title: Crystal Cup (steeplechasing)
text: # Crystal Cup (steeplechasing)
  
  The Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge is an annual series of steeplechase horse races in Europe. The series was introduced in 2010 although most of the individual races are much older.
  
  Points are awarded to the first six finishers in each race, with bonuses for horses from abroad and for the final race. The main prize is for the trainer whose stable's horses have accumulated the most points, with additional trophies for the top horse and top jockey.
  
  Races in the Crystal Cup series :
  
  | Race | Course | Country | Date | Prize fund (€) | Notes |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Grand Cross de Pau Reverdy (Prix Gaston de Bataille) | Pau | France | February | 70,000 | |
  | Cross Country Chase | Cheltenham | England | March | 74,000 | During the Cheltenham Festival |
  | Grand Steeple-Chase Cross Country de Fontainebleau | Fontainebleau | France | April | 40,000 | |
  | Anjou-Loire Challenge | Le Lion-d'Angers | France | May | 112,000 | |
  | Crystal Cup Partynice Wrocław | Wrocław | Poland | June | 40,000 | Associate member 2016, full member 2017 |
  | Grand Steeple-Chase des Flandres | Waregem | Belgium | August/September | 100,000 | |
  | Grand Cross de Craon | Craon | France | September | 75,000 | |
  | Gran Premio Merano | Merano | Italy | September | 40,000 | |
  | Velká pardubická | Pardubice | Czech Republic | October | 178,000 | |
  | Grand Steeple Chase-Cross-Country de Compiègne | Compiègne | France | November | 40,000 | |
  | Cross Country Handicap Chase | Cheltenham | England | December | 48,000 | During the International Hurdle meeting |
  | Races formerly part of the Crystal Cup ||||||
  | La Touche Cup | Punchestown | Ireland | April | 28,500 (2016) | Member 2010–2016 |
  | Crystal Cup Cross-Country Challenge | Frauenfeld | Switzerland | May | 33,000 (2015) | Member 2015–2016 |
  