Czech challenge for sound-jumping veteran Rathlin Rose in Velka Pardubicka

3.40 Pardubice129th Velka Pardubicka Se Slavia Pojistovnou (Listed) | 4m2½f | RTV

David Pipe breaks new ground on Sunday when Rathlin Rose will be his first runner in the daunting Velka Pardubicka.

But the trainer admits to being in the dark as to the prospects of James Best's mount in a race renowned for its quirky obstacles and a route that takes in the turf track at Pardubice racecourse and surrounding ploughed fields.

The Fergus Wilson-owned Grand Military Gold Cup and Royal Artillery Cup winner won a veterans' race at Ascot in March and his trainer said: "This is a unique race and he has the right credentials but it's not easy to know how he'll get on – I'm not sure anyone knows when they go in to a race like the Pardubicka.

"But he's been to our local cross-country course, James Best schooled him round there and he seemed to take to it nicely.

"It was three days to get there and he's travelled over well and he seems in good form. He jumps well and I think if you can get into a nice rhythm over the first couple of fences then you're in for a good race, if not it might be difficult."

Guy Disney and Rathlin Rose in action at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham

Rathlin Rose will face 20 rivals in the 129th running of a race first staged in 1874, with last year's winner Tzigane Du Berlais back to try again.

Tom Garner is reunited with the locally trained Stretton, on whom he finished third in his first crack at the race last year.

"I'm looking forward to it," the jockey said. "I had a great buzz last year and I was possibly unlucky not to win.

"It's a great challenge but they say that once you get over the seventh fence, you can start to get into a rhythm.

"Last year the ground was quite quick as they hadn't had much rain, the hedges hadn't grown as much as usual and they were a bit softer. This year they've had rain and I've seen from watching the qualifiers they're looking more healthy, and it's going to be more of a test of jumping and of stamina."

Two other British jockeys have picked up rides on local runners, with Andrew Glassonbury on Ribelino and Leighton Aspell partnering Talent.

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