Meeting: The International
Dates: Friday &
Saturday - December 14 & 15
Gates Open: 10am both days
First Race: 12.15pm
Friday, 12.10pm Saturday
Nick Williams is hoping to
continue his rich vein of form in the Crystal Cup with Maljimar, who is
on course for the final contest of the European cross-country series, the
£35,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase (2.30pm) on day one of
The International at Cheltenham on Friday, December 14.
The Devon handler clinched
the trainer's title for the series, with his wife Jane taking the Crystal Cup
awarded to the leading owner, at Compiegne, France, on November 16, as Sarika
and Shalimar Fromento finished first and second for team Williams in the Grand
Steeple-Chase Cross-Country de Compiegne.
Maljimar has also run some
excellent races in this year's series, winning the Grand Steeple-Chase Cross-Country
de Fontainebleau at Fontainebleau, France, in April and staying on to take
fourth in the prestigious Velka Pardubicka at Pardubice in the Czech Republic
on October 13.
Williams revealed:
"The plan is for Maljimar to run in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap
Steeple Chase. He didn't run at Compiegne last week because we thought that
having two runners in the race was enough.
"I thought that his
run in the Velka Pardubicka was a massive performance. He was held up last and
we didn't think that he would get the trip on the wet ground. It was a very
good effort to beat a horse like Uncle Junior.
"He has been a
fantastic horse in these type of races. He has won three cross country races in
France over the past two years so he is quite a hardened performer now,
although the Cheltenham races are the most competitive of the series.
"I think Shalimar
Fromento and Sarika have done enough for the season. They are both young horses
and we have the coming seasons to look forward to.
"Sarika was blinkered
for the first time at Compiegne so, while his victory was a shock, I would hope
that there is plenty of improvement to come next year. Maljimar is 12 now but
he loves the warmer weather in the summer and he will also be running in the
Crystal Cup again next year.
"It was Jane's idea
to go down the cross country route and it's 100 per cent down to her that we
have had success in the Crystal Cup."
Nick and Jane will be presented
with the Crystal Cup at Cheltenham on December 14 along with 15,000 euros for
the leading owner of the series and 20,000 euros for the top trainer.
First run in 2010, the
Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge brings together the finest international
horses and riders to reward the most successful stable in cross country steeple
chasing.
The 10-race series, with
nearly 700,000 euros in prize money, are hosted by many of Europe's premier
racecourses over unique combinations of hedges, banks, ditches and timber. The
Challenge begins in Pau in South West France in February and includes four
further races in France plus races in Ireland, Belgium, Italy and the Czech
Republic before ending at Cheltenham.
In another boost for Cross
Country Steeple Chasing, Glenfarclas, the sponsor of all three such races held
at Cheltenham and one at Punchestown on February 3, is again offering an
excellent incentive to the connections of any horse to run at Pau, Cheltenham
and Punchestown in designated races this season. Any horse running in at least
one of these Cross Country races in all three countries will double any prize
money won in The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The Festival on
March 12, 2013. The Festival race can, if necessary, be the only race
contested at Cheltenham. The double prize money incentive goes all the way down
to sixth place on March 12.
Designated races for
Glenfarclas incentive:
Friday, November 16,
Cheltenham, 3m7f
Thursday. December 6, Pau,
4,600m
Friday, December 14,
Cheltenham, 3m7f
Sunday, December 23, Pau,
5,600m
Sunday, January 13, Pau,
5,000 m
Sunday, February 3,
Punchestown, 3m
Tuesday March 12,
Cheltenham, 3m7f
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