Fontainebleau, Lion d'Angers, Waregem, Craon, Merano, Pardubice and just last month finished first and second with Maljimar and Sarika at Compiegne in France.

French trainer Patrice Quinton, who is based on the coast at Dragey in the Manche department by Mont-Saint-Michel, plans on bringing horses over from France to run in the cross country race at The International.

Patrice has approximately 50 horses in training, he owns and trains 35 of these under the ownership of Ecurie des Dunes.

Patrice started out as a permit holder 17 years ago and has held a professional licence since 2011. He has had one previous runner at Cheltenham.

Jane Williams, who has campaigned three horses throughout the year in Crystal Cup races, reported: "Shalimar Fromentro is on course for the final race in the Crystal Cup series. He has had some bad luck in earlier races but he is currently very well at home.

"He was knocked off his feet in both the Velka Pardubika and the Grand Steeple Chase Cross Country at Compiegne, so we are hoping for a clear round at Cheltenham.

"I am delighted to be leading the Owner's division of the Crystal Cup series heading into the last race and Nick is happy to be leading the Trainers title. We have enjoyed travelling around Europe with my horses.

"It is essential to travel to stand any chance of winning the Crystal Cup so I made a resolute plan at the beginning of the season to make a determined effort to win the series.

"It is good to hear that the French are bringing horses over to Cheltenham to take part in the final race. We have been neck and neck with French trainer Patrice Quinton and owners Ecurie Des Dunes throughout the year so we were thrilled to widen our lead by finishing 1-2 with Maljimar and Sarika at Compiegne recently.

"Nick and I are looking forward to being at Cheltenham on Friday for The International meeting and look forward to holding up the Crystal Cup trophies."

Patrice Quinton, currently lying second behind Nick Williams in the trainer's table, commented "Before Compiègne in September I originally wanted to come to try and win the Crystal Cup. Now that does not look possible, but I am coming because I think that my horses will run well at the track. I had a great first experience at Cheltenham and I hope that they will run better than that this time."

"Guillaume Macaire said to me last week that I couldn't call myself a trainer until I have won at Cheltenham!"

Patrice is bringing three horses to run in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and commented "Taupin Rochelais has the most quality in terms of pure class but things have gone wrong for him the last three times.

"Taiga des Chambres won well at Compiegne and I think that she should adapt well to the track and the fences even though it is over a longer distance.

"Pasquini Rouge was will be running in only his second cross-country race. He didn't have much margin in the weights in chases, so I decided to put him over the cross, and he should adapt well."

French trainer Jean-Paul Gasnier, a permit holder based near Lion d'Angers, who is bringing Quercy du Manoir to run in the cross country race, commented "He has been a very difficult horse but he has improved a lot with age. The hood and blinkers are really the key to him and I think he should adapt very well to Cheltenham. He was going really well last time at Compiègne before falling at the Irish bank, and I think he would have been really competitive at the finish.

Jean-Paul Gasnier's son Angelo, who is first jockey to Laurent Viel, will ride Quercy du Manoir. Jean-Paul continued "It was more Angelo's idea to come here, as he is keen to discover Cheltenham and so persuaded me. I have heard that the atmosphere is unlike anything in France so I am looking forward to it."

The presentation of the Crystal Cup will take place on the winner's podium at Cheltenham Racecourse after the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Friday, December 13th.

For more information about the Crystal Cup please visit www.crystalcup.org. Racing fans can follow the news on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crystalcup and on Twitter @crystalcupraces.