15:00 Cheltenham

Friday 17 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 8m 16.00s

Cantlow^p²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 148| CD

6/1

Revitalised by this sort of challenge and won over these fences last December. Again ran well when third to Cause Of Causes at the Cheltenham Festival and is expected to give it a bold shot.

Form: 11232-0

Auvergnat¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 145

2/1

Fourth to Cause Of Causes at the Cheltenham Festival, but has progressed since. Has youth on his side and warmed up for this with a good third over hurdles at Galway. Looks a serious contender.

Form: 14-12B3

Urgent De Gregaine^p,t²⁹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Felix de Giles| T: E Clayeux| OR: 142| CD

7/2

French challenger who beat Cantlow over these fences in January, defying odds of 50-1. Second in the Pardubice on his only start since, he is a fascinating contender and should not be underestimated,

Form: 247351-

Kingswell Theatre^p²¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 136

14/1

Beaten a long way when 10th to Cause Of Causes over these fences at the Cheltenham Festival. Hard to fancy on that evidence.

Form: 3P0107-

Aubusson³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 135| C

6/1

Smart hurdler in his pomp, but nowhere near as good over fences. Hopes are pinned on this challenge sparking a revival in fortunes.

Form: 98604-3

Need To Know¹⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: J P Brennan| OR: 131

25/1

Multiple point-to-point winner who has shown an aptitude for cross-county contests with victories in his native Ireland and France. Receives plenty of weight from some higher-profile rivals and is an interesting outsider.

Form: P241-17

Inis Meain²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 127

50/1

Has yet to win in nine starts over fences and is still a novice. Anybody's guess as to how he will cope with this challenge, but he is not hard to oppose.

Form: 827-339

Vicomte Du Seuil^p1,t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: E Clayeux| OR: 125

12/1

Won a three-runner cross-country chase at Lignieres last month, but this is an altogether different challenge. Stable looks to have brighter prospects with Urgent De Gregaine.

Form: 0/P56-43

Bertie Boru^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125

12/1

Thorough, but exposed stayer who was hampered and unseated his rider at the 27th obstacle when tried over these fences in the race won by Cantlow last December. Not completely ruled out given he was still in touch on that occasion.

Form: UP133-7

Adam du Breteau^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

50/1

Well beaten in handicap company on his last three starts, he is another tackling these fences for the first time. Hard to make any sort of case for.

Form: 3P-3766

Non-Runners

Cause Of Causes²²³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Mr J J Codd

Forecasts

Auvergnat (2/1), Urgent De Gregaine (7/2), Cantlow (6/1), Aubusson (6/1), Cause Of Causes (13/2), Vicomte Du Seuil (12/1), Bertie Boru (12/1), Kingswell Theatre (14/1), Need To Know (25/1), Adam du Breteau (50/1), Inis Meain (50/1)

Cause Of Causes is the stand-out performer in this contest, but he has top weight and is usually campaigned with spring targets in mind. On this occasion, the same owner's Cantlow and AUVERGNAT might be his superior in recipt of weight. The selection has progressed since his last appearance over these fences and can win for a trainer who specialises in this type of contest. French raider Urgent De Gregaine is much respected and can go well, while Need To Know is an interesting outsider.