Cross Country Chase Odds 2024
Tiger Roll and jockey Keith Donoghue on the way to winning the Glenfarclas Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Cheltenham Festival introduced the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2005 as part of its four-day program, and it’s now a fan favourite on the second day of the Festival.
As the name suggests, the race is run over the Cross Country course over three and three-quarter miles, featuring various obstacles. Its popularity owes much to Tiger Roll, a three-time winner who also secured back-to-back victories in the Aintree Grand National in 2018 and 2019.
Irish-trained horses have dominated the race, winning 14 of the 17 races with Philip Hobbs, the only British trainer to have won the race, having achieved this feat twice with Balthazar King in 2012 and 2014. France claimed its first victory in the race in 2020 when Easysland defeated Tiger Roll.
Last year’s winner Delta Work, who edged out Tiger Roll, is back again to defend his crown and is a short-priced favourite on Wednesday. Owned by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, it would be no shock to see him follow up this year.
Latest Cross Country Chase odds *
*Best prices at the time of writing
Delta Work 6/5
Galvin 9/4
Franco De Port 7/1
Gin On Lime 12/1
Back On The Lash 16/1
Deise Aba 18/1
Snow Leopardess 20/1
Diesel D’Allier 33/1
Foxyjacks 40/1
Easysland 40/1
Mortal 40/1
Plan Of Attack 40/1
Lieutenant Rocco 50/1
Francky Du Berlais 60/1
Hardline 80/1
Coup De Pinceau 150/1
Cross Country Chase Odds and Entries 2024
Being a unique race, the Cross Country Chase favours horses that have run over the Cross Country course at Cheltenham. As mentioned, Irish horses have dominated the race, and this year’s field is dominated once more by them, with Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, and Henry de Bromhead all represented.
Delta Work landed last year’s race, and he’s favourite to win the race again under Keith Donoghue, who replaces the injured Jack Kennedy. The most significant danger to Delta Work could come from his stablemate Galvin, a top-class stayer on his day. He’s run under par this term, though, and he’s an intriguing runner over the Cross Country course for the first time.
At a bigger price, Francky Du Berlais could offer some each-way value. He ran a big race over this course and distance in January and meets the winner that day, Back On The Lash, 5lbs better off.
Betting on the Cross Country Chase
The Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is staged over a specially created course with a variety of obstacles. There are similar events at the November and December meetings, designed to give horses the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the unusual fences. It is already established as a specialist event with three multiple winners including dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll, successful here in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Two trainers regularly feature in the Cross Country Chase betting; Enda Bolger (5 wins) and Gordon Elliott (4 wins). Bolger trained four of the first five winners while Elliott has now won it four times in the past six seasons. In 2022, Elliott saddled the 1-2 when the well-backed Delta Work defeated Aintree legend Tiger Roll in a thrilling finish. Remarkably, Philip Hobbs remains the only successful British trainer in the race having won it in 2012 and 2014 with Balthazar King.
Course form is a key factor for a bet on the Cross Country Chase. All but one of the last twelve winners had raced here previously and nine of them had recorded at least one course victory. Delta Work was only the third winning favourite in the race in the past twelve seasons. A New Story was a shock winner at 25-1 in 2010 and Rivage D’Or returned at 16-1 in 2015.
Cross Country Chase News
As was the case last year, Delta Work is using the Cross Country Chase as a prep run for a tilt at the Aintree Grand National. Victory in this race in 2022 was followed by a 3rd place showing at Aintree, and connections will be hoping for another big run on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cross Country Chase is a race that Irish trainer Willie Mullins has never won, but he has an excellent chance this year with Franco De Port, set to be ridden by his son Patrick. Franco De Port has been contesting top-grade chases this season, and if he can take to the quirkiness of the Cross Country course at Cheltenham, he should give Delta Work and Galvin something to think about.