The Czech town of Pardubice, though it has an airport, may not have been a prominent feature on Michael O’Leary’s agenda until now. However, Sunday might see significant changes as Coko Beach, O’Leary’s own racing hope, gets ready to compete in one the world’s most challenging steeplechase races.
At 3.0pm Irish time, the historic 134th Velka Pardubicka will take place. The four and a quarter mile race, also revered as the Grand Pardubice Chase, is a cross-country challenge renowned for the famed ‘Taxis’ hurdle.
John McConnell’s Streets Of Doyen is another Irish contender among the 16 horses competing, but the spotlight will be on Coko Beach, ridden by Keith Donoghue, dressed in O’Leary’s celebrated Gigginstown Stud colours. This distinguished livery has triumphed in numerous prestigious steeplechase accolades, including three times in the Aintree Grand National and twice in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, success in the Czech Republic’s esteemed race would be a unique achievement.
Victory would also add to Coko Beach’s impressive track record. Prior performances include triumphs in the Troytown of the previous season and the 2021 Thyestes. The horse also showed prowess in Punchestown’s cross-country challenge, even though it finished 11th in the Grand National afterwards.
Moreover, the local favourite is Godfrey, while the English contender It’s A Snip was the champion of the gruelling race in 1995. Meanwhile, the weekend poses a more standard contest for O’Leary’s squad, with a solitary participant at Fairyhouse on Saturday and another in Cork the following day. Gigginstown’s prospects, Bleu De Vassy and Kish Bank, are anticipated to be the front-runners.
The attention is currently domestic and on flat racing, with Naas ushering in its Oktoberfest weekend. Saturday spotlights the famous Birdcatcher Nursery, while Sunday features the €120,000 EBF auction series grand finale.
Kevin Prendergast, esteemed veteran trainer, is focusing on the Down Royal champion colt, Iowntheball, a horse of his own. At the age of 92, Prendergast is quietly hopeful that his 82-rated contender can exceed expectations and outstrip Joseph O’Brien’s stallions Dignam and Sigh No More.
In a switch of pace, Dignam is returning to seven furlongs after an unimpressive showing in a nine-furlong Group Three at Chantilly. The possibility of improved conditions should suit him well.
Sunday presents another six-figure sum, this time in the two-mile Colm White Handicap. Aidan O’Brien fields a triple threat at both extremes of the scale. The trio at the top of the handicap is led by Falcon Eight, surpassing the 3-year-olds, Chemistry and Portland Place. Chemistry, who was only outmatched by his stablemate Fighter at the Irish Champions Festival, is fancied by Wayne Lordan.
Contrasting this, near the bottom of the pack is the lone 3-year-old Ephesus. He carries a wrong weight of 5lbs, but Wayne Hassett’s claim somewhat balances that. After stalling during the break at Galway, Ephesus might be worth another shot, with the recent Cesarewitch triumph by The Equator serving as a testament to O’Brien’s affinity for lucrative handicaps.
Naas welcomes top cross-channel jockey James Doyle on Sunday. He’ll be riding Lope De Lilas in the Listed Bluebell Stakes, a horse trained by Willie Mullins. Lope De Lilas previously disappointed at the Irish Oaks and has maintained a low profile since then.
Intriguingly, Siege Of Troy, trained by Johnny Murtagh, might be one to watch, fresh off a commendable performance in the US. However, a first-time hood for Dermot Weld’s Romzina might prove essential for her success, after a blown chance at Galway due to overzealous racing at the outset.