15:40 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 8m 42.65s

Alpha Des Obeaux^b,t³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 152

22/1

Smart chaser at his best, but this season has been something of a write-off and it'll be something of a surprise were this 11-y-o to make a winning debut in this discipline.

Form: 3-595PP

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Artic Pearl^t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Brassil| OR: 117

100/1

Stepped up on poor reappearance when fifth of 17 in a cross-country event at Punchestown last month, but big step forward needed if he's to make an impact here.

Form: 1/U44-05

Balko Des Flos⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| C

6/1

High-class chaser at best, but largely below par since landing the Ryanair at the 2018 Festival. Still, he would be a serious player if the switch to this idiosyncratic course sparks a revival.

Form: 44-4764

Defi Des Carres⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 127

28/1

A specialist in cross-country events in France and caught in the shadow of the post by Some Neck on debut for this yard over C&D in December. Subsequent display at Plumpton was poor, though.

Form: 51F-62P

Easysland^p,t¹²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Felix de Giles| T: D Cottin| OR: 167| BF| CD

1/1

Top-notch on the cross-country scene, most impressive winner of this race 12 months ago. Below par sole start since behind Kingswell Theatre here in November, but will have been primed for this.

Form: 11111-4

Hogan's Height^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 145

25/1

Made it 4-9 over fences when landing the Grand Sefton (21f) at Aintree last season. Seen out just twice since (over hurdles, well held on each occasion) and improvement needed on cross-country debut.

Form: 11/715-P

Kings Temptation^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: B I Case| OR: 135

66/1

Returned in the form of his life over fences last year, rattling off Uttoxeter hat-trick at up to 3¼m. However, he failed to make an impact on first run over this C&D in November. Stiff task.

Form: 111P65

Kingswell Theatre^p⁹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 139| CD

33/1

Put track experience to good use when making a winning reappearance over C&D in November. Well beaten back here in race won by Some Neck next time, though, and he's opposable on balance.

Form: 6P5P-17

Le Breuil³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| BF| C

9/1

Smart staying chaser who landed NH Chase at this meeting in 2019. Expensive to follow since and was rather disappointing at Musselburgh last time, but he's another with an each-way chance.

Form: 50-4334

Out Sam^t,v³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 127

50/1

Talented on his day, but none too reliable and was beaten 35 lengths when third to Easysland in this race 12 months ago. Typically in-and-out since and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: P-F54F8

Some Neck^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: J C McConnell| OR: 144| CD

17/2

Third on cross-country debut at Punchestown in November prior to narrowly prevailing over this C&D the following month. Recent hurdles spin should have left him spot-on and not without each-way hope.

Form: PF-6310

Tiger Roll^b,t²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 166| CD

9/2

Winner of this race prior to Grand National victories in 2018 and 2019. However, left trailing by Easysland in last year's renewal of this contest and well below his best in 3 starts this season.

Form: 11/52-P6

Vivas^b,t⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127

100/1

Well established as a useful chaser and wasn't disgraced when fifth to Kingswell Theatre over C&D in November. Pulled up back here in race won by Some Neck a month later, though.

Form: 50-2P5P

Non-Runners

Potters Corner³¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 11

T: Christian Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Easysland (1/1), Tiger Roll (9/2), Potters Corner (5/1), Balko Des Flos (6/1), Some Neck (17/2), Le Breuil (9/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (22/1), Hogan's Height (25/1), Defi Des Carres (28/1), Kingswell Theatre (33/1), Out Sam (50/1), Kings Temptation (66/1), Vivas (100/1), Artic Pearl (100/1)

EASYSLAND saw off Tiger Roll to win this last year and with the dual Grand National winner seemingly not the force of old at 11 it's hard to see David Cottin's charge not doubling up. December's C&D winner Some Neck may provide the main threat, while Tiger Roll should still be good for another placed effort.