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14:50 Cheltenham

Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (Class 2)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 6f 37y
  • Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £25,000 added
  • Winner: £15,640
  • 2nd: £4,620
  • 3rd: £2,310
  • 4th: £1,155
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 8m 9.40s
  • Off Time: 14:53:16
  • 10 Ran
1
Silk - Purple, yellow chevron, yellow cap
  • Form 213144
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 159

held up towards rear, modest 6th 25th, jumped left and bumped rival 27th, soon well behind

2
Silk - Pink and Mauve (quartered), Mauve sleeves, White cap
14/1
  • Form 28D1-0P
  • Age 14
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 154

tracked leaders, pushed along after 24th, 2nd 27th until 4 out, 3rd and no extra from 2 out

3
Silk - Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star
6/1
  • Form 51P-5P0
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-6
  • Official Rating 153

always behind

4
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
11/8
  • Form 170911
  • Age 12
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 151

tracked leader, led 16th, headed next, pecked 21st, led 23rd, carried right by loose horse after 27th, driven before last, headed flat, no impression towards finish

5
Silk - Royal blue, red sleeves, white spots, red cap, white spots
  • Form P3-6410
  • Age 11
  • Weight 11-1
  • Official Rating 148

tracked leaders, lost place 7th, pushed along 19th, behind from next, bumped 27th, well beaten after

6
Silk - Grey and pink diabolo, grey sleeves, pink cap

Fago (FR)

76 t
66/1
  • Form 254P-96
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-7
  • Official Rating 140

soon tailed off, mistake 4th, pulled up before 18th

7
Silk - Royal Blue, Light Blue sleeves, Royal Blue stars, Light Blue cap
8/1
  • Form 151P92
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-5
  • Official Rating 138

led, not fluent 8th, headed 16th, led next, headed 23rd, mistake 27th, no extra 3 out

8
Silk - Light green and dark green diabolo, light green cap
25/1
  • Form F3-0PP0
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-5
  • Official Rating 138

struggling 6th, well behind 10th, pulled up before 24th

9
Silk - EMERALD GREEN & yellow HOOPED, Red cap
  • Form U4P-503
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 131

chased leaders, disputing 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 26th

10
Silk - Black, light green braces, emerald green cap
  • Form F-24735
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 127

mid-division, mistake 17th, left 4th 26th, closed after next, 2nd 4 out, led flat, stayed on

In depth

Verdict

Cantlow handled these fences with aplomb in November and ran out an easy winner. Only 4lb higher, he’ll be fancied to complete a cross-country hat-trick but he only had six lengths to spare over staying-on stablemate AUVERGNAT at Punchestown earlier and the latter is now 13lb better off plus Rachael Blackmore’s claim - he may be the value. Valadom has handled these unique fences in the past and could have each-way claims while Any Currency is a standing dish over track and trip and, though not getting any younger, should give a good account. Rocky Creek won the London Grand National two runs ago but ran no sort of race on a return visit to Sandown. Alelchi Inois has won at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level but stamina may be an issue.

Formwatch

Alelchi Inois (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Held up, pushed along after 3 out, soon no impression in 4th, slight mistake last, one pace, 4th of 5, 22 1/4l behind Champagne West (11-2) at Tramore 2m 5f lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.

Any Currency (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 12th, tailed off 15th, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.

Cause Of Causes (USA) 50-1 (11-9) Towards rear, pushed along briefly 8th, impeded 9th, no impression before straight, 14th of 28, dist behind Noble Endeavor (11-3) at Leopardstown 3m Yielding in Dec.

Cantlow (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders, 2nd 7th, led 18th, clear from 2 out, pushed out, easily, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gf in Dec beating Bless The Wings (11-12) by 9l, 7 ran.

Rocky Creek (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Chased leaders until not fluent and lost place 9th, towards rear and struggling 13th, tailed off, 11th of 16, dist behind Pete The Feat (10-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.

Fago (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, slight mistake 4th, 4th halfway, slight mistake 7th, no extra in 5th after 3 out, weakened, last of 6, dist behind Arctic Skipper (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.

Valadom (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, 3 lengths down last, kept on same pace, well held flat, 2nd of 4, 3 1/4l behind The Bay Oak (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f (4) gs in Jan.

The Job Is Right 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, closer in 10th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, 19th of 25, 34 1/2l behind Electric Concorde (10-11) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.

Auvergnat (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, progress into 6th at 16th, slight mistake 7 out, ridden in 5th after 3 out, no impression in 4th 2 out, 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Cantlow (11-9) at Punchestown 3m sft in Nov.

Urgent De Gregaine (FR) (11-3) 5th of 9, 18l behind at Lyon-Parilly 2m 3f hvy in Nov.