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15:00 Cheltenham

Friday 13 December 2024

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 8m 33.95s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Delta Work^b,t⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 159| C

18/1

High-class chaser who ended last season with an excellent second in Grand National at Aintree. Last of 5 on his return in Champion Chase at Down Royal last month but this course winner is a player back in these calmer waters.

Form: U/3662-5

Coko Beach^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C P Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| BF

16/1

A very smart chaser who reportedly suffered cuts to both hind legs when fifth in Punchestown conditions event 19 days ago. This course winner needs considering with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 2103-U5

Fakir D'Oudairies^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 154| C

9/1

Smart chaser who has caught the eye both runs this term, not knocked about when fourth of 6 to Saint Sam in Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel (20.8f) 36 days ago. In the mix back up in trip.

Form: 32/50-74

Stumptown¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: K M Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 149| C

4/1

Arrives on a hat-trick after back-to-back 3m cross country victories at Punchestown. This demands more but he's not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 1P3U1-1

Chemical Energy²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| C

14/1

Course winner but he's not the easiest to catch right and was tried in blinkers for the first time when pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (24.2f) 26 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 6P-5P3P

Vanillier^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 145| C

28/1

It's now 16 runs since his last win in 2021 and he came in a below-form sixth of 13 to Stumptown in cross country chase at Punchestown (3m) 19 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 5020-P6

Latenightpass³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 144| CD

5/1

2022 Foxhunters winner at Aintree and he took this 12 months ago for Dan Skelton. Had a wind op before coming in tenth of 13 in Grand Sefton back at Aintree (21.1f, good) 34 days ago. No forlorn hope back here with that run under his belt.

Form: 4/2150-0

Arizona Cardinal^t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 142WS

18/1

Admirable sort who signed off last term with victory in Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree. Looked rusty when pulled up at Chepstow on October's return to action and better expected on the back of a breathing operation.

Form: PP111-P

The Goffer^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

12/1

On a losing run and he was tried blinkered for 1st time when a below-form seventh of 18 in 3m handicap chase at Navan 26 days ago. More is needed now back up in trip.

Form: 50P-0P7

Busselton²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140

33/1

Last success over jumps came in 2022 Kerry National but resumed winning ways with blinkers refitted on Flat at Galway (16.5f) in July. Hasn't been in same form on Flat/over fences since though. Lots more is required.

Form: 46PP-06

Mister Coffey²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

5/1

Still without a win in this sphere but he returned with a solid second of 9 in handicap chase over C&D 28 days ago. Can go well again off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 8/4263-2

Escaria Ten^p⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 135

80/1

Very useful chaser in his pomp but evidently not the force of old in recent seasons and well held both starts for his current yard here 6 months apart.

Form: 7P/6P0-P

Statuario^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 133

22/1

Enhanced excellent Perth record with another brace of small-field wins in May/June. Got back on track when fourth of 9 in handicap chase over C&D 28 days ago so he can't be dismissed off a 7 lb lower mark.

Form: 113954

Three By Two¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D P Murphy| OR: 127

28/1

Resumed winning ways at Wexford in July and excelled herself when 2¾ lengths second of 13 to Stumptown in cross country chase at Punchestown (3m) 19 days ago. 6 lb out of the handicap here though.

Form: 2-00162

Iceo Madrik^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Tho Journiac⁽³⁾| T: D Cottin| OR: 122

11/2

French chaser who comes here bidding for a hat-trick after a pair of cross country successes at Compiegne this winter. 11 lb "wrong" in the weights however.

Form: P-42211

Non-Runners

Gevrey²⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Stumptown (4/1), Mister Coffey (5/1), Latenightpass (5/1), Iceo Madrik (11/2), Fakir D'Oudairies (9/1), The Goffer (12/1), Chemical Energy (14/1), Coko Beach (16/1), Arizona Cardinal (18/1), Delta Work (18/1), Statuario (22/1), Three By Two (28/1), Vanillier (28/1), Busselton (33/1), Gevrey (33/1), Escaria Ten (80/1)

Gordon Elliott comes here mob-handed and his veteran DELTA WORK is fancied to capitalise on a handy-looking mark and enhance his fine record round here. Fellow Irish raider Stumptown has age on his side and is feared most in his bid for a hat-trick of cross country events, with in-form maiden chaser Mister Coffey appealing as the pick of the home challengers. Former victor Latenightpass and Topham-hero Arizona Cardinal complete the shortlist.