Looking for Cross Country Chase tips? We look at the front runners ahead of the 2024 renewal and weigh up their pros and cons, recent wins and losses and look at top trainers and jockeys that can influence the outcome.
Here we see oldies but goodies make a comeback as we often see returning legends coming back to conquer the race before retiring, you’ll probably recognise quite a few of the names in the betting odds if you’re bet on previous renewals of the Cheltenham Festival. This race has given us wins in the shape of Tiger Roll, Delta Work and Easyland. The race is open to runners 5 years old and up, but the average age of winners sits at around double that, which just goes to show that many runners in the cross country race have racked up a lot of experience elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- The current favourite is Minella Indo, closely followed by joint second favourites Galvin and Conflated with Delta Work as third favourite.
- The Cross Country Chase, now a conditions race since 2016, is a prominent part of the Cheltenham Festival characterized by its challenging 3-mile course with 32 obstacles to be jumped, marking it as one of the most difficult races of the Festival. Horses will need to show a lot of stamina and endurance for this meeting.
- Key betting considerations for the Cross Country Chase include the horse’s experience on similar courses, trainer expertise, with notable figures like Enda Bolger and Gordon Elliott, and the horse’s recent form and past performance at Cheltenham.
Cross Country Chase Overview
Since its inception in 2005, the Cross Country Chase has rapidly become a cornerstone of the Cheltenham Festival. The prestige of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is underscored by its impressive prize money, which reached £75,000 in 2023.
Spanning approximately 3 miles, 6 furlongs, and 37 yards, the Cheltenham Cross Country course is a formidable challenge. The course record time, set by Balthazar King in 2012, stands as a testament to the peak performance required to navigate this obstacle-laden track as he ran it in 7:51.70 under the guidance of Richard Johnson.
Cross Country Chase Odds
Let’s take a look at the favourites for Cheltenham in our odds and then at the not so favourites.
The Favourites
As the Cheltenham Festival nears, the anticipation around the Cross Country Chase mounts, with the spotlight on a select group of horses and their prospects.
- Minella Indo – priced at 7/4* and trained by Henry De Bromhead, this 11 year old is known for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2021. It pulled up at last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and placed 4th in the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in December.
- Galvin – priced at 7/2* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 10 year old is known for winning the National Hunt Challenge Cup in 2021 and place 2nd at last year’s Cross Country Chase. They recently ran at Navan but placed 4th.
- Conflated – priced at 7/2* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 10 year old standout from the rest of the favourites as it has yet to bag a Cheltenham Festival win. It’s unseated Jack Kennedy and Sam Ewing in its last two races.
- Delta Work – priced at 4/1* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 11 year old is known for winning the 2022 and 2023 renewals, as well as winning the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle in 2018. They recently ran at Navan but placed 6th in the Boyne Hurdle.
Dark Horses to Watch
The term ‘dark horse’ takes on a literal meaning in the context of the Cross Country Chase. There seems to be a big gap between the level of the favourites compared to the outsiders in this race at the moment. The best looking outsiders at the moment don’t have a great record so far this season but here’s some picks:
- Stattler – priced at 16/1* (drifted from 7/1), it’s surprising to see Stattler in this position after he won the National Hunt Challenge Cup in 2022. Sure, he hasn’t been able to claim a win since then, but good form hasn’t been the best indicator to go by when it comes to predicting outcomes in this race, with only 5 of the past 19 winners being favourites. Will he be able to get back on his feet this year?
Other Picks to Consider
- Coko Beach – priced at 9/2* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 9 year old has been on good form and recently won the Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase at Punchestown.
- Foxy Jacks – priced at 10/1* and trained by M F Morris, this 10 year old hasn’t had many career wins but did recently win at the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase in December at Cheltenham.
Before You Bet: Key Trends to Consider
The track record of Cross Country Chase victors often reveals cross country chase trends, such as:
- Many possess previous experience on the demanding course or similar courses, such as the Banks course at Punchestown.
- They often have triumphed over distances exceeding 30 furlongs.
- The track that has produced the most winners is Navan, with 6 winners running there last time out.
- The Cheltenham track has produced 5 winners when they ran there last time out.
Before placing your bet just also consider our Safer Gambling advice. Placing an informed bet can help, but it can’t guarantee a win due to the unpredictable nature of horses. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Current Form and Recent Performances
Recent form and performances serve as a critical barometer for a horse’s prospects in the Cross Country Chase. The betting market’s top three typically include past winners who have run at Cheltenham before, with many having snagged at least one victory at the venue. Nevertheless, previous seasonal wins are not always a reliable predictor, as evidenced by Rivage D’Or’s triumph without a prior season run and Delta Work’s victory last year despite no wins earlier in the season.
Cross Country Chase – Previous Winners
Repeat winners are not uncommon in the Cross Country Chase, indicating a specialization that could tip the scales in favour of experienced contenders and past runner up contenders.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 8:39.40 | Delta Work (FR) 10yo 11-7 11/10F | Keith Donoghue Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2022 9:08.68 | Delta Work (FR) 9yo 11-4 5/2F | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2021 8:42.65 | Tiger Roll (IRE) 11yo 11-4 9/2 | Keith Donoghue Mrs Denise Foster (IRE) |
| 2020 9:09.60 | Easysland (FR) 6yo 11-4 3/1 | Jonathan Plouganou D Cottin (FR) |
| 2019 8:27.28 | Tiger Roll (IRE) 9yo 11-4 5/4F | Keith Donoghue Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2018 8:51.60 | Tiger Roll (IRE) 8yo 11-4 7/1 | Keith Donoghue Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2017 8:12.30 | Cause Of Causes (USA) 9yo 11-4 4/1 | Mr J J Codd Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2016 8:11.00 | Josies Orders (IRE) 8yo 11-4 15/8F | Ms N Carberry E Bolger (IRE) |
| 2015 8:23.80 | Rivage DOr (FR) 10yo 10-10 16/1 | Davy Russell A J Martin (IRE) |
| 2014 8:19.20 | Balthazar King (IRE) 10yo 11-12 4/1 | Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs (GB) |
Tiger Roll
Tiger Roll’s legendary status in horse racing is undisputed. With five Cheltenham Festival victories, three of which being the Cross Country Chase, he commands respect and a mention of his stunning feats over the years at Cheltenham. His career is a record that speaks volumes:
- 5 wins total at Cheltenham
- 3 placings at the Cheltenham track
- 44 runs over a career that spanned from 2014 to 2022
Winning Jockeys and Trainers
The list of winning jockeys and trainers in the Cross Country Chase includes:
- Enda Bolger, with 5 wins in total
- Gordon Elliott, with 5 wins and multiple placements since 2016
- Keith Donoghue and Nina Carberry, who have emerged as the leading jockeys in this challenging race with 4 wins each.
Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Schedule and Other Races
The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is a showcase of equine excellence, with seven races offering a thrilling spectacle for racing aficionados. The races on this day include:
- Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
- RSA Chase
- Coral Cup
- Cross Country Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
One cannot talk about the second day of the Cheltenham Festival without mentioning the Queen Mother Champion Chase. This Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase, akin to the excitement of the Grand National, is a crowning event for horses aged five and older, testing their mettle over two miles and 13 fences.
*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The largest prize money for the Cross Country Chase to date is £75,000 in 2023.
The most successful trainers in the Cross Country Chase are Enda Bolger and Gordon Elliott, each with five wins.
Yes, dark horses can and have won the Cross Country Chase, so it is indeed possible for them to be successful in the race.
