Prior to this year’s renewal in April, I was absolutely convinced that Stumptown would win the Grand National, and if not win, come really, really close.
Of course, that didn’t happen, and instead the Gavin Cromwell-trained long-distance chaser pulled up, but it has to be said that there were mitigating circumstances.
We all know that not only do you need a good start in the National, but you also need a hefty amount of luck, and sadly, Stumptown didn’t get any.
Racing from the rear of the field, he was badly hampered at the third fence but duly carried on, making it to the 21st fence, where he was again hampered by a faller.
And yet, he gamely kept going only to find the going too quick, leading jockey Keith Donoghue no choice but to call it a day.
It then transpired that he had gone lame in his right hind and had also sustained a wound during the race. No wonder he pulled up.
Fast forward to today, and a fully recovered Stumptown is now the toast of not just County Meath, but the whole of Ireland after he became the first Irish-trained horse to win the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic.
Winning The Velka Pardubicka
Run over 4m2½f, the same distance as the Grand National, the Velka Pardubicka is considered by many to be even more difficult than its Aintree counterpart.
While both races feature around 30 jumps, the Czech equivalent includes 31 obstacles, many of which are unlike anything seen at Aintree.
The most feared of these is the Taxis Ditch, a monstrous combination of a tall hedge and a deep yawning ditch that has claimed more than its fair share of victims over the years.
Horses must leap blindly, as the ditch can’t be seen until they’re already airborne, a heart-stopping moment for any jockey.
Unlike the carefully maintained turf at Aintree, much of the Velka course is natural countryside, taking horses across ploughed fields, streams, and twisting turns.
It’s part steeplechase, part cross-country endurance test, and that mixed terrain makes it brutally taxing on stamina and balance.
Add to that the fact that the race has no smooth rhythm, just constant changes in stride, footing, and direction, and it’s no wonder so many describe it as the toughest steeplechase on earth.
So while the Grand National will always be the most famous, the Velka Pardubicka might just be the ultimate test of courage, grit, and trust between horse and rider.
Grand National Next, Right?
Now I fully appreciate that if you’ve just won the Velka and have Cheltenham on the horizon, the 2026 Grand National may seem like a step too far in a single season.
And, it would seem, that is exactly how trainer Gavin Cromwell feels.
Speaking to RTE, Cromwell said: “We’ll make a plan, but ultimately Cheltenham is the goal.
“He obviously ran in the Grand National after Cheltenham last season, but that’s not really on the list for him this time.
“I’d say we’ll probably bypass it. Nothing is certain, but it’s not high up on his list of races for the season.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t go to Aintree, just that it’s not the plan for 2026. So, when the entries are released in early February, don’t be surprised if you see Stumptown’s name on the last.
After all, a horse needs options and if Cheltenham doesn’t go to plan, connections may re-consider the National.
Once Bitten
Stumptown has become a bit of a cult hero for those of us who love a genuine staying chaser.
If you look at his recent form, it paints a picture of serious consistency and class over those marathon trips.
Take Cheltenham in March 2025 when he went off as the 5/2 favourite in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and lived right up to the billing, absolutely cruising to victory by a cool seven lengths over Latenightpass.
That was no fluke. He’d just had an 89-day break, was carrying top weight, and still found plenty up the hill when others had cried enough.
What’s great about Stumptown is that these gritty wins aren’t a one-off. Go back to December 2024, and he took another Cheltenham cross-country over 3m5½f, shrugging off heavy ground and late charges to get the better of Mister Coffey by a length as the 4/1 favourite.
Not many horses make the Cheltenham banks look that easy twice in a row!
And just a couple of weeks before that? He was at Punchestown, lumping a whopping 12 stone, and still had too much toe for the rest, scoring by nearly three lengths.
That’s three big-staying wins on the bounce, different courses, different ground, lumping big weights.
He’s as tough as they come, and that’s before you even count his historic win in the Czech Velka.
Stumptown’s not just a good long-distance chaser, he’s a genuine modern marathon legend.
It’s a genuine shame we won’t see him try his hand in the 2026 Grand National, but if he can win at Cheltenham again in March, then surely he’ll have done enough to be considered one of the greats.
BETFRED
