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15:20Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
16:00Champion Chase
16:40Grand Annual Chase
17:20Champion Bumper
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
15:20 Cheltenham Festival
2025-03-12
Winner: £39,022.5
Runners: 16
Going: Good To Soft
No. of hurdles: 31
Distance: 3m5f56y
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, run over 3m6f on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, is a one-of-a-kind race at the festival as the runners face a series of unique fences and obstacles on the cross-country course before rejoining the main track for the stamina-sapping closing stages. The Cross Country Chase has been a conditions race since 2016 but will revert back to its handicap status for 2025 after becoming increasingly uncompetitive in recent years. However, in a bid to attract top level chasers the weight range will now be 20lb.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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8(0)
29-215
Roi Mage
-
J: James Reveley
T: Patrick Griffin
13
10-12
145
159
Irish-trained 13yo who performed pretty well in last two Grand Nationals and has two French cross-country chase wins on his CV, the latter in Listed race at Craon (3m6f, very soft) in September; fell on his only C&D start and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground but still considered each-way.
16(0)
88-PP7
Chambard
-
J: Miss Lucy Turner
T: Venetia Williams
13
10-5
132
156
Won 2022 Kim Muir here (3m2f, soft) and produced career-best performance when scoring by 13l over the big Aintree fences last season (3m2f, heavy); badly out of form this term, though, and this new discipline needs to rekindle his enthusiasm; 6lb out of the handicap.
9(0)
50-03U
Latenightpass
-
J: Miss Gina Andrews
T: T Ellis
12
10-11
144
163
Former pointer/hunter chaser who scored over C&D (soft) last season and was placed over C&D on both his other cross-country starts; led briefly on run-in when third behind Stumptown and Mister Coffey here (soft) in December and will be fine on today's forecast faster ground; big role to play.
4(0)
335-32
Iwilldoit
-
J: Dylan Johnston
T: Sam Thomas
12
11-3
150
167
Lightly raced since Welsh Grand National success in 2021 but a commendable third in this season's edition of that race (3m6f, soft) in December and again ran very well at Haydock (3m1f, soft) in January; drying ground will reduce his appeal but he has possibilities if he enjoys this new test.
2(0)
8544-2
Galvin
-
J: Mr Derek O'Connor
T: Gordon Elliott
11
11-7
154
165
Grade 1 chase winner in his prime; not getting any younger and absent since close second in US Grade 1 hurdle in October but came second in non-handicap version of this race in 2023 (soft) and is now 1lb lower than when placed in last season's Grand National; drying ground will probably aid his cause; claims.
11(0)
263-22
Mister Coffey
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
10
10-10
143
166
Placed over conventional fences at two Cheltenham Festivals and runner-up over C&D on both appearances this season (good/soft); stuck to his task very well when one length behind Stumptown on latest occasion and is 5lb better off with that rival today; one for the shortlist.
3(0)
3U5002
Coko Beach
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Gordon Elliott
10
11-3
150
165
Won on the banks course at Punchestown (3m, soft to heavy) in February 2024 and will be suited by today's longer trip but seems to have regressed this season; safely held behind Stumptown over C&D in December and no match for Vanillier when remote second at Punchestown last month; revival needed.
15(0)
P0-P44
Escaria Ten
-
J: James Best
T: Martin Keighley
11
10-5
134
158
Bounced back from poor seasonal debut and belied 80-1 odds when fourth in C&D contest (soft; good to soft also suits) won by Stumptown in December, having raced prominently throughout; also ran well in a conventional chase last month but competes from 4lb out of the weights today and is not the force of old; refitted cheekpieces replace blinkers.
6(0)
0-P691
Vanillier
-
J: Sean Flanagan
T: Gavin Cromwell
10
11-0
147
168
Won Grade 1 novice hurdle here four years ago and second in the 2023 Grand National (good to soft); faded into ninth after racing prominently in C&D race (soft) won by Stumptown in December but responded very well to first-time blinkers when slamming Coko Beach on the banks course at Punchestown (3m1f, heavy) last month; dangerous if the new headgear continues to aid him.
5(0)
021655
French Dynamite
-
J: Gavin Brouder
T: M F Morris
10
11-3
150
164
Proved he retains a significant chunk of ability when winning Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (2m7f, good to yielding) in October but has become very inconsistent in recent years and has stamina to prove on this cross-country chase debut.
13(0)
PPP-09
Gevrey
-
J: Jake Coen
T: Gordon Elliott
9
10-5
138
160
Placed in the Plate here (2m4f, soft) two years ago and in Irish Grand National (3m5f, soft) a few weeks later but his form nosedived after Munster National success at Limerick (3m, soft) later in 2023; well beaten on last month's cross-country debut at Punchestown (race won by Vanillier) and arrives here with a lot to prove.
12(0)
P-0664
Busselton
-
J: J J Slevin
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
8
10-5
138
162
No win over jumps since 2022 Kerry National at Listowel (3m, good) but ended 2024 with two very respectable sixths over C&D (good/soft) and ran about as well as could have been expected in a Grade 2 hurdle last month; still unexposed in cross-country races and the refitted blinkers can aid; interesting.
10(0)
5P3P04
Chemical Energy
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
9
10-10
143
166
Returned to form with third in Munster National at Limerick (3m, good) in October but quickly back in the doldrums since, the last twice in cross-country chases won by Stumptown (C&D) and Vanillier (Punchestown); might be boosted by refitted cheekpieces but others look much safer.
14(0)
P0P775
The Goffer
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Gordon Elliott
8
10-5
137
162
Very useful handicap chaser in his prime (placed in Ultima here two years ago) but on the downgrade now; never really looked dangerous when seventh behind Stumptown over C&D on cross-country debut in December and was remote when fifth to Vanillier at Punchestown last month; 1lb wrong; needs to turn a corner.
7(0)
P-1P65
Minella Crooner
-
J: Jordan Gainford
T: Gordon Elliott
9
10-13
146
160
Career highlight when narrow winner of Listed handicap chase at Punchestown festival (3m, soft) last May but out of form since returning in October from a break; big leap of faith required to support him on this cross-country chase debut; tried blinkers last time; usual cheekpieces back on today.
1(0)
3-U111
Stumptown
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: Gavin Cromwell
8
11-10
157
162
Very useful handicapper over regulation fences and 3-4 since switched to cross-country chasing, winning twice over about 3m on the banks course at Punchestown before keeping on strongly to beat Mister Coffey and others in this field quite cosily over C&D (soft; also suited by good) in December; 8lb higher now but the cheekpieces are an interesting addition today and he commands respect.
RACING POST TIP
Stumptown
The Festival cross-country chase is a handicap for the first time since 2015. STUMPTOWN was not fully extended when scoring under a confident ride over C&D in December and is taken to overcome an 8lb rise. The top weight won a conventional handicap chase in first-time blinkers here last season and, after four runs without headgear, is now tried in cheekpieces. Latenightpass (second choice) and Mister Coffey were placed behind the selection over C&D in December, while Busselton caught the eye when making late headway in that race. Gordon Elliott has an excellent record in this event and 2023 runner-up Galvin may be the pick of his squad.
Cheltenham Free Bets
Verdict
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2024 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2023 | Delta Work | -136 | 10 | 11-10F | Gordon Elliott | Keith Donoghue |
| 2022 | Delta Work | U3-466 | 9 | 5-2F | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2021 | Tiger Roll | 52-6PU6 | 11 | 9-2 | Denise Foster | Keith Donoghue |
| 2020 | Easysland | 1-1111 | 6 | 3-1 | David Cottin | Jonathan Plouganou |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | 511-41 | 9 | 4-1F | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll | 1P-2P5 | 8 | 7-1 | Gordon Elliott | Keith Donoghue |
| 2017 | Cause Of Causes | P-5P05 | 9 | 4-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2016 | Josies Orders | 1-8119 | 8 | 15-8F | Enda Bolger | Nina Carberry |
| 2015 | Rivage D’Or | 4172F | 10 | 16-1 | Tony Martin | Davy Russell |
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Won over at least 3m, 10/10
- At least 14 chase runs, 9/10
- Trained in Ireland, 8/10
- Top-three finish with last two completed starts, 8/10
- Won or placed in a cross country race at Cheltenham or Punchestown, 6/10
Other factors
- The last eight winners were owned by either Gigginstown (five) or J P McManus (three).
- Two winners since 2008 had landed the PP Hogan at Punchestown in February, while 2013 winner Big Shu was runner-up in that event.
- Only nine British-trained runners have made the first four, although in 2014 the home team had first, second and fourth.
- Ireland has had the first four on three occasions and in 2009 had the first nine.
Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2025 Cross Country Chase
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CROSS COUNTRY CHASE 2024
This unique contest was abandoned on raceday last year after the cross country course, which is only used for this race at the meeting, was waterlogged.