@CheltenhamRaces to host final race in the Crystal Cup Cross Country Challenge 2013

Cheltenham Racecourse will host the final race of the Crystal Cup Challenge for 2013 at The International on Friday, December 13, 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 & 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 13.

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.

About The International

The International takes place at Cheltenham on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, offering more than £520,000 in prize money over the two days.

Key races include the £130,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International, a leading trial for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival, the £100,000 Grade Three December Gold Cup, the £45,000 Grade Three Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase and the £40,000 Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase also takes place over Cheltenham's unique Cross Country Course and completes Europe's Crystal Cup Challenge.

About Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump Racing meeting, The Festival, which takes place in March every year. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.

Please find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces) and Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing

Cheltenham Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years. Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the largest racecourse group in the UK by turnover (2012: £142.1m), courses (15) including those at Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and Newmarket, attendances (2012: 1.8m), total prize money (2012: £35.3m), contribution to prize money (2012: £16.5m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket and Lambourn; The National Stud breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny The Jockey Club makes it puts back into British racing. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk   

CRYSTAL CUP SCHEDULE OF RACES FOR 2013

Date	Location	Country	Prize Money	Winner of the race
3 Feb	Pau	France	65,000	Reste Demohaison, trained by Francois Cottin
3 April	Fontainebleau	France	40,000	Toutancarmont, trained by Isabelle Pacault
25 April	Punchestown	Ireland	30,000	Big Shu, trained by Peter Maher
09 May	Lion D'Angers	France	112,000	Toutancarmont, trained by Isabelle Pacault
27 Aug	Waregem	Belgium	100,000	Martalin, trained by Patrice Quinton
8 Sept	Craon	France	75,000	Balthazar King, trained by Philip Hobbs
27 Sept	Merano	Italy	30,000	Wan, trained by Paolo Favero
13 Oct	Pardubice	Czech Republic	175,000	Orphee Des Blins, trained by Greg Wroblewski
09 Nov	Compiègne	France	40,000	Maljimar, trained by Nick Williams
13 Dec	Cheltenham	England	25,000
			Total 692,000 Euros

CRYSTAL CUP LEADERBOARD 2013

LEADING TRAINER
Position	Name	Country	Points
1	Nick Williams	GB	54
2	Patrice Quinton	FR	29.5
=3	Jerome Follain	FR	12
=3	Mme Isabelle Pacault	FR	12
=3	Philip Hobbs	GB	12
6	Paolo Favero	ITY	11.5

	LEADING OWNER
Position	Name	Country	Points
1	Mrs Jane Williams	GB	53
2	Ecurie des Dunes	FR	24
3	Mme Patrick Papot	FR	17
=4	Jerome Follain	IRE	12
=4	The Brushmakers	FR	12
6	Mme Avril Marinette	FR	10

	LEADING JOCKEY
Position		Name	Country	Points
1		James Reveley	GB	35
2		Alain De Chitray	FR	21
3		Jerome Zuliani	FR	17
4		Jonathan Plouganou	FR	13
=5		W Denuault	FR	12.5
=5		Anthony Thierry	IRE	12

LEADING HORSE
Position	Name	Points
1	Maljimar	28
2	Shalimar Fromentro	14
=3	Balthazar King	12
=3	Martalin	12
=3	Quick Baby	12
=3	Toutancarmont	12