Cross Country Chase tips 2023

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Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase TipsWhen is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 2023?

Cheltenham Wednesday 15th March 4.10pm

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Class 2) (5yo+)

Distance: 3 Miles 6 furlongs

Weights – 11st 4lb

The fifth race on day two is the popular Cross Country Chase, held on the cross-country course in the centre of Cheltenham racecourse.  The trip is three miles and six furlongs, and they have to negotiate 32 various obstacles.

This race was a handicap until 2015, when it was changed to a conditions race,  and we are starting to see higher rated horses, and top trainers such as Willie Mullins and Phillip Hobbs are now targeting the race.

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Records

Fastest Win: Balthazar King 2012 ridden by Richard johnson trained by Philip Hobbs finished in 471.7 s – 7 minutes 51.7 seconds

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Garde Champetre – 2008, 2009
Balthazar King – 2012, 2014
Tiger Roll – 2018, 2019

Leading jockey (4 wins):

Nina Carberry – Heads Onthe Ground (2007), Garde Champetre (2008, 2009), Josies Orders (2016)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

Enda Bolger – Spot Thedifference (2005), Heads Onthe Ground (2007), Garde Champetre (2008, 2009), Josies Orders (2016)

Source: Wikipedia

Cross Country Chase Trends and Statistics

12 Year Trends and Statistics 

  • Age – 9 of the last 12 winners have been age 8-10.
  • Sex – All of the last 12 winners were geldings.
  • Trainer – Gordon Elliott and Phillip Hobbs are the only trainers to saddle more than 1 winner in the last 12 years with 3 and 2 wins respectively.
  • Country – 9 of the last 12 winners were bred in Ireland, 2 in France.
  • Colour – All of the last 12 winners were bay.
  • Weight Carried11 of the last of the last 12 winners carried 11st 4lbs or less.
  • Starting Price (SP) – 9 of the last 12 winners returned a SP of 7/1 or less.
  • Starting Price Rank – 2 of the last 12 winners started as favourite and 9 were in the first 3 in the betting.
  • Headgear – 7 of the last 12 winners were without headgear, 3 wore cheekpieces, 2 wore blinkers.
  • Days Since Last Run – 6 of the last 12 winners had a run between 21 and 60 days ago. None had run more than 240 days ago.
  • Last Run Form –3 of the last 12 winners had won last time out. 7 finished in the first 5.
  • Official Rating – 11 of the last 12 winners had an OR between 134 and 152

Who are the Cross Country Chase Leading Contenders?

This could be Tiger Roll’s final outing and few would begrudge Gordon Elliott’s star another Festival success in a race he’s won three times in the past four years.

SHADY OPERATOR however takes the vote for the Enda Bolger team and the trainer has few peers when it comes to this discipline with four wins in this contest although his last came with Josies Orders back in 2016.

The JP McManus-owned Court Cave gelding could end that drought however and the nine-year old took the Risk OF Thunder Chase on his first attempt over the banks back in November before turning in a disappointing hurdles effort next time.

Back over the banks for the Hogan Memorial at Punchestown in February he was only beaten a neck by Midnight Maestro, perhaps not ideally suited by the heavy conditions and better ground at the Festival allied with the longer trip can show him in an even better light. 

While he’s still inexperienced in this sphere there’s surely more to come from him over the banks and he’s a live contender if making the journey.

ANTE-POST SELECTION: SHADY OPERATOR

Here's what Keith said ahead of the Glanfarclas Chase

EASYSLAND – Two from three over these fences easy winner of this race last year, was conceding 21 lb to the winner when beaten here in November.

TIGER ROLL – Dual winner of this race, dual Grand National winner

POTTERS CORNER – Midlands Grand National winner in 2019, ahead of EASYSLAND over these fences in November.

UNIKETAT – French raider who is expected to enjoy this test.

What’s Our Cross Country Chase Tips?

We will update this box with our tips for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase  when they are finalised

Difficult at this stage to weigh up the contenders, many of them lack a run but EASYSLAND and TIGER ROLL have to be on anyones shortlist.

On the day, Keith told our members this:

EASYSLAND 15:40 Cheltenham 5/6 – Easy winner of this race last year (and tipped by me too). Beaten favourite over course and distance back in November but that was a handicap and he was conceding 22lb to the winner. Impossible to oppose off level weights today.

How did he do?

EASYSLAND – waited with towards rear, hit 9th, headway approaching 14th, went 2nd 8 out, hit 5 out, stayed on same pace no chance with easy winner who was 18 lengths in front.  Easysland a not so near 2nd place.  Big shout out to Tiger Roll though for a fantastic performance!

For the 2020 Cheltenham Festival Guide, Free Racing Tips Tipster Keith's antepost selections was:

There will be no horse more  popular than dual Grand National  winner TIGER ROLL, who is  attempting to record a hat-trick of  wins in this race, before another  crack at the big one. He made a satisfactory return in  the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, where  he finished fifth under a hands and  heels ride.

On the day, Keith went against the favourite instead looking for value, his selection was EASYSLAND

Result: The Cross Country Chase gave us another winner when EASYSLAND drew clear of the well backed fands favourite TIGER ROLL.

 

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Results

Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) (GBB Race)
Distance: 3m6f (6637 yards) Prize (winner): £39022 Dir: Left Handed
Runners: 16    Going: Heavy    Class: Class 2     Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 9 mins 8.68s   Avg OR: 136     Median OR: 141     Fences: 32

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds
4 1st Delta Work (FR) 9 11-4 160 Elliott, Gordon Kennedy, J W 5/2 (Fav)
chased leaders, went 2nd from 2 out, soon ridden, challenged last, stayed on, led towards finish BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 7 Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
15 2nd 0.75 Tiger Roll (IRE) 12 11-4 161 Elliott, Gordon Russell, D N 3/1
chased leaders, challenged 23rd, led 24rd, pressed last, driven flat, headed towards finish BF IP MIN 1.15 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
9 3rd 21 Plan Of Attack (IRE) 9 11-4 138 Bromhead, Henry De OKeeffe, Darragh 25/1
held up in rear, headway when pecked 19th, went 3rd after 3 out, outpaced 2 out, well beaten 3rd before last BF IP MIN 13.5 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr A Halsall
5 4th 8.5 Diesel DAllier (FR) 9 11-4 141 Bandey, R J Bannister, Harry A A 12/1
in touch, ridden 4 out, 3rd briefly 3 out, weakened after 2 out BF IP MIN 12 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: The French Link
8 5th 4 Mitchouka (FR) 8 11-4 145 Dreaper, J T R Donoghue, K M 150/1
towards rear, headway from 17th, 3rd 28th until before 3 out, well beaten 5th from 2 out BF IP MIN 16 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: C Jones
1 6th 21 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 12 11-4 130 Elliott, Gordon McGarvey, J S 66/1
chased leaders, lost place and jumped left 20th, struggling when mistake 24th, well beaten 4 out BF IP MIN 80 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
11 7th 13 Potters Corner (IRE) 12 11-4 135 Williams, Christian Tudor, Jack 33/1
prominent, not much room 23rd, mistake 27th, soon weakened, losing place from 28th BF IP MIN 15 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: All Stars Sports, Davies & Racehorsecl
13 8th 18 Shady Operator (IRE) 9 11-4 140 Bolger, E OConnor, Derek 12/1
mid-division, struggling before 27th BF IP MIN 14 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr John P McManus
7 PU Midnight Maestro 10 11-4 140 Bolger, E Dempsey, Luke 33/1
mid-division, struggling 22nd, pulled up after 24th BF IP MIN 40 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr John P McManus
10 PU Poker Party (FR) 10 11-4 145 Bromhead, Henry De Blackmore, Rachael 33/1
behind, not fluent 4th, mistake 18th, behind when pulled up before 25th BF IP MIN 40 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Robcour
12 PU Prengarde (FR) 6 11-4 0 Bolger, E Walsh, M P 9/2
mid-division, struggling towards rear 17th, pulled up before 22nd BF IP MIN 6.4 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr John P McManus
14 PU Step Back (IRE) 12 11-4 137 Bradstock, M Boinville, Nico 66/1
mostly in rear until pulled up after 24th BF IP MIN 80 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Cracker and Smodge Partnership
16 PU Tout Est Permis (FR) 9 11-4 147 Meade, Noel Flanagan, S W 33/1
towards rear, mistake 9th, behind when pulled up after 26th BF IP MIN 36 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
2 PU Back On The Lash 8 11-4 141 Keighley, M Bowen, Sean P 22/1
prominent and led a few times, lost place and mistake 24th, pulled up before next BF IP MIN 20 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Maughan, Redknapp, Ryan, Salters
6 PU Easysland (FR) 8 11-4 157 ONeill, Jonjo ONeill, Jonjo (Jr) 17/2
made most until 24th, behind when pulled up before 28th BF IP MIN 5 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr John P McManus
3 UR Brahma Bull (IRE) 11 11-4 157 Mullins, W P Hayes, Brian 20/1
in touch early, mid-division, not much room, mistake and unseated rider 20th BF IP MIN 24 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mrs S Ricci

Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) (GBB Race)
Distance: 3m6f (6637 yards) Prize (winner): £30176 Dir: Left Handed
Runners: 13    Going: Good To Soft    Class: Class 2     Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 8 mins 42.65s   Avg OR: 141     Median OR: 139

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
13 1st Tiger Roll (IRE) 11 11-4 166 Foster, Mrs Denise Donoghue, K M 9/2
tracked leader until 12th, went 2nd again 17th, led 22nd, made rest came clear from 22nd, easily
5 2nd 18 Easysland (FR) 7 11-4 167 Cottin, D Giles, Felix De Evens (Fav)
waited with towards rear, hit 9th, headway approaching 14th, went 2nd 8 out, hit 5 out, stayed on same pace no chance with easy winner
12 3rd 2.25 Some Neck (FR) 10 11-4 144 McConnell, John C Johnson, Richard 17/2
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 22nd, went 3rd 8 out, hit 5 out, plugged on
1 4th 1.5 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 11 11-4 152 Foster, Mrs Denise Flanagan, S W 22/1
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 21st, plugged on in 4th from 6 out
10 5th 72 Out Sam 12 11-4 127 Foster, Mrs Denise McGarvey, J S 50/1
towards rear, chased leaders in 4th, lost place before 22nd, no chance after
6 6th 34 Hogans Height (IRE) 10 11-4 145 Snowden, Jamie Sheehan, Gavin 25/1
always towards rear, never on terms, tailed off
7 F Kings Temptation 9 11-4 135 Case, B I Carver, Bryan 66/1
raced keenly tracking leaders, stumbled badly 22nd, weakened before 24th, behind when collapsed and fell on flat before 6 out
2 PU Artic Pearl 10 11-4 117 Brassil, Martin OKeeffe, Darragh 100/1
held up in mid-division on inside, closer tracking leaders before 10th, pecked 15th, weakened before next, tailed off and pulled up before 6 out
14 PU Vivas (FR) 10 11-4 127 Longsdon, C E Deutsch, Charlie 100/1
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 26th
9 PU Le Breuil (FR) 9 11-4 139 Pauling, Ben Woods, K K 9/1
towards rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 25th
8 PU Kingswell Theatre 12 11-4 139 Scudamore, M J Scudamore, Tom 33/1
led until before 16th, lost 2nd 17th, weakened before 20th, tailed off and pulled up before 23rd
4 PU Defi Des Carres (FR) 8 11-4 127 Mann, C J Bannister, Harry A A 28/1
chased leading pair, went 2nd 12th, led before 16th until 22nd, blundered and lost 2nd 8 out, weakened 6 out, tailed off in poor 5th when pulled up run-in
3 UR Balko Des Flos (FR) 10 11-4 152 Bromhead, Henry De Blackmore, Rachael 6/1
towards rear when unseated rider 15th

Non Runners  Potters Corner (IRE)

Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase)
Distance: 3m6f (6637 yards) Prize (winner): £40235 Direction: Left Handed
Runners: 14    Going: Soft    Class: Class 2     Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 9 mins 9.60s   Avg OR: 143     Median OR: 140 

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
4 1st Easysland (FR) 6 152 Cottin, D Plouganou, Jonathan 3/1 4.65 1.65
tracked leaders, led 20th, made rest, ridden before last, clear flat, stayed on well BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 5.7
13 2nd 17 Tiger Roll (IRE) 10 171 Elliott, Gordon Donoghue, K M 8/11 (Fav) 1.81 1.37
mid-division, headway and in touch halfway, went 2nd after 25th, driven and unable to quicken after 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure before last, weakened flat BF IP MIN 1.43 BF IP MAX 1000
11 3rd 18 Out Sam 11 137 Elliott, Gordon Codd, Mr J J 33/1 95.00 8.55
behind, mistake 12th, headway when blundered 20th, lost place 25th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on into modest 3rd flat, no chance with clear pair BF IP MIN 70 BF IP MAX 1000
3 4th 3 Diesel DAllier (FR) 7 137 Clayeux, Emmanuel Deutsch, Charlie 33/1 60.99 6.39
mid-division, headway to track leaders 22nd, outpaced 4 out, plugged on in modest 4th from next BF IP MIN 28 BF IP MAX 1000
14 5th 1 Urgent De Gregaine (FR) 12 149 Clayeux, Emmanuel Giles, Felix De 16/1 40.38 3.89
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 19th, chased leaders 24th, went 3rd before 26th, outpaced 3 out, no chance with front pair after, weakened flat BF IP MIN 16 BF IP MAX 1000
10 6th 0.75 Outlander (IRE) 12 145 Spencer, Richard Bowen, James C 100/1 418.45 26.00
prominent, outpaced 4 out, never able to get back on terms, ridden before last, weakened flat BF IP MIN 50 BF IP MAX 1000
8 7th 9.5 Might Bite (IRE) 11 158 Henderson, N J Boinville, Nico 9/1 11.00 4.58
held up, always towards rear BF IP MIN 9.2 BF IP MAX 1000
9 8th 4.25 Neverushacon (IRE) 9 138 Harrington, Mrs John Kennedy, PAddy D 25/1 47.87 5.43
mid-division, close up 11th, outpaced 4 out, weakened after 2 out BF IP MIN 22 BF IP MAX 1000
1 PU Arlequin DAllier (FR) 10 140 Clayeux, Emmanuel OConnor, Derek 33/1 50.82 6.20
keen early, led 2nd, headed 20th, weakened quickly and pulled up after 22nd BF IP MIN 20 BF IP MAX 1000
2 PU Chic Name (FR) 8 132 Hobson, Richard Burke, Jonathan 50/1 87.87 9.24
always towards rear, lost touch 25th, pulled up before last, dismounted BF IP MIN 80 BF IP MAX 1000
6 PU Josies Orders (IRE) 12 140 Bolger, E Walsh, M P 50/1 139.74 9.94
in touch, mid-division halfway, hampered and dropped towards rear 19th, no danger after, weakened and pulled up after 23rd BF IP MIN 80 BF IP MAX 1000
7 PU Kingswell Theatre 11 129 Scudamore, M J Scudamore, Tom 100/1 451.36 29.00
tracked leader to 16th, in touch until weakened 22nd, pulled up before next BF IP MIN 200 BF IP MAX 1000
12 PU Sumkindofking (IRE) 9 132 George, T R George, Mr N 100/1 472.67 30.00
always behind, lost touch 20th, tailed off when pulled up after 22nd BF IP MIN 450 BF IP MAX 1000
16 UR Yanworth 10 145 Bolger, E OKeeffe, Darragh 18/1 29.24 5.00
led to 2nd, tracked leaders until blundered and unseated rider 19th BF IP MIN 18 BF IP MAX 1000

Non Runners  Fact Of The Matter (IRE), Utility (GER)

Cross Country Chase Previous Winners

Date Going Runners Winner Stallion Age Jockey (Clm) Trainer Odds Weight OR Days
Heavy 16 9 5/2 11-4 160 39d
Good To Soft 13 11 9/2 11-4 166 24d
Soft 14 6 3/1 11-4 152 89d
Soft 15 9 5/4 11-4 159 24d
Soft 16 8 7/1 11-4 150 89d
Good 16 9 4/1 11-4 142 46d
Good 16 8 15/8 11-4 148 31d
Good 16 10 16/1 10-10 134 222d
Good To Soft 16 10 4/1 11-12 150 117d
Good To Soft 16 8 14/1 10-5 136 39d
Good To Firm 16 8 11/2 10-9 139 95d
Good To Firm 15 9 13/2 10-9 140 30d
Good 16 12 25/1 9-7 135 9d
Good To Soft 16 10 7/2 11-12 150 88d
Good To Soft 16 9 4/1 10-13 129 37d
Soft 16 10 5/2 10-2 126 37d
Good To Soft 16 12 7/2 10-8 126 37d
Good To Soft 16 12 4/1 11-12 143 29d

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Cheltenham Festival Wednesday

Race Schedule

START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE
13:30 The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race 2m abt 5f Hurdle
14:10 The Festival Novices’ Chase (RSA Chase) (Grade 1) 3m abt ½ f Chase
14:50 The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Grade 3) 2m abt 5f Hurdle
15:30 The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
(feature race)
Abt 2m Chase
16:10 The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f Chase
16:50 The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3) 2m abt ½f Chase
17.30 The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) 2m abt ½f Bumper

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