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Cross Country Chase
16:10 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-15
Winner: £39,022.5
Runners: 16
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 32
Distance: 3m6f37y
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, run over 3m6f on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, is a one-of-a-kind race at the festival as the runners face a series of unique fences and obstacles on the cross-country course before rejoining the main track for the stamina-sapping closing stages.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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11(0)
4-4PU6
Hardline
-
J: Shane Fitzgerald
T: Gordon Elliott
11
11-7
137
151
Grade 1 novice chase winner in 2018 but this 11yo isn't the same force nowadays; safely held when sixth on Punchestown's banks course latest.
16(0)
-P8762
Snow Leopardess
-
J: Aidan Coleman
T: Charlie Longsdon
11
11-0
140
162
Faded into sixth in C&D handicap (good to soft) in January but ran well for a long way and built on that when runner-up in first-time cheekpieces (retained) in Haydock's 3m4f Grand National Trial last month; open to improvement on her second run over these obstacles and this 2021 Becher Chase winner (soft) is very much an each-way player with her 7lb mares' allowance.
2(0)
5-1D33P
Coup De Pinceau
-
J: Mr George Hiscock
T: Syd Hosie
11
11-7
123
138
Won a good 4m hunter chase here last April but this 11yo hasn't been at his best on either run since summer break; would be a shock winner.
13(0)
5948-4
Mortal
-
J: Jody McGarvey
T: Gordon Elliott
11
11-7
135
145
Fourth in C&D handicap in December 2021 and was returning from an absence when fourth behind three of these in C&D handicap in January; may run well once more but he needs something extra to finish in the first three today.
4(0)
13-136
Delta Work
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: Gordon Elliott
10
11-7
159
173
Five-time Grade 1 winner who won this race last year (heavy) on his cross-country debut; also on the scoresheet at Punchestown in November and creditable third off top weight in C&D handicap (good to soft) in January; didn't run badly in 2m5f Grade 2 hurdle at Navan latest and has leading claims.
14(0)
3-76P7
Plan Of Attack
-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: Henry De Bromhead
10
11-7
137
150
Made the frame in two C&D handicaps last season (good/good to soft) before a 22l third to Delta Work in this race (heavy); each-way claims on that form but he hasn't been at the same level this term and was only seventh behind a few of these in a C&D handicap last time.
8(0)
120005
Francky Du Berlais
-
J: Ben Jones
T: Peter Bowen
10
11-7
141
154
Dual winner of the Grade 3 Summer Plate Handicap at Market Rasen (2m5f, good); back to form with respectable fifth in C&D handicap (good to soft) in January on cross-country debut but the forecast soft ground is a worry (peak efforts are on good/good to soft).
3(0)
P-65P2
Deise Aba
-
J: Micheal Nolan
T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
10
11-7
137
150
Useful handicapper chaser (particularly at Sandown) who returned to form when a close second on his cross-country debut in a C&D handicap (good to soft) in January; also effective on soft/heavy; the third Delta Work is much better off at the weights today, but this fellow is closely matched with the winner Back On The Lash on these terms and holds each-way claims once more.
6(0)
P-P009
Easysland
-
J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T: Jonjo O'Neill
9
11-7
130
154
Two C&D wins in 2019-20 season, including this race; best of the rest behind Tiger Roll 12 months later but has struggled to get competitive since; major turnaround is needed in first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces).
7(0)
P635F0
Foxy Jacks
-
J: Ricky Doyle
T: M F Morris
9
11-7
138
147
Showed aptitude for cross-country racing when third to Delta Work in the Risk Of Thunder at Punchestown in November but he'll need a bigger performance if he's to reward each-way backers here; mid-race faller in C&D handicap in January and tailed off over regulation fences at Leopardstown since.
1(0)
P-9231
Back On The Lash
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Martin Keighley
9
11-7
140
153
Two-time C&D handicap winner (good/good to soft), the latest in January; he was receiving plenty of weight from the near-5l third Delta Work last time and they run off levels today, while there's a doubt about him on the forecast soft going (pulled up in this last year on heavy); however, this prominent-racer is an each-way contender if handling the ground.
10(0)
4-6146
Galvin
-
J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
9
11-7
166
175
Won the NH Chase at the Festival in 2021 (3m6f, good to soft) and the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown (3m, yielding) last term; also effective on soft going; reappeared with Grade 3 win at Punchestown in October and, although he's been below par the last twice, this class act is entitled to considerable respect on his cross-country debut; trainer, who also saddles last year's winner Delta Work and whose Cullentra House yard has won five of the last six runnings, has stated he "schooled brilliantly over the banks".
5(0)
/314-0
Diesel D'Allier
-
J: Harry Bannister
T: Richard J Bandey
10
11-7
137
150
Has won two handicaps over C&D, in November 2019 (soft) and December 2021 (good to soft); beaten 30l by Delta Work when fourth in this last year (heavy) and well beaten in C&D handicap (good to soft) in January on sole run since, but may have needed that last run; not ruled out for a place.
9(0)
345545
Franco De Port
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
8
11-7
158
168
Grade 1 novice chase winner at Leopardstown in December 2020 and creditable fourth in the 3m Grade 1 Savills Chase there in December this season; this classy sort is Willie Mullins' sole contender and could have a part to play if he takes to this unique course at the first attempt.
12(0)
P574P1
Lieutenant Rocco
-
J: Nick Scholfield
T: Syd Hosie
8
11-7
127
149
Useful novice chaser in the 2020-21 season and he made all at Kempton last month on his first run since wind surgery; however, that latest performance leaves him with plenty to find.
15(0)
4-3204
Gin On Lime
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
11-0
145
161
Won Grade 3 novice chase at Tipperary (2m4f, yielding) in 2021 and fair fourth of 16 in the competitive Kerry National at Listowel (3m, good) last September when last seen; won on very soft ground when trained in France; makes her cross-country debut and has something to find with the chief form players, but she's worth each-way respect with her 7lb mares' allowance.
RACING POST TIP
Delta Work
Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House yard has an excellent recent record in this race and DELTA WORK is taken to win for the second year running, having pulled well clear with Tiger Roll 12 months ago. His stablemate Galvin is another class act and could be a big danger, having reportedly schooled well over similar obstacles, while fellow cross-country newcomer Franco De Port may be in the mix for Willie Mullins. At bigger odds, Snow Leopardess is an appealing each-way option having run really well in Haydock's Grand National Trial last month when the cheekpieces were first applied.
Verdict
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Delta Work | U3-466 | 9 | 5-2F | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2021 | Tiger Roll | 52-6PU6 | 11 | 9-2 | Denise Foster |
Keith Donoghue
|
| 2020 | Easysland | 1-1111 | 6 | 3-1 | David Cottin |
Jonathan Plouganou
|
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | 511-41 | 9 | 4-1F | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll | 1P-2P5 | 8 | 7-1 | Gordon Elliott |
Keith Donoghue
|
| 2017 | Cause Of Causes | P-5P05 | 9 | 4-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2016 | Josies Orders | 1-8119 | 8 | 15-8F | Enda Bolger | Nina Carberry |
| 2015 | Rivage D’Or | 4172F | 10 | 16-1 | Tony Martin | Davy Russell |
| 2014 | Balthazar King | 0P-111 | 10 | 4/1 | Philip Hobbs |
Richard Johnson
|
| 2013 | Big Shu | B1F-72 | 8 | 14-1 | Peter Maher | Barry Cash |
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- Won over at least 3m, 10/10
- At least 14 chase runs, 8/10
- Trained in Ireland, 8/10
- Top-five finish in last completed start, 7/10
- Won or placed in a cross country race at Cheltenham or Punchestown, 6/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CROSS COUNTRY CHASE 2022
Tiger Roll brought down the curtain on his incredible career and attempted to end on a high in the Cross Country Chase, in what would have been his fourth victory in this race since 2018. The dual Grand National winner jumped consistently all the way round the 3m6f trip and had the lead from the 26th fence, getting past 2020 winner Easysland who made the early running. Turning into the home straight, Tiger Roll had the slight edge over stablemate Delta Work as the pair approached the final fence, but it was the former who had that little bit of extra stamina to get in front and upset the script to win by three-quarters of a length. However, it was still a 1-2 for Gordon Elliott, who was winning this race for the fourth time in six years.