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16:10 Cheltenham
Wednesday 14 March 2018
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
The Glenfarclas Steeple Chase (A Cross Country Steeple Chase)
- 5YO plus | Class 1 | 3m 6f 37y | Soft (Heavy in places) | 16 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 8m 51.6s
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Finished fourth in this race 12 months ago but has failed to complete on his two other appearances here. Saw off Josies Orders by a short-head when contesting a 3m banks race at Punchestown a month ago and should appreciate the forecast going.
Completed a hat-trick over regulation fences when winning on good ground at Perth in June last year. Finished well beaten over hurdles at Musselburgh (3m2f, soft) on his return last month and making his first cross country appearance.
Finished runner-up to stablemate Cause Of Causes in this race a year ago and registered his first win over this course when successful in a handicap on good-to-soft ground here in December. Likely to put in a bold show once more.
Useful individual in this sphere and was a winner over this course back in December 2016. Finished third in this race last year and has won on soft and heavy ground in the past but he looks vulnerable here.
Winner of this race prior to finishing runner-up in the Grand National last year and ran better than the bare result suggests on his return to action at Leopardstown (2m5f) last month. Bidding to win at this meeting for a fourth consecutive year.
Twice a winner from 24 career starts but finished well beaten on heavy ground at Exeter over 3m on his seasonal debut last month. Hood worn on that occasion is retained today but he looks up against it on his debut in this sphere.
Fair performer on his day and won over an extended 2m5f at Kelso (good) in November. Best effort since came when finishing third on good-to-soft ground at Ludlow (3m) last time out but more is needed on his debut over this course.
Dual winner over hurdles in the autumn including off a mark of 118 on soft ground at Clonmel (3m) in November. Finished a fair fourth behind Auvergnat in a bank race at Punchestown (heavy) last month and likely to have improved for that experience.
Winner of this race two years ago and missed last years renewal due to injury. Finished third here in December and placed twice in banks contests at Punchestown this season; he looks likely to run well with a leading amateur in the saddle.
Has twice made the frame in the Grand National including in the 2017 renewal. Pulled up on a Grade 2 hurdle on seasonal debut and finished well beaten on his only previous start over this course back in November 2015.
Placed in the 2016 Grand National and finished runner-up over the same course in the Becher Chase on heavy ground in December. Ran well over regulation fences here last time time and is an interesting runner on his cross-country debut.
Winner of the National Hunt Chase over 4m at this meeting 12 months ago and put in a respectable effort when finishing fifth on his cross-country debut here in December. Sure to have benefited from the experience and looks a leading contender.
French raider who was successful over this course on good-to-soft ground in January last year. Finished runner-up in the Velka Pardubicka at Pardubice (soft) in October and is one to note having finished third on good ground here last time out.
French-trained runner who has finished in the first three in three of his four starts at Pau this winter including when winning on very soft ground there in December. Stamina to prove but may surprise a few on his cross-country debut.
Winner of 11 races in France including a cross-country contest on his debut in this sphere at Lignieres in October. Finished runner-up on good ground here subsequently but looks the stables second string based on jockey bookings.
Successful over hurdles as a four-year-old and placed over fences since including in a competitive handicap at Pau (2m4f, heavy) last month. Has a leading French jockey booked to ride on her cross-country debut.
Forecasts
The Last Samuri (11/4), Cause Of Causes (10/3), Tiger Roll (7/1), Josies Orders (7/1), Bless The Wings (9/1), Auvergnat (10/1), Urgent De Gregaine (12/1), Cantlow (25/1), Hurricane Darwin (25/1), Saint Are (33/1), Urumqi (33/1), Beeves (50/1), Vicomte Du Seuil (50/1), Federici (66/1), Chic Name (100/1), Belamix Dor (100/1)
URGENT DE GREGAINE was a winner here in January last year and having placed twice since including on soft ground at Pardubice he can register his eighth victory in what looks a highly competitive renewal of this contest. Last years winner Cause Of Causes made a highly promising reappearance at Leopardstown last time out and he can claim third while Bless The Wings can place in this race for the third consecutive year by finishing third. The selections fellow French raider Urumqi looks a potential dark horse with the step up in trip likely to suit.
- Urgent De Gregaine
- Cause Of Causes
- Bless The Wings
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £40,235.002nd: £11,947.003rd: £5,974.004th: £2,977.005th: £1,495.006th: £754.007th: £377.008th: £182.00
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