'The world's toughest steeplechase'

The Pardubice is well known to be formidable. Xander Brett asks some of the British raiders how they rose to the challenge

EACH October, on the southern edge of Pardubice an industrial town 70 miles east of Prague - a crowd of almost 30,000 files in for a four-mile spectacle. Often described as the world's toughest steeplechase, an opportunity to ride in the Velká Pardubická has long attracted thrill-seeking British jockeys. Fantôme, the Velká's first winner, in 1874, was the mount of George Sayers, a British rider. British jockeys have gone on to achieve a further 19 successes in the race, scrambling over banks, brooks and sections of plough, with the infamous Taxis fence their most feared obstacle.

Charlie Mann, who won in 1995 and who is the most recent British jockey to take the prize, describes a nervous hush before the start. Having broken his neck in 1989, Charlie had switched from riding to training. Citing "unfinished business", he set out to win the Velká as a trainercum-jockey. It's A Snip (Snippy) finished second in 1994, with Charlie victorious the following year on a forged pass, his jockey's licence having lapsed.

"Snippy was a different class at Pardubice," he says. "The first year, we'd bought him too late to get a run in. The second year, though, I was fairly confident.

After the Taxis, you meet a bank. Snippy went from last to second there, and we made the running after that, outstaying everyone at the final fence." It's A Snip returned to Pardubice the following year, finishing third under Richard Dunwoody.

"Pardubice is a bit of a maze," admits James Best, who rode Czech-trained Lombargini to fourth last year.

"Lombargini had been round Pardubice a few times, and 2023 was my third ride at the course. Lombargini's intended jockey was injured, so I got the call. My first ride was also a spare, secured thanks to a message from Tom Garner, a jockey keen on riding the international circuit."

James says that, despite previous experience, he was apprehensive lining up on Lombargini.