Archive Newsletters
Bolger to double-up in Velka Pardubicka (27/08/2011)
Classic double for Dettori? (03/06/2011)
L'Ami poised for Pardubice? (20/05/2011)
Cochrane selects Abbey and Duty (30/04/2011)
Well set to contest Velka Pardubicka (30/04/2011)
Champetre set for further Cheltenham glory? (12/03/2011)
The Eck to Go Native (12/03/2011)
Pardubice mourns Francis' passing (15/02/2011)
Dunwoody sweet on Denman (03/02/2011)
Twiston-Davies signs-up (22/12/2009)
Cesare to come up short? (07/12/2009)
Bolger keen on Crystal Cup (30/11/2009)
Armytage returns to Pardubice with Course and Distance (22/09/2009)
St Leger 2009 (09/09/2009)
Velka Pardubicka Sept 09 (02/09/2009)
Velka Pardubicka June 09 (05/06/2009)
Epsom Oaks/Derby 2009 (01/06/2009)
Cochrane joins Course and Distance Limited (23/02/2009)
Dunwoody joins Course and Distance Limited (22/09/2008)
Classic double for Dettori? (03/06/2011)
L'Ami poised for Pardubice? (20/05/2011)
Cochrane selects Abbey and Duty (30/04/2011)
Well set to contest Velka Pardubicka (30/04/2011)
Champetre set for further Cheltenham glory? (12/03/2011)
The Eck to Go Native (12/03/2011)
Pardubice mourns Francis' passing (15/02/2011)
Dunwoody sweet on Denman (03/02/2011)
Twiston-Davies signs-up (22/12/2009)
Cesare to come up short? (07/12/2009)
Bolger keen on Crystal Cup (30/11/2009)
Armytage returns to Pardubice with Course and Distance (22/09/2009)
St Leger 2009 (09/09/2009)
Velka Pardubicka Sept 09 (02/09/2009)
Velka Pardubicka June 09 (05/06/2009)
Epsom Oaks/Derby 2009 (01/06/2009)
Cochrane joins Course and Distance Limited (23/02/2009)
Dunwoody joins Course and Distance Limited (22/09/2008)
Velka Pardubicka 2009 - the final countdown
In our final newsletter counting down the days until next week's Velka Pardubicka, we can confirm a strong looking line-up of entries from England, Ireland and France.
Runners include Kim Bailey's Lucky Luk, Oliver McKiernan's Il En Reve, Charlie Mann's Mr Big, Ferdy Murphy's Lucky Nellerie and the former Jim Old-trained Super Lord, now stabled with Czech handler Cestmir Olehla.
Riding arrangements are as follows: Lucky Luk - Jason Maguire, Il En Reve - Ken Whelan, Mr Big - Noel Fehily, Lucky Nellerie - Keith Mercer and Super Lord - Jan Faltejsek.
As previously mentioned the French-trained Juful Tennis - Francois-Marie Cottin - has also been declared.
Racing starts as usual at 11:15am on Sunday, which is an eight-race card and concludes with the 119th Velka Pardubicka (3.45pm).
May I also take this opportunity to draw your attention to and urge you to support the Course and Distance 2009 prize raffle.
We will be selling tickets (200 czk each) during Sunday afternoon in the box. All funds raised will go towards Peter Gehm, who won four consecutive Velka Pardubicka's between 2001 and 2004.
Sadly Peter was left wheelchair-bound after a schooling accident at Christian von der Recke's yard in Germany - months after winning the Velka Pardubicka aboard Registana five years ago.
Prizes this year include two Cheltenham Club badges and parking for their November or December meeting, breakfast and a tour of Charlie Mann's stables for four people, a 2009 Grand National racecard signed by every jockey, signed Frankie Dettori breeches and books signed by John Francome, Steve Smith-Eccles and Marcus Armytage.
We also aim to arrive in plenty of time for Saturday's racing at Pardubice. As you may be aware, this will feature a charity race and give you the chance to see Steve Smith-Eccles, Charlie Mann and Chris Maude ride. Marcus Armytage may also yet get the leg-up...
Back to the Velka Pardubicka and Lucky Nellerie completed his preparations with a fine fifth-placed finish at Perth on Wednesday 23 September.
David Parry of The DPRP Nellerie Partnership told www.cdhorseracingtours.com: "Lucky Nellerie completed his final race before the Velka Pardubicka in pleasing style at Perth.
"The race was run on ground faster than ideal and over an inadequate trip, yet the horse ran really well to finish fifth. Coming 17 days before the big one, it was the perfect preparation.
"Nellerie has been schooled over cross county fences and has had racecourse gallop and a gallop at the beach already. The run at Perth will put him spot on for Pardubice. Nellerie really enjoyed himself.
"He jumped big and brave at each fence and was never out of the first five or six and, as usual, he led for large parts of the race.
"Keith Mercer was delighted and had the look of someone looking forward to a thrilling ride in the Czech Republic. We could not be happier with the preparation so far. Next weekend will see the final decs being made and Nellerie will begin his three-day day journey on Sunday 4 October."