For a true racing spectacle, look no further than the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, a three-mile six-furlong helter-skelter contest featuring banks, hedges, water jumps, hurdles, and fences.
Run over a trip slightly further than three miles and six furlongs and with thirty-two various obstacles to be negotiated, the Cross Country Chase is a unique race many people have taken to their hearts.
Read on to see our Cross Country Chase betting tips, odds, and offers.
| Race Details | |
|---|---|
| When: | Wednesday, March 13th - 4:10pm |
| Winner’s Prize: | £39,022 |
| Distance: | Three-miles & six-furlongs |
| Race Type: | Cross Country Chase |
| Age: | 5-Years+ |
| Course: | Cross Country Course |
| Weights: | Handicap |
| Where to Watch? | ITV Racing, Racing TV, Bookmaker Streams |
Cross Country Chase Betting Offers & Free Bets
Cross Country Chase Tips
The Cross Country Chase is a real marmite race at the Cheltenham Festival. It’s quirky, very different, and not the highest quality contest, but from a betting perspective, there is usually an interesting angle to it.
This is what our resident horse racing tipsters will be looking for, and Alan Kelly and Ed Quigley each have selections for the race.
Alan Kelly - Foxy Jacks (Each-Way)
This cross country chase looks almost certain to go to an Irish-trained contender, the only question is, to which one? Delta Work goes for a hat-trick of wins in the race following victories in 2022 and 2023, but the 11-year-old has yet to hit top form this season.
The Gold Cup winner of 2021, Minella Indo, heads the betting based on his fourth over course and distance at Cheltenham’s December meeting when trying to concede lumps of weight to Latenightpass, who bypasses a rematch on 20lb worse terms, heading straight to Aintree for the Grand National instead.
Last year’s runner-up, Galvin, looks sure to play a part once again, as this has been the horse’s target all season. The Gold Cup fourth of two years ago goes into the race on the back of a decent run over hurdles last month and is respected, as is another Gordon Elliott runner in Coko Beach.
With several bookmakers going four places on this 12-runner contest, I think the Mouse Morris-trained Foxy Jacks is more than capable of making the frame at a decent price. The son of Fame And Glory had several of these behind, including Delta Work and Galvin, when winning over course and distance at the November fixture.
Fourth over hurdles at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, the mount of Gavin Brouder is worse off at the weights with the two Gordon Elliott runners but looks sure to run a big race all the same.
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Betting Odds
Irish-trained horses dominate the betting for this year’s Cross Country Chase and Gordon Elliott looks to have an excellent chance, saddling Delta Work, Coko Beach, and Galvin.
Or could the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo land another Cheltenham Festival success to go with his Albert Bartlett and Gold Cup victories?
What Happened Last Year?
Having won the race in 2022, Delta Work defended his crown in 2022, edging out stablemate Galvin under jockey Keith Donoghue.
Sent off the 11/1 favourite, Delta Work cruised through the race and outbattled Galvin up the Cheltenham hill, with the front two pulling a long way clear of the 3rd-placed Franco De Port.
The victory saw trainer Gordon Elliott draw level with Enda Bolger as having trained the winner of the race five times.
Cross Country Chase – Key Race Stats
Experience is a big help in this race - Easysland was the outlier when winning as a six-year-old, and even then, he had previously won over the Cheltenham banks.
- 11 of the last 12 winners have been aged eight or over
- 10 of the last 12 winners came from the top three in the betting
- 10 of the last 12 winners had at least one previous win at Cheltenham
Previous Winners of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Below, we’ve listed the last five winners of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, a race that has been dominated by trainer Gordon Elliott in recent times.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Delta Work |
| 2022 | Delta Work |
| 2021 | Tiger Roll |
| 2020 | Easysland |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll |
FAQs
When is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase?
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase takes place on Wednesday, March 13th, at 4:10pm.
How many times did Tiger Roll win the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase?
Tiger Roll won the Cross Country Chase on three occasions - in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
More Cheltenham Tips
Check out our tips for all the other Cheltenham Day 2 races:
