The Cross Country Chase is always a spectacle to behold on Day 3 of the Festival. Owners Gigginstown has landed this contest three times in the last four seasons with dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll. Daryl Carter has previewed this competitive handicap event alongside an exclusive Virgin Bet offer that provides new customers with £20 in free bets.
The Cross Country Chase is not for everyone, but it’s a spectacle in it’s own right and it could prove to be the last hurrah for former winner and Grand National hero Tiger Roll, so it’s well worth taking a look at.
Key Stats And Trends
In the last 12 years, the race has gone to horses aged eight or older, so the experience is key.
Nine of the last 12 winners have been in the top three in the betting, so punters are not asked to search too deeply with only a handful of standout candidates.
Course form is a must. 11 of the last 12 winners had at least one run at this Cheltenham course, and eight of the last 12 had won here.
Likely Contenders
PRENGARDE
Prengarde is a new JP McManus purchase that has been successful in five of his six starts in Compiegne and is a five-time winner of the Cross Country Chase in France. He is a big, good-looking horse who likes to front-run. From my limited knowledge of Cross Country racing, the slight concern with him is the downhill sections of the course.
He lost his footing on more than one occasion when tackling those obstacles, but that’s really being knit picky. What he has beaten is up for debate, and it’s a surprise he hasn’t come to experience the course before the big day.
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TIGER ROLL
Tiger Roll, the 2018/19/21 winner, will bid for a fourth success in what will likely be the last race of his illustrious career and given his dominance in this sphere over the years, he has to be greatly respected. He ran a good prep race for this contest over hurdles at Navan, where he went well for a long way and has followed the path connections took last year.
He has been a remarkable servant to horse racing, and there have been few better than him over this course. He must have big, big claims in this contest.
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EASYSLAND
The 2020 winner Easysland is now with Jonjo O’Neil and hasn’t been seen since being well beaten in this race last year. You get the feeling that he is a fragile horse, and arriving here without a prep run is a little concerning for his backers. He has an abundance of talent and is likely to feature prominently in this sphere for years to come. However, things don’t seem to have gone to plan this term.
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BACK ON THE LASH
Back On The Lash won here over course and distance in November in a handicap and will need more this time considerably with some useful types at the top of the market. He showed a good attitude on that occasion and lost nothing in defeat next time when behind Diesel D’Allier in December. He should give his running, but on the figures, he has plenty to find and will need one or two to falter.
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DIESEL D’ALLIER
Diesel D’Allier has vast experience from France and this contest in 2020 and got his head in front late on to deny Potters Corner here in December. The nine-year-old is on the upgrade and needs to be considered this time around, especially should the ground come up on the softer side.
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MORTAL
Mortal ran a screamer on his first start in this sphere in December and had excuses for his defeat on that occasion. He slipped coming round the bend, but the headway he made in fine style really caught the eye. That was a handicap off a mark of 139, though, and he will need more today. However, he is entitled to improve for that first bash at the X Country course, and he is interesting, especially given his back-class.
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SAMCRO
Samcro has an entry here which would add spice given his ability but trying an X Country course for the first time in this race is probably not ideal.
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RACE VERDICT
Easysland could easily bounce back, but he will need to defy an absence while Prengarde lacks that all-important course form, so TIGER ROLL is the offering. He could claim his fourth win in the race, which would bring the roof off Cheltenham, and he ticks all the boxes for yet another year.
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