David Cottin is well placed to wrest the lead in the Crystal Cup from Josef Vana, as the 12 leg pan-European cross country steeplechase challenge meets its 7th leg at Cheltenham this Friday.

Iceo Madrik has been given an attractive low weight to add to his victory in the sixth leg at Compiegne in early November, but a win outside France would earn the likeable Cottin double points in pursuit of the challenge, which offers €50,000 in bonuses to owners and trainers of the leading two horses.
Cottin announced his intent to pursue the challenge in the opening leg at Waregem in late August, when Placenet won handsomely. A win from the progressive Iceo Madrik on Friday would catapult Cottin to within 6 points of long time leaderboard favourite Vana, with the Czech trainer not running in England. The remaining 5 races take place either in France, at Cheltenham, or in Ireland, lending themselves to a strong French finish.

Cottin should be encouraged by the exploits of Sweet David in the corresponding Glenfarclas – sponsored chase at the November fixture, as Sweet David’s trainer had swerved running against Iceo Madrik at Compiegne on November 11th for the easier race at Cheltenham.

Current Trainer Leaderboard standings
Josef Vana (CZ) 39
Patrice Quinton (FR) 28
David Cottin (FR) 21
P Griffin (IRE) 16

Mystery surrounds the absence of any British-trained runner in the challenge. Despite favourable conditions applying to British-trained entries abroad, the Crystal Cup’s lucrative races have been largely ignored by the owner-trainer fraternity.

The Challenge moves to Pau on February 9th after Friday.

ENDS

Contact:
Peter McNeile, Crystal Cup – +44 7850 091523 or info@crystalcup.org