Cross Country Chase 2021 Racecard
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in a National Hunt Chase which takes place every year at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Open to horses who are aged five years and older, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is run over a distance of about of three miles and six furlongs (3 miles 6 furlongs and 37 yards), and there are a total of 32 obstacles to be cleared.
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3:40 Wed 17 Mar CROSS COUNTRY CHASE Distance: 30f 37y Age: 5yo + Prize: £48,750 Going: Gd/Sft
EASYSLAND saw off Tiger Roll to win this last year and with the dual Grand National winner seemingly not the force of old at 11 it's hard to see David Cottin's charge not doubling up. December's C&D winner Some Neck may provide the main threat, while Tiger Roll should still be good for another placed effort. |
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Analyst's Verdict| ENTRY FORM |
SILKS | HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER |
AGE WGT |
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1 |
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1. ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR) J: Sean Flanagan T: Mrs Denise Foster, Ireland |
11 11-4 |
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| Smart chaser at his best, but this season has been something of a write-off and it'll be something of a surprise were this 11-y-o to make a winning debut in this discipline. | |||||
2 |
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2. ARTIC PEARL J: D. J. O'Keeffe T: Martin Brassil, Ireland |
10 11-4 |
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| Stepped up on poor reappearance when fifth of 17 in a cross-country event at Punchestown last month, but big step forward needed if he's to make an impact here. | |||||
3 |
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3. BALKO DES FLOS (FR) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
10 11-4 |
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| High-class chaser at best, but largely below par since landing the Ryanair at the 2018 Festival. Still, he would be a serious player if the switch to this idiosyncratic course sparks a revival. | |||||
4 |
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4. DEFI DES CARRES (FR) J: Harry Bannister T: Charlie Mann |
8 11-4 |
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| A specialist in cross-country events in France and caught in the shadow of the post by Some Neck on debut for this yard over C&D in December. Subsequent display at Plumpton was poor, though. | |||||
5 |
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5. EASYSLAND (FR) J: Felix de Giles T: David Cottin, France |
7 11-4 |
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| Top-notch on the cross-country scene, most impressive winner of this race 12 months ago. Below par sole start since behind Kingswell Theatre here in November, but will have been primed for this. | |||||
6 |
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6. HOGAN'S HEIGHT (IRE) J: Gavin Sheehan T: Jamie Snowden |
10 11-4 |
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| Made it 4-9 over fences when landing the Grand Sefton (21f) at Aintree last season. Seen out just twice since (over hurdles, well held on each occasion) and improvement needed on cross-country debut. | |||||
7 |
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7. KINGS TEMPTATION J: Bryan Carver T: Ben Case |
9 11-4 |
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| Returned in the form of his life over fences last year, rattling off Uttoxeter hat-trick at up to 3¼m. However, he failed to make an impact on first run over this C&D in November. Stiff task. | |||||
8 |
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8. KINGSWELL THEATRE J: Tom Scudamore T: Michael Scudamore |
12 11-4 |
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| Put track experience to good use when making a winning reappearance over C&D in November. Well beaten back here in race won by Some Neck next time, though, and he's opposable on balance. | |||||
9 |
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9. LE BREUIL (FR) J: Kielan Woods T: Ben Pauling |
9 11-4 |
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| Smart staying chaser who landed NH Chase at this meeting in 2019. Expensive to follow since and was rather disappointing at Musselburgh last time, but he's another with an each-way chance. | |||||
10 |
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10. OUT SAM J: Jody McGarvey T: Mrs Denise Foster, Ireland |
12 11-4 |
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| Talented on his day, but none too reliable and was beaten 35 lengths when third to Easysland in this race 12 months ago. Typically in-and-out since and it's easy enough to look elsewhere. | |||||
11 |
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11. POTTERS CORNER (IRE) J: Non Runner T: Christian Williams |
11 11-4 |
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| Winner of the Welsh National last term and decent first attempt over this C&D in November when third to Kingswell Theatre. Low-key over hurdles since. NON RUNNER. | |||||
12 |
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12. SOME NECK (FR) J: Richard Johnson T: John McConnell, Ireland |
10 11-4 |
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| Third on cross-country debut at Punchestown in November prior to narrowly prevailing over this C&D the following month. Recent hurdles spin should have left him spot-on and not without each-way hope. | |||||
13 |
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13. TIGER ROLL (IRE) J: Keith Donoghue T: Mrs Denise Foster, Ireland |
11 11-4 |
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| Winner of this race prior to Grand National victories in 2018 and 2019. However, left trailing by Easysland in last year's renewal of this contest and well below his best in 3 starts this season. | |||||
14 |
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14. VIVAS (FR) J: Charlie Deutsch T: Charlie Longsdon |
10 11-4 |
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| Well established as a useful chaser and wasn't disgraced when fifth to Kingswell Theatre over C&D in November. Pulled up back here in race won by Some Neck a month later, though. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 4/5 .8 EASYSLAND, 5/1 5 TIGER ROLL, 12/1 12 SOME NECK, 20/1 20 BALKO DES FLOS, 25/1 25 ALPHA DES OBEAUX, 25/1 25 LE BREUIL, 50/1 50 KINGSWELL THEATRE, 50/1 50 HOGAN's HEIGHT, 66/1 66 OUT SAM, 100/1 100 VIVAS, 100/1 100 KINGS TEMPTATION, 100/1 100 DEFI DES CARRES, 150/1 150 ARTIC PEARL |
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The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is a unique test, and takes place on a separate course which is situated on the inside of the two conventional courses at Cheltenham.
The race was initially run as a handicap chase, before the organisers changed it to a conditions event from the 2016 running.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is scheduled to take place on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival each year.
The race was established when a fourth day was added to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005, and it is now one of three cross-country events to be held at Cheltenham each season – the others take place in November and December.
The most successful horses to have raced in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase are Garde Champetre and Balthazar King , both of whom won the race two times.
Garde Champetre was one of the best performers in the cross-country sphere for a number of years, recording no less than six victories on the Cheltenham cross-country track.
Balthazar King was a rare English-trained runner to take so well to this discipline, but he put up one of the best performances in this race on Timeform ratings when recording his second win in the race in 2014, beating the trusty Any Currency by a short head.
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has seemingly targeted this race in more recent years and has managed to win the last three renewals, the last twice with his Grand National hero Tiger Roll , who provided Gigginstown Stud with their second win in the race following Rivage d’Or’s 2015 success when taking the 2018 renewal, and then their third when winning a year later.
The most successful Glenfarclas Cross Country trainer is Enda Bolger, who has won the race five times, with: Spot Thedifference (2005), Heads Onthe Ground (2007), Garde Champetre (2008, 2009) and Josies Orders (2016).
The most successful Glenfarclas Cross Country jockey is Nina Carberry, who has won the race four times, with: Heads Onthe Ground (2007), Garde Champetre (2008, 2009) and Josies Orders (2016).
Cross Country Chase 2022 FAQs
What is the distance of the Cross Country Chase?
3 miles 6 furlongs and 37 yards
How many obstacles are jumped in the Cross Country Chase?
32
What day of the festival is the Cross Country Chase?
Day 2
What time is the Cross Country Chase?
16:10
What weights are carried for the Cross Country Chase?
11st 4lbs. 7lb allowance for mares.
What is the purse for the Cross Country Chase?
£65,000 (2019)
Who is the leading jockey in the Cross Country Chase?
Nina Carberry
Who is the leading trainer in the Cross Country Chase?
Enda Bolger
Who won the Cross Country Chase?
You can check out our Cross Country Chase results page here to see a list of previous winners.
Where can I compare the odds for the Cross Country Chase?
Click the link to visit our Cross Country Chase Odds Comparison page.
