15:05 Cheltenham

Friday 13 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 9m 4.0s

Yanworth²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 148| C

9/2

Former high-class hurdler (proved unconvincing over conventional fences) who made a successful start to his cross-country career at Punchestown (5-6, favourite). Fended off Neverushacon last time (worse off at the weights this time); could progress.

Form: 16/P0-P1

Josies Orders²¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 147| CD

16/1

Specialist in these sort of events (three-time C&D winner), won this event in 2015 before finishing third of this mark last year. Not getting any younger and may have trouble confirming May's Punchestown form with Blue Templar off a break.

Form: 12-3225

Neverushacon^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 140

16/1

Trying this discipline for the first time when second to Yanworth at Punchestown last month (better off at the weights now). Has to prove that he stays this sort of trip (never been further than 3m before); jumps well, soft ground a concern.

Form: 096-482

Out Sam^t,v¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

33/1

Has some good past form in staying handicap chases although he's a hard sort to trust these days; remains 8lb above his last winning mark. This will be a new experience for him so will have to be seen how he takes to it; testing ground would suit.

Form: P0-52FP

Rolling Dylan^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139

8/1

Went close on this card last year in the preceding handicap chase off 1lb higher. Ran well over C&D on his first taste of a cross-country experience last month; showed a liking for the challenge; yard have a good record with his type, not neglected.

Form: 4525-P4

Ballyboker Bridge^p²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Maher| OR: 139

25/1

Veteran who is no stranger to these sort of events having landed the La Touche Cup at Punchestown in May. Not beaten far by Yanworth and Neverushacon back there last month but looks vulnerable on this occasion; never performed at his best over C&D.

Form: U3/3U-13

Easysland^p1,t1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J Plouganou| T: D Cottin| OR: 139

5/2

Just a 5yo he looks the best of the French raiding party having landed a Listed event (3m3f, heavy) at Compiegne last month staying on strongly (stablemate Amazing Comedy back in fifth). Winner of four in a row in this sphere; first run here, useful.

Form: FF11-11

Kingswell Theatre^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 135| BF| CD

12/1

Lightly-raced these days whose had two wind ops since winning over C&D in November 2017 off a 1lb lower mark. Favourite over C&D last month but found the ground conditions against him; won't want attritional conditions again.

Form: 14/62-55

Tea For Two^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 135

33/1

Grade 1 winner in the past and despite facing some stiff tasks since he's proved to be fairly disappointing given his earlier promise. Tried in a first-time tongue-tie over C&D last time (never looked at ease on track); hard to see him doing better.

Form: PUP-248

Hurricane Darwin^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: K C Sexton| T: P Maher| OR: 130

25/1

Pulled up on his only previous visit here he ran respectably last time on his first start for this yard around Punchestown. Fairly useful in this sphere he was behind three of today's rivals last time, better off at the weights with all three.

Form: 2/F2-FF4

Blue Templar^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 130

33/1

Lacks the class of his two stablemates (Yanworth/Josies Orders) but is a dual cross-country winner at Punchestown (scored twice in four days there this year). First time he's run over this C&D; given a tune-up over hurdles last time, nicely weighted.

Form: 147457

Chic Name^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: R Hobson| OR: 129

8/1

Ran well over C&D last month behind two French raiders; quite nicely weighted on his form over conventional fences. Looks as though he enjoys a test such as this but the trainer has expressed fears over the ground (travels better on good ground).

Form: 718-P03

Amazing Comedy^b,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: James Reveley| T: D Cottin| OR: 128

10/1

Ran well in this race last year only beaten around 2L by a couple of today's protagonists into fourth. Failed to run his race here in March, looks to have a little work to do with his stablemate Easyland based on their Compiegne running last month.

Form: F02-315

Azrou D'Ex^p1,t1¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: David Noonan| T: A Boisbrunet| OR: 125

20/1

Three French chase wins to his name (only the most recent coming in this sphere); never run over a trip this far. Latest win came by 10L at Fontainebleu on heavy ground; this represents a different and far stiffer test, others appeal more.

Form: 2P10/6-1

Decret^t1⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J J Burke| T: P Quinton| OR: 121

25/1

Should be at home if the going turns very soft as his three chase wins last year all came on that soft of going. Yet to be tried over a cross-country course or over a trip this far; has plenty to prove in what looks a fairly hot event for this discip

Form: 4FP6-5P

Non-Runners

Fact Of The Matter²⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: Jamie Snowden J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Easysland (5/2), Yanworth (9/2), Chic Name (8/1), Rolling Dylan (8/1), Amazing Comedy (10/1), Kingswell Theatre (12/1), Fact Of The Matter (12/1), Neverushacon (16/1), Josies Orders (16/1), Azrou D'Ex (20/1), Hurricane Darwin (25/1), Decret (25/1), Ballyboker Bridge (25/1), Out Sam (33/1), Tea For Two (33/1), Blue Templar (33/1)

A real international gathering with runners from Britain, Ireland and France all doing battle in a race that has had five Irish winners since 2010. Enda Bolger is the name most associated with this sort of event and he runs three with the classy Yanworth and the ever-reliable Josies Orders the pick of his three runners. Neverushacon looks the pick of the remaining runners from across the Irish Sea. The French have never won this event but did supply a 1-2 over C&D last month and in EASYSLAND they have a fascinating contender who at 5yo could be a rising star. Of the Brits Chic Name, and last year’s winner Fact Of the Matter may find the ground against them which makes Rolling Dylan the pick.