No Tiger Roll eases task for French hope Urgent De Gregaine in cross-country

1.15 Cheltenham
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase | 3m6f37yds | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

There is no Tiger Roll and nobody will be more happy about that than Emmanuel Clayeux as Urgent De Gregaine has bumped into the two-time Grand National hero on his last two visits to Cheltenham.

The 11-year-old got within two lengths of Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the 2018 festival, but was beaten 23 lengths in the same race in March.

That fails to do his performance justice, though, as he was the only one in the field able to go with the pint-sized pocket rocket from four out.

He has top weight here and is likely to be sent off favourite to register his first success since scoring over the same course and distance at the January meeting back in 2017.

Theatre trying to regain crown

It is strange to see a cross-country race at Cheltenham with no Enda Bolger representative. Bolger has won this race for three of the last four years with Josies Orders (2015, 2018) and Cantlow (2016).

Kingswell Theatre was the only one to halt his recent dominance of late, winning the 2017 running at 14-1 for Michael and Tom Scudamore.

What they say

Emmanuel Clayeux, trainer of Urgent De Gregaine
He knows Cheltenham well. He has a lot of weight, but I don't think that will be a problem. He hasn't run since the festival due to a slight injury, but it was nothing serious and he's in good form.

Phillip Hobbs, trainer of Rolling Dylan
We've always thought this route might give us something different to do with him. He's been running very good races but you couldn't say he's well handicapped. That means we need to find something different to do with him.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Fact Of The Matter
He missed the break at Waregem and was trying to make up ground all the way. He loves the cross country and it was always the plan to come back after he won at the December meeting last year. Last autumn it was very dry and he is a better horse on better ground so the rain we’ve had is a little bit of a disadvantage.

David Pipe, trainer of Rathlin Rose
He ran well in the Pardubice but was a little bit disappointing at Sandown. We’re turning him out quickly and we hope this might light him up again.

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