Maljimar: finished fourth in testing conditions in Pardubice
PICTURE: Getty ImagesMaljimar does best of Pardubice raiding party
Report: Czech Republic, Saturday
Pardubice: Velka Pardubicka, 4m 2 1/2f, 6yo+
Czech Republic: Maljimar did best of the British and Irish runners in the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic on Saturday, finishing fourth behind the locally-trained winner Orpin Des Blins.
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After heavy rain, conditions were testing for the 23 runners in the famous cross-country chase, in which Tiumen, ridden by his 59-year-old trainer Josef Vana, was going for a fourth win on the bounce.
However, the Grzegorz Wroblewski-trained Orpin Des Blins, a 54-1 outsider, was given a positive ride from the front by Jan Faltesjek and came home 16 lengths clear of Ronino, with Tiumen third.
The win was a first in the race for Faltesjek, a familiar face to British racegoers through his association with Knockara Beau, and comes as a big boost for the rider, who managed a solitary winner from 87 mounts in Britain last season.
The testing conditions led to the Nick Williams-trained Maljimar being given a waiting ride by James Reveley, with the horse coming through in the home straight to take fourth.
The Willie Mullins-trained Uncle Junior and Enda Bolger-trained Doctor Pat finished sixth and seventh.
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