It’s not everybody’s cup of tea but the Cross-Country Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival still needs to be won, so we’ve asked GG’s resident curmudgeon Andrew Mount to take on the task of providing his ante-post pick for the race.
.Glenfarclas Chase (Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 17)
KEY STATS – TRAINERS
seven of the last ten winners were trained in Ireland, two in Britain (dual winner Balthazar King) and one in France (Easysland.
AGE
When cross country races were first introduced to Cheltenham they used to be quite predictable, with those aged 10+ dominating. However, things have changed in recent years and eight of the last ten winners were aged nine or younger, including six-year-old Easysland last year.
KEY CONTENDERS
EASYSLAND
Annihilated Tiger Roll in this race last year, sauntering home by 17 lengths at 3-1. He was beaten into fourth when 8-11 favourite over course and distance at the November meeting but that was a handicap – he was conceding lumps of weight to the three who finished in front of him – and he didn’t jump especially well, reportedly getting tired on his first start for eight months. Expect to see considerable improvement this time.
BACK EASYSLAND HERE AND GET A £20 RISK FREE BET AT SBK
TIGER ROLL
Dual Grand National hero TIGER ROLL has course and distance figures of 51412P (2-6), improving to 112 (2-3) in this race, with the wins coming in 2018 and 2019. He also won at this meeting in 2014 (Triumph Hurdle) and in 2017 (National Hunt Challenge Cup) and can be forgiven his pulled-up effort in handicap company at the November meeting.
BACK TIGER ROLL HERE AND GET A £20 RISK FREE BET AT SBK
AJAS
A stablemate of Easysland, finished runner-up in a Listed hurdle at Pau last time and was only beaten by a head in a Grade 2 chase on his penultimate start. He lacks cross-country experience but would be interesting if making the switch.
BACK AJAS HERE AND GET A £20 RISK FREE BET AT SBK
LE BREUIL
Won the National Hunt Challenge Cup at this meeting in 2019 and has the look of a spring horse to me. He has won twice in November but the latest win came at odds of 1-9 in a match and the other over hurdles at Sedgefield back in 2016. His other four wins have come in March, April and May, so I expect he could easily bounce back from his 27-length last-of-the-four-finishers effort in the Edinburgh National last time.
BACK LE BREUIL HERE AND GET A £20 RISK FREE BET AT SBK
GLENFARCLAS CROSS-COUNTRY CHASE VERDICT
I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of this race. When I was a bookmaker standing at Cheltenham we used to refer to it as ‘the toilet break’ because they took so long to get round it was your only time you got to visit the loo.
Last year’s one-two EASYSLAND and Tiger Roll are better than showed in handicap company over course and distance at the November meeting, with the former taken to confirm the form. Of those at bigger prices, Le Breuil tends to peak in the spring and could also go well.
Join SBK and Deposit £20, To Claim A Risk Free £20 Bet
Full welcome bonus terms
Once the bonus is credited to your account, losses will be refunded up to the bonus amount. 2. You must deposit at least the qualifying deposit of £20 (or currency equivalent) in a single amount with your first deposit to be eligible for the rebate.
Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller, PayPal or a virtual/prepaid card will not qualify for this promotion. 4. To withdraw rebated funds, you must bet at least the qualifying deposit on any combination of markets within the promotional period; otherwise rebated funds will be forfeited.
Unused bonuses expire after seven days of being credited to a user account and will be removed after this period. 6. The promotion is open to new users making their first deposit by card, bank transfer or Trustly only.
The sign-up offer is strictly limited to one per individual, family, household address, email address, same payment account number, and shared computer. 8. The offer is can only be redeemed by users who sign up and deposit after 00:00 on January 2nd 2020. 9. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other sign-up promotion. 10. SBK standard terms for promotions apply.