Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – Expert Tips & Predictions
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase remains entirely unique in the British racing calendar. No other track has a course to compare with the banks and cheese wedges seen across the centre of Prestbury Park at the Cheltenham Festival. Often a race won by a course specialist, find out who GG’s experts are tipping for this visual spectacular.
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Bookmaker Odds + Runners – Day 2 @ Cheltenham Festival
| Horse/Form | Silks | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Work 13-136 |  | J: Keith Donoghue T: Gordon Elliott | 11/10 |
| Galvin 4-6146 |  | J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott | 9/4 |
| Franco De Port 345545 |  | J: Patrick Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 7/1 |
| Back On The Lash P-9231 |  | J: Sean Bowen T: Martin Keighley | 14/1 |
| Gin On Lime 4-3204 |  | J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry De Bromhead | 26/1 |
| Snow Leopardess -P8762 |  | J: Aidan Coleman T: Charlie Longsdon | 20/1 |
| Deise Aba P-65P2 |  | J: Michael Nolan T: Philip Hobbs | 20/1 |
| Foxy Jacks P635F0 |  | J: Ricky Doyle T: Mouse Morris | 33/1 |
| Diesel D’Allier /314-0 |  | J: Harry Bannister T: Richard J Bandey | 33/1 |
| Plan Of Attack 3-76P7 |  | J: Darragh O’Keeffe T: Henry De Bromhead | 40/1 |
| Mortal 5948-4 |  | J: JOdy McGarvey T: Gordon Elliott | 40/1 |
| Easysland P-P009 |  | J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Jonjo O’Neill | 40/1 |
| Lieutenant Rocco P574P1 |  | J: Nick Scholfield T: Syd Hosie | 50/1 |
| Francky Du Berlais 120005 |  | J: Ben Jones T: Peter Bowen | 50/1 |
| Hardline 132216 |  | J: Shane Fitzgerald T: Gordon Elliott | 66/1 |
| Coup De Pinceau 5-13D3P | | J: George Hiscock T:Syd Hosie | 80/1 |
All About The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Trophy in 2023
Only one horse has ever won at six Cheltenham Festivals. When Quevega won her sixth successive Mares Hurdle in 2014, it looked like a record that would never be matched.
Little would spectators have known, but just three days later, another Festival dynasty was to begin. Tiger Roll was sent off at 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle and duly began one of the great National Hunt stories.
It seems remarkable now that he is on the cusp of a sixth victory, but he had to wait another three years for his next Festival win in the National Hunt Chase. Now, however, March is not complete without seeing the plucky Tiger competing for everything round the Cross Country course.
After losing his title in 2020, he regained it last season and is surely a big contender to challenge again. That said, unlike most races these days, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is often host to a continental onslaught.
Easysland, a vanquished runner-up last year, is no longer part of that since switching yards to Jonjo O’Neill, but Ajas who has long been touted for an assault on this race, is still trained by David Cottin. The ex-French Diesel d’Allier, now with Richard Bandey, won for the second time over course and distance in handicap company as well. Prengarde may prove a new kid on the block from the continent.
There is also likely a far greater contingent from a class angle. Balko Des Flos benefitted from Tiger Roll’s absence in the Grand National back in April. He finished second at 100/1 in the Aintree marathon and as a former winner of the Ryanair Chase, he doesn’t lack for ability.
Others who are rapidly becoming specialists in this sphere are Potters Corner and Plan Of Attack. The former is one of the potential leading lights for the home side.
Qualifications/Trends
Can Tiger Roll be a trend by himself? Three wins and a second in the four renewals he’s contested means he has always given value for money even when he has gone off a short price.
Though it is, like many of the open races, for five-year-olds and upwards, Easysland was bucking a serious trend when winning as a six-year-old in 2020. Few horses of that age group have ever contested the race and it has regularly paid to look for vast experience.
Both Native Jack and A New Story have been second at the age of 14 in this race, while the latter and Uncle Junior even competed aged 15. 12-year-olds are also the second most successful age group with three wins.
That said, there has not been a winner of that age since 2010 and Tiger Roll was the first winner aged into double figures since 2015 when claiming his third Cross Country Chase (Any Currency was 13 when disqualified in 2016).
The race has, of course been subject to change. It was a handicap until 2015, with level weights introduced from 2016 onwards. Perhaps that is the reason for the younger horses faring slightly better.
As such, aside form age, there is little to compare all runnings from the first in 2005. Of those that have been conditions races, no horse has been priced at greater than 7/1 and that was, incredibly, Tiger Roll when he won his first in 2018. Despite the unpredictable nature of the track, results are often staring you in the face.
Prize Money in 2023
Gigginstown House Stud took home a shade over £30,000 out of a total prize of £48,750 for last year’s race. No confirmation of the 2023 prize as yet.
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase History
From its introduction in 2005 up to 2015, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase was run as a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. That was no obstacle for three top-weights to come home in front in that period, however.
One of those was the inaugural winner, Spot Thedifference, who ticks a lot of historic boxes in this race. He was one of seven winners in the race for J P McManus and one of five for Enda Bolger. A banks specialist as a trainer, he has also sent out Heads Ontheground, Garde Champetre (twice) and Josies Orders to win. The last-named is his only winner so far since the race became a conditions contest.
Spot Thedifference’s rider was J T McNamara. The great amateur jockey begun an excellent record for non-professionals in the Cross Country, with six wins in the race.
One such amateur took four of those six successes. Long before Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost, Miss Nina Carberry was setting standards and breaking glass ceilings. Those four wins make her the most successful in the race’s history.
Due to Tiger Roll’s sustained success, Keith Donoghue is now breathing down her neck, having been aboard for all of the Tiger’s victories. A fourth win for him in the race will almost certainly go down in the history books of the Cheltenham Festival for ever more.
Winners since 2000
| Year | Horse | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Spot Thedifference | J: J T McNamara T:Enda Bolger | 4/1 |
| 2006 | Native Jack | J:Davy Russell T:P J Rothwell | 7/2J |
| 2007 | Heads Onthe Ground | J:Nina Carberry T: Enda Bolger | 5/2F |
| 2008 | Garde Champetre | J:Nina Carberry T:Enda Bolger | 4/1 |
| 2009 | Garde Champetre | J:Nina Carberry T:Enda Bolger | 7/2 |
| 2010 | A New Story | J:Adrian Heskin T:Michael Hourigan | 25/1 |
| 2011 | Sizing Australia | J:Andrew Lynch T:Henry De Bromhead | 13/2 |
| 2012 | Balthazar King | J:Richard Johnson T:Philip Hobbs | 11/2 |
| 2013 | Big Shu | J:Barry Cash T:Peter Maher | 14/1 |
| 2014 | Balthazar King | J:Richard Johnson T:Philip Hobbs | 4/1 |
| 2015 | Rivage d’Or | J:Davy Russell T:Tony Martin | 16/1 |
| 2016 | Josies Orders | J:Nina Carberry T:Enda Bolger | 15/8F |
| 2017 | Cause Of Causes | J:Jamie Codd T:Gordon Elliott | 4/1 |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll | J:Keith Donoghue T:Gordon Elliott | 7/1 |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | J:Keith Donoghue T:Gordon Elliott | 5/4F |
| 2020 | Easysland | J:Jonathan Plouganou T:David Cottin | 3/1 |
| 2021 | Tiger Roll | J:Keith Donoghue T:Gordon Elliott | 9/2 |