Last Wednesday saw the final entries revealed for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle and the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase, which concluded the final piece of the Cheltenham betting jigsaw.
Cross Country Chase
Tiger Roll (11/10, Gordon Elliott) captured the £65,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2018, joining a select group of horses to win three different races at The Festival, and last year’s Grand National winner heads 28 entries for the three and three-quarter mile contest on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13.
Elliott, seeking a hat-trick in the race having saddled Cause Of Causes to glory in 2017, has also entered Don Poli (14/1), winner of the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at The Festival in 2015, and last season’s Grand National third Bless The Wings (25/1).
A strong Irish-trained contingent also includes the Enda Bolger-trained duo of Auvergnat (11/2), winner of the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December, and Josies Orders (7/1), who has scored four times over Cheltenham’s Cross Country course, including when being awarded the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at The Festival in 2016. Bolger has saddled the winner of the Cross Country Chase a record five times.
Both French-trained entries have run well on their previous visits to Cheltenham. Urgent De Gregaine (10/1, Emmanuel Clayeux) was runner-up to Tiger Roll at The Festival last year, while Amazing Comedy (25/1, David Cottin) finished a close fourth in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The International in December.
The home challenge could rely on Tea For Two (14/1, Jane Williams), a dual G1 winner over fences, Ultragold (10/1, Colin Tizzard), who has won the last two renewals of the Topham Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree, and Fact Of The Matter (12/1, Jamie Snowden), successful in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The International.
Trends & Statistics
- Garde Champetre (2008 & 2009) and Balthazar King (2012 & 2014) are the two multiple winners.
- Enda Bolger has five wins to his name (all owned by J P McManus).
- Amateur Nina Carberry, now retired, had four wins. Richard Johnson and Davy Russell are the only two current jockeys jockey to have won the contest more than once.
- Irish trainers boast a formidable record, having taken 12 of the 14 renewals. Philip Hobbs, trainer of the 2012 and 2014 scorer Balthazar King, is the only British trainer to have been successful.
- Heads Onthe Ground is the shortest-priced winner, having obliged at 5/2 in 2007. A New Story provided a shock in 2010, scoring at odds of 33/1.
Champion Bumper
Irish-trained horses have accounted for 19 of the 26 winners of the £75,000 G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper and another powerful team from across the Irish Sea looks assured, with Irish handlers responsible for 12 of the 28 contenders for this year’s race, which also takes place on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13.
Blue Sari (5/1, Willie Mullins) stormed to an impressive victory on his only start at Gowran Park on January 24 and the J P McManus-owned son of Saddex could aim to become the fourth four-year-old to triumph following Rhythm Section (1993), Dato Star (1995) and Cue Card (2010). Mullins is bidding for a remarkable 10th success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Envoi Allen (4/1, Gordon Elliott), owned by Cheveley Park Stud, maintained his unbeaten record under rules when beating Meticulous (12/1, Joseph O’Brien) in a G2 bumper at Leopardstown on February 2, a race in which stable companion Abacadabras (14/1) ran out when travelling strongly.
Leading British hopes include Get In The Queue (10/1, Harry Fry), a 16-length winner at Exeter on February 22, and Master Debonair (14/1, Colin Tizzard), who scored at Cheltenham earlier in the season in the Listed High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Bumper at The November Meeting.
Mares Novices' Hurdle
Willie Mullins has won all three runnings of the £90,000 G2 Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Ireland’s champion Jump trainer is responsible for 13 of the 40 entries for the extended two-mile contest on St Patrick’s Thursday, March 14, including G1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle second Sancta Simona (10/1).
Unbeaten G3 winner Honeysuckle (3/1) and Punchestown Listed scorer Sinoria (8/1) could both line up for Henry de Bromhead, while Posh Trish (8/1, Paul Nicholls), twice successful at Listed level this season, and Epatante (2/1, Nicky Henderson), an impressive winner at Exeter on February 22, feature among the British-trained contenders.
Foxhunter Chase
Pacha Du Polder (16/1) has won the last two renewals of the £45,000 St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase and the Paul Nicholls-trained 12-year-old could bid for an unprecedented third victory in the race on Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 15.
The 35 entries also feature lightly-raced seven-year-old Stand Up And Fight (7/2, Enda Bolger), prolific point-to-point winner Hazel Hill (5/1, Philip Rowley), Road To Rome (6/1, Joseph O’Shea), who has won all four of his hunter chase starts so far this season, and high-class chaser Ucello Conti (5/1, Gordon Elliott).
Trends & Statistics
- Freddie won at odds of 1/3 in 1964, while Double Silk was sent off at odds of 2/5 for his second success in 1994. Woodside Terrace (1965), Amicelli (2008) and Zemsky (2011) are the longest-priced winners since 1946, having all scored at 33/1.
- There have been 11 Irish-trained winners since 1946 - Eliogarty (1983), Attitude Adjuster (1986), Lovely Citizen (1991), Elegant Lord (1996), Whyso Mayo (2006), Zemsky (2011), Salsify (2012 & 2013), Tammys Hill (2014) and On The Fringe (2015 & 2016).
- Since 1946 nine horses have won the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase twice, although no horse has won the race three times. The Callant won in 1956 and 1957, Whinstone Hill in 1958 and 1960, Colledge Master in 1961 and 1962, Double Silk in 1993 and 1994, Fantus in 1995 and 1997, Earthmover in 1998 and 2004, Salsify in 2012 and 2013, On The Fringe in 2015 and 2016, and Pacha Du Polder in 2017 and 2018.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
