The GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY CHASE (A LIMITED HANDICAP)

[Saxon Warrior]

TO CLOSE BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 18th


CHELTENHAM Wednesday, March 12th

THE GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY STEEPLE CHASE
(A LIMITED HANDICAP)
(CLASS 2)
(GBB RACE)


TOTAL PRIZE FUND gbp:75,000
Distributed in accordance with the Stakes and Prize Money Code

gbp:39,022 to the winning horse
The second to receive gbp:17,940,
the third gbp:8,970,
the fourth gbp:4,485,
the fifth gbp:2,242,
the sixth gbp:1,117,

for five yrs old and upwards

THREE MILES ABOUT SIX FURLONGS (3m 5f 201yds)

Enter by noon, February 19th and pay gbp;90 stake
Confirm by noon, March 6th and pay gbp:285
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 10th

Weights published on February 26th

Highest weight .......11st 10lb
Lowest weight ...... 10st 5lb

Penalties, after February 23rd, 2025, a winner of a steeple chase 5lb
(No penalty to increase Horse’s weight above 11st 10lb)
(Weight range max 20lb)


Which prior to 24th February 2025 have started a minimum of FOUR Steeple Chases
in Britain, Ireland or France

Its is a Condition of this race, that horses which have not previously run in Cross Country races are to be schooled over the course prior to running.

In the even that he Cross Country course is deemed unraceable, the racecourse reserves the right to transfer this race, to the Old Course, at any stage, to be run over THREE MILES ABOUT 6F (3m 5f 201yds)


Maximum 16 runners (with 2 Reserves)

Example for post-race recording of results

2025 1st XXXXXXX 6-11-2, 9/2F, Gordon Elliott - Sam Ewing - OR 143






2025. 1st OR 1xx, 2nd OR 1xx, 3rd OR 1xx, 4th OR 1xx (Highest OR 14x, Lowest OR 13x) 18 ran


2025 Initial Entries;

1. Back On The Lash
2. Bodhisattva (IRE)
3. Busselton (FR)
4. Chambard (FR)
5. Chemical Energy (IRE)
6. Coko Beach (FR)
7. Conflated (IRE)
8. Deise Aba (IRE)
9. Delta Work (FR)
10. Enjoy d’Allen (FR)
11. Escaria Ten (FR)
12. Fakir d’Oudairies (FR)
13. French Dynamite (FR)
14. Galvin (IRE)
15. Gevrey (FR)
16. Iceo Madrik (FR)
17. Iwilldoit
18. Latenightpass
19. Minella Crooner (IRE)
20. Mister Coffey (FR)
21. Motu Fareone (IRE)
22. Placenet (FR)
23. Roi Mage (FR)
24. Slipway (IRE)
25. Sporting Ace (IRE)
26. Stumptown (IRE)
27. The Big Breakaway (IRE)
28. The Goffer (IRE)
29. Three By Two (IRE)
30. Unanswered Prayers (IRE)
31. Vanillier (FR)

[Eggs]

….post #1 updated with initial entries.

[TigerRolllllll]

Conflated looks great value at 33s (25 NRNB and with lads so can boost)

A year ago GE was saying this horse was his best at XC

He was given a classic sighter trip over in Nov just as Tiger and others have had

Whilst has been rubbish all season, this has seen his handicap mark fall a stone and he will now be getting weight off horses like Delta Work, who is older

Yes some risk given form, but this cold have been a plot and one i've had a decent go at

[Quevega]

Absolute nightmare this race.
All for it being a handicap, but this renewal is full of mark droppers and potential plots. And that's just Elliots horses.
Minefield.

[Eggs]

….sad news that Delta Work has passed away, was prominent in the betting for this.

[Lobos]

….sad news that Delta Work has passed away, was prominent in the betting for this.

So sad. Super memories.

[Quevega]

Busselton 2ptew5 33-1 Sky (split) & 1ptew4 20-1 B365

The Goffer 1ptew4 25-1 B365

Fakir Doudairies 1ptew4 25-1 PP

Vanillier 2pt 9-1 B365

Chemical Energy 1pt 20-1 Coral


My team for the X country (All NRNB), added a little more on the spectre selection.

Highlighted on the forum by someone at 66-1 way back in december and definitely BookieBasher was also mentioning him and backing back then also.

I don't fully concur with the rated over 150 stats spectre has used to narrow down the field, as I think the race has changed a lot since the old days, and is much more of a race for the National types these days.

Classier higher rated types didn't really run in the race when it was last a handicap.
And more recently the classier higher rated types would not have wanted to have had their marks hurt winning autumn X country races at Cheltenham.

However, overall, I have always been wary of horses in any handicaps with ratings 150+ just for the obvious reasoning that they are nearer the ceiling than the floor, and carry more weight against horses that have not shown their hand.

The Cross country in fact - when it was last a handicap used to have a reputation for ignoring the weights carried as the race was often ran slow enough with a quick finish. It was often more about being nimble and handy when the race hotted up.

Not sure how this years will be run, to be fair.

The reason I think this race is a minefield is that you can make a case for 7 of Elliots horses that they are potentially well handicapped on previous form.
Joseph has 2, and Vanillier looks very well treated when you look at his last performance in particular. And his Grand National run in 2023.

Then I agree that we are left with ageing horses that ought to really be outclassed, although Escaria Ten (ex Elliott) also looks potentially well treated.

Obviously, despite thinking it's a minefield of a handicap, I've managed to spend 13pts already
But that's how I like to play the handicaps.

Fingers crossed - Busselton.

[Rooster Booster]

Busselton 2ptew5 33-1 Sky (split) & 1ptew4 20-1 B365

The Goffer 1ptew4 25-1 B365

Fakir Doudairies 1ptew4 25-1 PP

Vanillier 2pt 9-1 B365

Chemical Energy 1pt 20-1 Coral


My team for the X country (All NRNB), added a little more on the spectre selection.

Highlighted on the forum by someone at 66-1 way back in december and definitely BookieBasher was also mentioning him and backing back then also.

I don't fully concur with the rated over 150 stats spectre has used to narrow down the field, as I think the race has changed a lot since the old days, and is much more of a race for the National types these days.

Classier higher rated types didn't really run in the race when it was last a handicap.
And more recently the classier higher rated types would not have wanted to have had their marks hurt winning autumn X country races at Cheltenham.

However, overall, I have always been wary of horses in any handicaps with ratings 150+ just for the obvious reasoning that they are nearer the ceiling than the floor, and carry more weight against horses that have not shown their hand.

The Cross country in fact - when it was last a handicap used to have a reputation for ignoring the weights carried as the race was often ran slow enough with a quick finish. It was often more about being nimble and handy when the race hotted up.

Not sure how this years will be run, to be fair.

The reason I think this race is a minefield is that you can make a case for 7 of Elliots horses that they are potentially well handicapped on previous form.
Joseph has 2, and Vanillier looks very well treated when you look at his last performance in particular. And his Grand National run in 2023.

Then I agree that we are left with ageing horses that ought to really be outclassed, although Escaria Ten (ex Elliott) also looks potentially well treated.

Obviously, despite thinking it's a minefield of a handicap, I've managed to spend 13pts already
But that's how I like to play the handicaps.

Fingers crossed - Busselton.

Yep I have a very similar list but I have to include Mr Coffey as he was a HUGE (singles, second legs of doubles third of trebles and effing fourth of four folds) winner for me the other year in the Kim Muir and let’s just say it’s not the first time I’ve been done by a more resolute one of Venetias. I’m not entertaining Fakir…I think he’s well and truly done now. I’d love to see The Goffer and Coffey not battling it up the run in. After you, no after you sir dead heat it is then.

[Quevega]

Yep I have a very similar list but I have to include Mr Coffey as he was a HUGE (singles, second legs of doubles third of trebles and effing fourth of four folds) winner for me the other year in the Kim Muir and let’s just say it’s not the first time I’ve been done by a more resolute one of Venetias. I’m not entertaining Fakir…I think he’s well and truly done now. I’d love to see The Goffer and Coffey not battling it up the run in. After you, no after you sir dead heat it is then.

I was more strong on Fakir as Joseph's cross country horse on the basis of JP's history in the race. But he's not been let off by the handicapper half as much as some others.
Had he been given 148 or 149 I'd have made him my better option, but 152 leaves plenty of doubt, as like you say, he may just be fizzling out.

Cant have Mister Coffey myself, the Stumptown race was dirty as fuck, and only 4 or 5 horses were even trying in that IMO.

[Rooster Booster]

I was more strong on Fakir as Joseph's cross country horse on the basis of JP's history in the race. But he's not been let off by the handicapper half as much as some others.
Had he been given 148 or 149 I'd have made him my better option, but 152 leaves plenty of doubt, as like you say, he may just be fizzling out.

Cant have Mister Coffey myself, the Stumptown race was dirty as fuck, and only 4 or 5 horses were even trying in that IMO.

Yep but I have no choice as if he won and I didn’t this would be an ex passion. I can only take so much.

[Eggs]

1. Stumptown (IRE) 11 10 157
2. Conflated (IRE) 11 10 157
3. Galvin (IRE) 11 7 154
4. Fakir d’Oudairies (FR) 11 5 152
5. Coko Beach (FR) 11 3 150
6. Iwilldoit 11 3 150
7. French Dynamite (FR) 11 3 150
8. Vanillier (FR) 11 0 147
9. Minella Crooner (IRE) 10 13 146
10. Roi Mage (FR) 10 12 145
11. Latenightpass 10 11 144
12. Chemical Energy (IRE) 10 10 143
13. Mister Coffey (FR) 10 10 143
14. Busselton (FR) 10 5 138
15. Gevrey (FR) 10 5 138
16. The Goffer (IRE) 10 4 137
17. Escaria Ten (FR) 10 1 134
18. Chambard (FR) 9 13 132
19. Slipway (IRE) 9 13 132
20. Placenet (FR) 9 11 130
21. Iceo Madrik (FR) 9 11 130
22. Deise Aba (IRE) 9 11 130
23. Unanswered Prayers (IRE) 9 9 128
24. Three By Two (IRE) 9 8 127
25. The Big Breakaway (IRE) 9 6 125
26. Motu Fareone (IRE) 9 6 125
27. Bodhisattva (IRE) 9 5 124
28. Enjoy d’Allen (FR) 9 1 120
29. Back On The Lash 9 0 119
30. Sporting Ace (IRE) 9 0 119

[Eggs]

….Cromwell;


Stumptown and Vanillier are both likely to take their chance in the Cross Country Chase.

“We weren’t surprised to see Stumptown raised 8lb given how well he won at Cheltenham the last day. He’s clearly a very good horse but he’s got a lot of weight to carry – hopefully he’s good enough. If he’s at his best, then I’d say he’s one of our best chances of a winner.

“Vanillier was very good at Punchestown with the blinkers on and we’ll likely reach for them again. He’s off what looks a nice weight and hopefully he can be a big player here.”

[FinalFurlong91]

With the weather forecast and good to soft at worst looking likely galvin goes off favourite doesn't he?

Stumptown looks like one of the worst priced horses of the week to me

Can he really give weight to galvin and vanillier?

[Hurricane fly]

The Cross Country is usually softer than the racetrack as it doesn't have the same drainage system

[FinalFurlong91]

The Cross Country is usually softer than the racetrack as it doesn't have the same drainage system

Given the weather it not being able to be watered seems more of a factor