14:50 Cheltenham
Saturday 28 January 2017
All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:35
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 6f 37y | Good to Soft (Good in places) | 10 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 8m 9.40s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Capable of some top-class form at his best and a winner at Grade 2 level at Clonmel in November. Below form last time out at Tramore and tackles these obstacles for the first time.
Won the Cross Country affair at the Festival, although subsequently disqualified. Knows his way around here and hard to discount, but he has to give weight away to all bar one of his rivals.
Kim Muir winner at the Festival last year when landing a gamble but hasn't shown much since then. Now given a try over the banks and capable enough if this brings him back to anywhere near his Kim Muir form.
Never one that was the most consistent over regulation fences but appears to have been rejuvenated like so many from the Bolger yard by going down the Cross Country route. Already won over C&D and favourite for the Festival version of this contest and a good display is expected here.
Very much a case of how he feels on the day, as he's shown on his last two starts in veterans events. Jury out on how he will take to this test.
Looked a rather quirky sort when with his former yard and still looked the same on his debut for this yard. Stamina far from certain to last out at this trip though and looks to have a tough task here.
Generally likes to get on with things and go from the front; doing so in a C&D event at the Festival (ran well enough to a point). Has won a couple of handicaps over conventional fences since then and will be interesting if getting away off the front here.
Handicap mark is plummeting but he hasn't shown much zip for a while now and the banks at Punchestown looked rather alien to him.
Another one from the Bolger stable that do so well in this type of race. Looks to have improved for a switch to this test but does have work to do with Cantlow on these terms.
French raider who has run in three Cross Country chases since 2014 in his native land; the last in 2015. Has run in conventional chases since then with all his form coming over shorter and may just struggle to get the trip here.
Forecasts
Cantlow (11/8), Auvergnat (5/1), Cause Of Causes (6/1), Valadom (8/1), Rocky Creek (8/1), Alelchi Inois (12/1), Any Currency (14/1), The Job Is Right (25/1), Urgent De Gregaine (50/1), Fago (66/1)
Races over the Cross Country course are usually dominated by Enda Bolger runners and he saddles the favourite here in CANTLOW who also occupies the same market position for the Festival race in March. Previously a rather inconsistent type over conventional fences he looks to have been rejuvenated by being given this rather different test and the 7lb rise for his win over C&D last month seems more than fair. Auvergnat represents the younger brigade and has time on his side, although he has work to do with Cantlow and may be one for the future in this type of event. If there is to be a shock in this then it could be that bold front-runner Valadom can provide it. He’s run well on his last three starts over this course, and getting weight off most here, he may be hard to catch if he gets away off the front.
1. Cantlow
2. Valadom
3. Auvergnat
Prize Money
1st: £15,640.002nd: £4,620.003rd: £2,310.004th: £1,155.005th: £578.006th: £290.00
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