Cross Country Chase Tips

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Cross Country Chase Preview

by Will Smith…

The Glenfarclas Cross-Country race this year feels a lot like a Veteran’s Gold Cup in some ways, which may not please many as the fact that it is a level weights race these days, means that some of the more specialist type cross-country horses are now up against it.

Talk abounds about various changes to the Cheltenham Festival schedule and races that fill it, and one of those that could come into the reckoning is the reversion of this race back into a handicap, which would make for a much more competitive event.

As this year’s renewal will surely be won by one of Minella Indo, Delta Work, Galvin, Coko Beach or maybe, just maybe Foxy Jacks. Anything else would be a surprise for me.

Weather will dictate again, much like a number of other races summarised so far, and if it stayed as heavy as it currently is apparently on the cross-country track, then you’d be hard pushed to not see Coko Beach running a massive race, given just much he seemed to enjoy the banks course at Punchestown last month.

A best priced 5/1 for only 3 places currently doesn’t make much appeal, but it is easily imaginable that he would be available at 6/1+ for maybe an extra 4th place once declarations are confirmed.

While if it did dry up a tad, then Foxy Jacks would definitely come into the reckoning as he was mightily impressive when winning over the track in November, and if some ‘good to soft’ entered the description next Wednesday, then the current 14/1 best price would look large.

But again, patience is a virtue when it comes to the likely betting make-up for the cross-country.

The Cross Country Chase is a steeplechase race that takes place on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, which is known as Ladies Day, and covers a distance of approximately 3 miles and 6 furlongs.

Unlike other steeplechase races at the Cheltenham Festival, the Cross Country Chase takes place on a specially designed course that includes a variety of different obstacles, including banks, ditches, and fences. The course is designed to test the horses’ jumping and stamina abilities, as well as their adaptability to different terrains and challenges.

The race is open to horses aged five years and older, and it often attracts a large field of runners from all over the world. The pace of the race can be slower than other steeplechases, as the horses must navigate a variety of different obstacles, and there are often changes in terrain and direction that require the horses to be agile and flexible.

Over the years, many legendary horses and jockeys have competed in the Cross Country Chase, including the likes of Tiger Roll, who won the race in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and jockey Keith Donoghue, who rode Tiger Roll to victory in all three of those years.

Betting tips for the Cross Country Chase will be published here in the weeks leading up to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.