Cross Country Chase 2023 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.

4:10 Wed 15 Mar CROSS COUNTRY CHASE Distance: 30f 37y Age: 5yo + Prize: £75,000 Going: Gd/Sft Analyst's Verdict DELTA WORK was impressive in this last season and looks well prepared to make it back-to-back successes. His stablemate Galvin is the other class act in this field and looks a huge threat if he takes to the new discipline, while Franco de Port represents another top Irish yard and has enough ability to make his presence felt. The others all have improvement to find.

ENTRY FORM	SILKS	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT		ODDS
1		1. BACK ON THE LASH J: Sean Bowen T: Martin Keighley	9 11-7		BET
Likeable sort who was back to winning ways over C&D last time by ¾ length from Deise Aba. This is clearly much tougher, but he should give his running and boasts solid place claims.
2		2. COUP DE PINCEAU (FR) J: Mr George Hiscock T: Syd Hosie	11 11-7		BET
Back up in trip, he shrugged aside some below-par runs to resume winning ways in a 4m hunter here last April. Creditable efforts next two starts but pulled up at Exeter on latest.
3		3. DEISE ABA (IRE) J: Micheal Nolan T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White	10 11-7		BET
Hard to predict but put up one of his better efforts when runner-up to Back On The Lash over C&D last time. Not completely discounted.
4		4. DELTA WORK (FR) J: Keith Donoghue T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	10 11-7		BET
Top-class chaser who won this last year and shaped well when third here in January. Latest run in the Boyne Hurdle no more than a prep' run and he boasts strong claims of defending his crown.
5		5. DIESEL D'ALLIER (FR) J: Harry Bannister T: Richard Bandey	10 11-7		BET
Not disgraced in this last year but latest effort over C&D doesn't inspire confidence that he'll better his position this time round.
6		6. EASYSLAND (FR) J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. T: Jonjo O'Neill	9 11-7		BET
One time top-quality performer in this sphere (landed the 2020 renewal) but has failed to shine for Jonjo O'Neill.
7		7. FOXY JACKS (IRE) J: R. A. Doyle T: M. F. Morris, Ireland	9 11-7		BET
Useful when on his game but hasn't been firing of late and others make more appeal.
8		8. FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (FR) J: Ben Jones T: Peter Bowen	10 11-7		BET
Found plenty for pressure when landing a second win in the valuable Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Best effort since when fifth to Back On The Lash over C&D last time but place claims only at best.
9		9. FRANCO DE PORT (FR) J: Mr P. W. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	8 11-7		BET
Very smart chaser who has his sights lowered having competed in Grade 1s/2s all season so worthy of plenty of respect.
10		10. GALVIN (IRE) J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	9 11-7		BET
Developed into a high-class chaser last season (fourth in the Gold Cup) and, while he's not been quite at the top of his game this term, he's a big player having his first go in this sphere.
11		11. HARDLINE (IRE) J: Shane Fitzgerald T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	11 11-7		BET
Useful chaser who wasn't at his best in one of these events at Punchestown last time. Firmly up against it.
12		12. LIEUTENANT ROCCO (IRE) J: Nick Scholfield T: Syd Hosie	8 11-7		BET
Useful chaser who improved to score at Kempton last time. Needs a lot more if he's to feature in this, however.
13		13. MORTAL (IRE) J: Jody McGarvey T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	11 11-7		BET
Useful sort who was fourth to Back On The Lash over C&D last time. Needs a lot more if he's to make his presence felt in this stronger contest.
14		14. PLAN OF ATTACK (IRE) J: D. J. O'Keeffe T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	10 11-7		BET
Useful chaser who was only seventh to Back On The Lash here last time. Unlikely to make a significant impact.
15		15. GIN ON LIME (FR) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	7 11-0		BET
Useful chaser. Course winner. Respectable fourth of 16 in handicap chase at Listowel (24f, good) 175 days ago. Top yard should have her well prepared but there are stamina concerns.
16		16. SNOW LEOPARDESS J: Aidan Coleman T: Charlie Longsdon	11 11-0		BET
Proved some sight over the National fences when winning the 2021 Becher Chase. Looked back to her best fitted with this headgear when second in a handicap at Haydock last time and has experience of the track.
Betting Forecast : 13/8 1.62 DELTA WORK, 11/4 2.75 GALVIN, 13/2 6.5 FRANCO DE PORT, 20/1 20 SNOW LEOPARDESS, 22/1 22 BACK ON THE LASH, 33/1 33 DEISE ABA, 33/1 33 GIN ON LIME, 50/1 50 DIESEL D'allier, 50/1 50 FOXY JACKS, 100/1 100 MORTAL, 100/1 100 PLAN OF ATTACK, 100/1 100 FRANCKY DU BERLAIS, 100/1 100 EASYSLAND, 125/1 125 LIEUTENANT ROCCO, 150/1 150 HARDLINE, 300/1 300 COUP DE PINCEAU

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 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.