Racing:Punchestown racecourse will play its part in a new cross country steeplechase initiative in 2010 called The Crystal Cup.
The Crystal Cup is a 10-race series to be hosted at some of Europe’s leading race venues with €735,000 in prize money on offer.
The action gets under way at the French racecourse Pau next February with Punchstown to take its turn with a €30,000 race in April.
Cheltenham’s meeting in December 2010 will conclude the series after which the stable with the most points will collect The Crystal Cup and €10,000 to be shared between the trainer and staff.
Ireland’s Enda Bolger, Josef Vana from the Czech Republic and France’s Guillaume Macaire are the steeplechase champion trainers that will compete head-to-head with their respective teams in this multi-national series.
Races will also be held in Belgium, Italy and to the Czech Republic.
The Crystal Cup 2010: Schedule
February
Pau - France €75,000
April
Fontainebleau - France €50,000
Punchestown - Ireland €30,000
Compiègne - France €50,000
May
Lion D'Angers - France €112,000
August
Waregem - Belgium €100,000
September
Craon - France €75,000
Merano - Italy €40,000
October
Pardubice - Czech Republic €178,000
December
Cheltenham - England €25,000
Total: €735,000