Whisky chasers set to tackle 'aesthetic' Glenfarclas Barrels

Aficionados of Cheltenham's cross-country course will be able to feast their eyes on something different next Wednesday after the log that occupied the landing side of fence seven (30 on the final circuit) was axed after a sponsor's request.

What had been officially titled the hedge/log fence will this year become the Glenfarclas Barrels, although hiccups at that particular part of the obstacle are unlikely owing to the fact horses will not realise the barrels are being jumped.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse revealed Glenfarclas made a request for barrels to be included on the course and underlined that the fence, which gives fresh meaning to the term 'whisky chaser', is not a new fence.

Explaining what sort of fence it is, Claisse said: "It's a wooden frame with laurel pricked into it and a spruce front.

"Instead of having a log on the landing side for the horses to jump there is now a line of ten oak barrels, although they are horizontal, round end to round end, and therefore not standing up looking barrel-like.

"It's completely aesthetic because from the take-off side you would have no idea what's on the landing side."

As well as aesthetic barrels, the track features the not-quite-yet iconic cheese wedges, the ditch/bank/hedge, timber rails and a jump modelled on Aintree's canal turn that includes a turn but no canal.

Claisse added: "The one fence we don't have that you see in mainland Europe cross-country races is a bullfinch, which has very tall greenery that a horse, in essence, jumps through.

"I don't know if I want one, though. I think the cross-country course already presents enough challenges."

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase entries