15:20 Cheltenham
Wednesday 12 March 2025
All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)
- 5YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 5f 56y | Good to Soft (Good in places) | 16 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 8m 25.54s
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Selected odds by:
Unseated rider on cross-country debut at Punchestown last spring but has won all 3 subsequent starts in this sphere, most recently proving a length too strong for Mister Coffey over C&D in December. Up 8 lb but he did it cosily and possesses strong credentials for this test. Cheekpieces on.
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Very smart chaser who boasts a good Cheltenham record, which includes a fine second in the 2023 renewal of this. Fourth in the Grand National on the second of his 2 starts of a light campaign last season and went close in a Grade 1 hurdle in the US on latest start in October. Major player.
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Produced much his best effort of this season so far when chasing home Vanillier at Punchestown (24.9f, soft) last month. However, he was beaten 18 lengths by the winner and it's unlikely that a 7 lb swing will be enough to see him reverse those placings here.
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Welsh National winner in 2021 and this veteran has finished in the money in the last 2 renewals of that valuable marathon. Did nothing wrong when runner-up in a Grade 3 Haydock handicap (25.6f, soft) last time and he appeals as the type who will take to this idiosyncratic course. Considered.
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Smart chaser at his best and resumed winning ways in a Punchestown Grade 3 in October. Not so good next 3 appearances, though, and his shortcomings in the jumping department could be exposed now tackling these fences for the first time.
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Below par first 3 starts of this season, including twice in races won by stablemate Stumptown, but the fitting of blinkers appeared to spark new life into this 10-y-o at Punchestown (24.9f, soft) where he landed a cross-country event in fine style. Will be a danger to all if able to build on that.
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Returned to form from out of the blue when narrowly winning the Pat Taaffe Chase at the Punchestown Festival last spring. Reproduction of that effort would put him in the picture but he's none too reliable and has offered little in 3 starts so far this season. Cheekpieces reapplied.
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Got the better of Sweet David (subsequent winner over this C&D) in a listed cross-country race at Craon in France in September. Wasn't at his best in a similar contest won by Iceo Madrik at Compiegne when last seen 4 months ago, though, and this 13-y-o looks vulnerable.
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2022 Foxhunters winner at Aintree and clearly likes it round here, with his form figures over this C&D reading 213. Solid third to Stumptown and Mister Coffey on latest visit here in December and now meets the winner on 8 lb better terms. Strong each-way chance.
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Novice chase winner here in October 2022 and went on to run a fine race in defeat when second in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at this meeting later that season. However, he's been more miss than hit since and has a mountain to climb judged on efforts in cross-country events the last twice.
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Hard to believe that he's still without a win over fences given the number of solid performances he's delivered (runner-up 8 times and third on 3 occasions from 15 starts in this sphere). Beaten just a length by Stumptown over C&D last time and looks a key player now 5 lb better off with that rival.
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Fairly useful chaser who performed with credit on his second run over these obstacles when sixth of 15 in C&D contest won by Stumptown in December. Ran about as well as could've been expected in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last time and this looks like a more palatable assignment. Blinkers reapplied.
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It's been a struggle since he last got his head in front at Limerick in October 2023 and he looks an easy swerve on recent exploits.
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Good fourth in the Ultima at this meeting in 2023 and wasn't disgraced when fifth of 21 in last season's renewal of the same race. Only mid-field in C&D contest won by Stumptown in December, though, and was again safely held on his second run on a cross-country course at Punchestown last month.
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Very useful chaser in his pomp and returned to form for his current yard when fourth of 15 in C&D contest won by Stumptown in December. Proved that to be no flash in the pan when again fourth back over conventional fences at Sandown since but he looks vulnerable for win purposes, nevertheless.
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Won the Kim Muir at this meeting in 2022 but ended last season on a downer and hasn't shown much in a handful of appearances since returning to action in December. Cheekpieces back on.
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Forecasts
Stumptown (5/2), Galvin (4/1), Mister Coffey (11/2), The Goffer (6/1), Busselton (7/1), Vanillier (15/2), Latenightpass (11/1), Chemical Energy (16/1), Iwilldoit (22/1), Coko Beach (25/1), Escaria Ten (33/1), Roi Mage (40/1), French Dynamite (50/1), Minella Crooner (50/1), Gevrey (66/1), Chambard (80/1)
The return as a handicap following a 10-year hiatus and the Irish look set to continue their dominance, top-weight STUMPTOWN selected to extend his winning sequence to 4 having gone unbeaten in this discipline since unseating his rider on cross-country debut at Punchestown last spring. Gavin Cromwell's 8-y-o is unlikely to have it all his own way however, with former Grade 1 winner Galvin heading up the dangers, which also include Vanillier, Mister Coffey and Latenightpass.
Prize Money
1st: £39,022.002nd: £17,940.003rd: £8,970.004th: £4,485.005th: £2,242.006th: £1,118.00
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