Cross Country Chase Predictions, Betting Tips, Odds & Trends (Cheltenham 2024 - DAY 2)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Cross Country Chase is the first major cross country chase of the Cheltenham Festival. The race challenges entries to cover a distance of 3 miles 7 furlongs and it is run over a special man made course which involves ditches, banks, rails and even a Grand National type fence. Delta Work beat the legendary Tiger Roll in this race in 2022 and recorded back to back victories last year at odds of 11/10f, for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Keith Donoghue. This article contains our 2024 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase race preview, with free predictions, free bets, no deposit bonuses, odds, recent trends and special promotions.
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CROSS COUNTRY CHASE BETTING PREVIEW
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase is really popular race amongst punters since being introduced to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005. It is a great spectacle, very different to the other races at the festival. The contest is a Cross Country chase covering three miles and seven furlongs, for horses aged five years and upwards, with a prize purse of £65,000. The race is a stamina test for the horses and also a mental test, with many different types of fences to jump.
This is also a test for jockeys, who have to be aware and know the route they have to take.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
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Who will win the Cross Country Chase 2024?
Former Gold Cup winner MINELLA INDO heads the market. The 11-year-old shaped very well on his debut over these obstacles when fourth over course and distance in the Crystal Cup back in December. Prior to that he started the season with a good win at Punchestown where he beat Conflated, Delta Work and Panda Boy.
Gordon Elliott's COKO BEACH also boasts a very good chance after an excellent cross country debut at Punchestown. He finished an excellent third in the Munster National under a big weight on his return prior to winning the competitive Troytown Handicap Chase quite comfortably, by more than two lengths.
Ruby Walsh's Cross Country Chase Tips
Coko Beach (Winner)
10/3Bet
GALVIN, runner-up in last year's edition of the Cross Country Chase, managed fifth out of thirteen runners in the December Cross Country race at Cheltenham, but Keith Donoghue is likely to be on board once again.
Dark horses?
FOXY JACKS failed to complete the course in his first two attempts at Cheltenham but he landed in impressive fashion over course and distance at the November Meeting, with Galvin and Delta Work were well beaten in behind. Since then, the Mouse Morris-trained horse had just one start, switching back to hurdles at Leopardstown, and he delivered a good perfromance to finish a close-up fourth.
STATTLER has struggled in graded chases of late but Willie Mullins' charge looks to be a stayer, as he has shown when winning the National Hunt Chase over 3m 5f here at the Cheltenham Festival back in 2022 by eight lengths to Run Wild Fred. He finished runner-up to Allaho in a Grade 2 at Thurles not so long ago but could only finish 4th last time out in a weak race at Punchestown over three miles.
CONFLATED is likely to compete in the Ryanair Chase while ESCARIA TEN, ANNUAL INVICTUS and BUSSELTON are expected to run here but we slim chances to make the frame.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
All the bookmakers we recommend are offering No Runner No Bet on every Cheltenham Festival race.
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE TRENDS
- Just 6 of the last 19 winners were favourites
- 10 of the last 12 winners were sent off 7/1 or shorter, 7 of the last 8 had an SP no bigger than 9/2.
- 16 of 19 Cross Country Chase winners were trained in Ireland, including eight of the last nine.
- 10 of the last 12 winners had run in at least one Cheltenham cross country race before
- 13 of the last 14 winners have been aged 8 or older
- The last 6 winners had a rating of 150 or higher
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE PREDICTIONS
The following section contains our free betting tips on the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 2024. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival pick and get the best available odds on the most recommended bookmakers by clicking the 'Bet' button!
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2024 CHELTENHAM DAY 2 TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
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2024 Cross Country Chase FAQs
What time is the Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is the 5th race run on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Wednesday March 13, 2024 and the official starting time is 4:10pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Cross Country Chase?
There are 32 obstacles to jump for the Cross Country Chase runners
What is the distance of the Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is run on a distance of 3 miles 6 furlongs and 37 yards
What is the prize money for the Cross Country Chase?
The total prize money on offer for the Cross Country Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be £65,000.
Who won the Cross Country Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Delta Work at SP of 11/10F, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Keith Donoghue.
What weights are carried for the Cross Country Chase?
11st 4lbs with a 7lb allowance for mares.
Who is the leading jockey in the Cross Country Chase?
The most successful jockey in the history of the Cross Country Chase is Nina Carberry, who has ridden four winners in the race. Keith Donoghue has won three of the last seven renewals of this race (two with Tiger Roll). Davy Russell has won the race twice overall, and placed three times also from 11 rides.
Who is the leading trainer in the Cross Country Chase?
The most successful trainer in the history of the Cross Country Chase are Enda Bolger and Gordon Elliott, with five winners. The latter has won the last two renewals courtesy of Delta Work and also has five placings from 15 runners.
