Cause to back Elliott star for Cross Country repeat

Cheltenham's cross-country circuit has become synonymous with course specialists and it's hard to believe Cause Of Causes, who was such an impressive winner of the Cross Country Chase at last season's festival, is 7-1 for a repeat.

Gordon Elliott's superstar comes alive at Cheltenham in March and was winning at the meeting for the third successive year following victories in the National Hunt Chase and the Kim Muir.

For his latest success, he took to the combination of banks and fences with aplomb and his class shone through in the straight as he stormed away from largely one-paced rivals.

Cause Of Causes will still be only ten in March and, while that's pretty old for horses being aimed at one of the championship races, he's young enough to dominate this division for a couple of seasons yet.

He could start his campaign back over the cross-country course at Cheltenham on Friday and another impressive performance would soon see his odds plummet.

However, should he disappoint, then it's hard to see his price going the other way. After all, his followers are used to seeing some tame efforts through the winter. Rest assured he'll be ready for the day that matters come March.

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