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The Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) is one of my favourite races of the week. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love the course and the jumps they have on show.
Gordon Elliott has been the master trainer of this race since 2017. He has racked up five wins, and Denise Foster ‘trained' Tiger Roll when he managed to win his last X-Country, but Gordon was probably in the background.
Though the class horse in the race normally does win, you can often find a bit of value. Tiger Roll won this in 2018 at 7/1 and then won it at 5/4F and 9/2 which seems ridiculous in hindsight. Delta Work won at 5/2, which is still a decent price.
Cheltenham 4:10 – Coko Beach 3/1 (1pt, Bet365)
I am very disappointed that Conflated hasn't turned up for this race. Gordon Elliott gave me great confidence that he would come to this race and I had a small antepost play on him, as he said he was the most natural horse he has ever had for the Cross Country fences, and that is some praise given he has had Tiger Roll.
The only horses which should be spoken about for this is those who are the highest rated, as this isn't a handicap (probably should be) and anything that's not towards the top of the weights should have no chance.
Of those who are decent odds and have ‘less' of a chance of winning would be Foxy Jacks. He won one of the handicaps off 10st 13lbs over the X-Country course in November, the form looks decent as the runner-up went on to win over this C&D in January. He isn't without a chance, more of a place possibility, but he hasn't completed this course twice from three attempts, falling once and unseating another time. Risks attached.
Gordon Elliott has his usual strong string for this race with two-time winner of the race Delta Work lining up in his bid for the hat trick. He is now an 11yo, so it's not going to get easier for him, but he is proven at this track and his record speaks for itself. Jack Kennedy gets the ride on Delta Work this year, but that might not mean he is the main stable hope for the race at Gordon has been very true to Keith Donoghue in this race over the years when he could've easily gone to Davy Russell to ride the likes of Tiger Roll etc. Speaking of Keith, he is on Galvin who was runner-up for this 12 months ago and will have a really good crack at this race, but the ground has probably gone against him.
Coko Beach is the newcomer for this race for Gordon and given the way he attacked his fences at last year's Grand National it wasn't a surprise to see him relish over the banks at Punchestown last time out as he ran out a very easy winner. He is the highest-rated horse in the race, officially rated 161, he doesn't have the same level of class about him as the others I've mentioned, but he is younger and comes into this with an obvious chance. What I like about this horse for this race is his recent form, he is a 9yo but he seems to be improving and is racing at the best he has ever been. He was 3rd off 11st 7lbs in the Munster National, then won the Troytown off 11st 5lbs and finished 2nd to Chambard in the Becher when he had to carry 11st 9lbs, and was giving away 22lbs to the winner. He should stay this trip as he has won a Grand National trial over 3m 4f and the jockey booking of Sam Ewing doesn't put me off.
Minella Indo also turns up for this race and it seems that Henry De Bromhead has his yard firing on all cylinders coming into Cheltenham, he had the winner of the Supreme and then had the 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Mares Hurdle. A couple of his horses underperformed as well, but that's the nature of the beast at Cheltenham, not every horse is going to run to what is expected, but it was a great first day for Henry. Minella Indo showed that he handles this type of jumping when finishing 4th over this course in December when carrying 12st to just a 5.75L defeat. He hasn't been seen since ultimately to keep him fresh and to get him to arrive in peak condition and have a proper crack at this race now they are running off level weights. He seems to arrive to the Cheltenham Festival in great form, he has won an Albert Bartlett, Gold Cup and has been 2nd in an RSA and 2nd in a Gold Cup. Last year he was pulled up in the Gold Cup, but that was probably due to him losing his ability at the top level, which is something he doesn't require for this code, and if his run from last time out is anything to go off, he has a superb chance in this race, it what does look like a competitive renewal.
Who ordered the lasagne ?