Analysis & Selections by THE ROOK - Whether it be "the race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs, we will attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight the fancied horses participating each day and their characteristics and requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides you with a winner or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a particular may even convince you to back some of those horses which we feel are the "ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims. whichever is the case, we hope the information is of use to you.

SELECTIONS - For each race, we have given you who, in our view, are the likeliest winners; (š NŘ.1 CHOICE ), as well as any runners who could run well at eachway odds; (˛E/W ALTERNATIVE ) . Any runner from our features are shown before each race's analysis. 

VELKÁ PARDUBICKÁ CESKÉ POJIŠTOVNY, 6900m,

List of runners
[1] Startovní 
[2] Barrow 
[3] Niccolin
[4] Irish Stamp (Ire)
[5] Anatole (Fr) 
[6] Belovodsk (Ua)
[7] Toast (Pol) 
[8] Sesi Kamení
[9] Supreme Charm (Ire)
[10] Peruán 
[11] Torpille
[12] Czanka (Pol) 
[13] Djeddah (Fr) 
[14] Mini For 
[15] St Roger (Ire)
[16] Sankt Moritz (Ger) 
[17] Maskul (Usa) 
[18] Le Mans
[19] Frileux Royal (Fr)
[20] Organ (Rus) 
[21] Storm Of Fire (Ger) 
[22] Chalco 

Ľ:<>:<>:<>:THE FURLONG POLE:<>:<>:<>:Ľ
T.H.E. R.O.O.K. :<>:~~> There's a very strong foreign invasion for this year's renewal of the Velká Pardubická. The UK challenge comprises of cross-country specialists Supreme Charm, Frilleux Royal and Irish Stamp. Supreme Charm, who won the Sporting Index Chase, and third placed Frilleux Royal, a cross-country specialist in his native France, could go well if they get into their rhythm. and clear the awesome Taxis fence which comes early on in the course (Robert Thornton may want to drop his leather a few notches because I'd be amazed if he jump the taxi with his normal length of stirrup. 
In 2000, the Czech horse Peruán won the race for the third successive year, holding off a late challenge from Belovodsk. Peruán attempts to become the first horse ever to win the race four times in succession. however at 13, Peruán wont be getting any better. in my opinion Belovodsk, and St Roger (who has run in the Sporting Index Chase) may be the best of the home challenge.

The french challenges does look formidable here, especially as Djeddah and Anatole get a weight allowance as they are non-thoroughbreds. Djeddah you'd have to say is the best horse on form, and ran well in his first cross country chase last time out, however Anatole is a decent cross country horse in France having won his last four races for Guilliame Macaire. If he adapts to the track, it wouldn't surprise me if he scored for France 
šNŘ.1 CHOICE :<>:~~> Anatole
˛ALTERNATIVE :<>:~~> Belovodsk.

This page was updated - Tuesday December 25, 2001 09:56:43 AM