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Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
 QuinnBet
Cheltenham 15:20
 £75,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
3m 6f 37y, Class 2   
Wednesday 11th March 2026

Trials day form can be a double-edged sword and, for all the authority of Favori De Champdou’s cross-country demolition job in January, there is a nagging concern that brilliance may yet come at a price.

Gordon Elliott’s 11-year-old powered eight and a half lengths clear in late January, a performance that propelled him towards the head of the market behind defending champion Stumptown. It was the sort of display that underlined both his aptitude for the discipline and his enduring enthusiasm at the age of 11.

The handicapper, however, was not inclined to be charitable. An 8lb rise has complicated matters, particularly in a race that reverted to handicap conditions 12 months ago for the first time in a decade. For connections at Gigginstown House Stud, whose roll of honour in this contest includes three victories with the remarkable Tiger Roll, the new mark presents a significant question.

O’Leary said: “He was great on Trials day, but you just hope that hasn’t cost him his chance as he got 8lb for it.

“That’s a big whack and has taken the wind out of his sails a little bit. It’s a massive hit for a horse who has always worn his heart on his sleeve.”

Carrying near top-weight in a race that demands both agility and stamina is no straightforward task, and the margin for error narrows accordingly. Yet Gigginstown are not reliant on a single dart. Conflated, once third in a Gold Cup and now in the twilight of a Grade One-winning career, also takes aim.

The 12-year-old shaped with encouragement when a close third at Punchestown recently and returns to Cheltenham off his lowest mark since 2021, a detail that has not gone unnoticed.

O’Leary added: “You would like to think Favori De Champdou still goes there with some sort of a chance, but because of his rise, Conflated will have a nice racing weight out of the two of them.

“I don’t know if you could class Conflated as a forgotten horse, but he enjoys that discipline and the better the ground the better his chance will be.”

Looking at recent patterns and previews, a few names from the Cross Country division could be under consideration if they follow the traditional trial routes and have proven form on similar courses. The defending winner from 2025, Stumptown, who scored strongly in the December cross-country race at Cheltenham before that success, is likely to be on many shortlists again if connections keep him entered, and other experienced cross-country performers such as Final Orders — a recent winner in the December XC Chase — might also be in the frame based on recent trend guides emphasizing trial form and course experience.  

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
(Cross Country Chase)
£75,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 6f 37y, Class 2
23 entries
Going: Soft

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Feb 27)
1 111P-1 Stumptown 9 11-10 Gavin Cromwell
2 -05F11 Favori De Champdou 11 11-5 Gordon Elliott
3 0-2312 French Dynamite 11 11-0 E McNamara
4 3P6315 Final Orders 10 10-9 Gavin Cromwell
5 0-U631 Vanillier 11 10-7 Gavin Cromwell
6 -44223 Conflated 12 10-7 Gordon Elliott
7 32569F Pied Piper 8 10-7 Gordon Elliott
8 1/5-1U Karre D'As 6 10-7 D Cottin
9 40-234 Fakir d'Oudairies 11 10-7 E Bolger
10 28-P7P Velvet Elvis 10 10-4 John C McConnell
11 6-5011 Chemical Energy 10 10-3 Gordon Elliott
12 P-211P Desertmore House 11 10-2 Martin Brassil
13 90-28P Horantzau d'Airy 9 10-1 Stuart Edmunds
14 P1P-PP Numitor 12 9-13 Heather Main
15 65P-8P Minella Crooner 10 9-13 Sarah Humphrey
16 20-779 Latenightpass 13 9-11 T Ellis
17 501272 The Goffer 9 9-11 Gordon Elliott
18 6P-770 Famous Bridge 10 9-8 Nicky Richards
19 U17-22 J'Arrive De L'Est 7 9-2 Emmet Mullins
20 80-PP3 Escaria Ten 12 9-1 Martin Keighley
21 3P0476 Three By Two 10 8-10 Denis Paul Murphy
22 6-5556 Unanswered Prayers 10 8-10 Chris Gordon
23 -P05P7 Knockanore 9 8-8 Ryan Potter

PAST RESULTS

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran

2025 Stumptown 8 11-10 Keith Donoghue Gavin Cromwell Furze Bush Syndicate 5/2F 16

2024 ABANDONED

2023 Delta Work 10 11-07 Keith Donoghue Gordon Elliott Gigginstown House Stud 11/10F 16

2022 Delta Work 9 11-04 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott Gigginstown House Stud 5/2F 16

2021 Tiger Roll 11 11-04 Keith Donogue Mrs Denise Foster Gigginstown House Stud 9/2 14

2020 Easysland 6 11-04 D Cottin Jonathan Plouganou John P McManus 3/1 14

2019 Tiger Roll 9-11-04 Keith Donogue Gordon Elliott IRE Gigginstown House Stud 5/4F 15

2018-WINNER-TIGER ROLL 8-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Keith Donoghue; SP-7/1
2ND-Urgent De Gregaine 10-11-02 Owner-Arnaud Rasquier; Trainer-Emmanuel Clayeux FR; Jockey-Felix De Giles; SP-12/1
3RD-The Last Samuri 10-11-04 Owner-Paul & Clare Rooney; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-David Bass; SP-11/4 Fav
16 ran, Time-8m 51.60s, Dist-2, 11

2017-WINNER-CAUSE OF CAUSES 9-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Mr Jamie Codd; SP-4/1
2ND-Bless The Wings 12-11-04 Owner-Adrian Butler/S O’Connor; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-10/1
3RD-Cantlow 12-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP-9/4 Fav
16 ran, Time-8m 12.30s, Dist-9, 1¼

2016-WINNER-JOSIES ORDERS 8-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Ms Nina Carberry; SP-15/8 Fav
2ND- Bless The Wings 11-11-04 Owner-Adrian Butler/S P O’Connor; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Mr Jamie Codd; SP- 33/1
3RD- Quantitativeeasing 11-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mark Walsh; SP-9/1
16 ran, Time-8m 11.00s, Dist-1, 1¼, 5 (original) Josies Orders awarded the race on August 25, 2016 when Any Currency disqualified.

2015-WINNER-RIVAGE D’OR 10-10-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-16/1
2ND-Any Currency 12-11-11 Owner-Cash Is King; Trainer-Martin Keighley; Jockey-Aidan Coleman; SP-7/1
3RD-Uncle Junior 14-11-09 Owner-Mrs M McMahion; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Patrick Mullins; SP-20/1
4TH-Dogora 6-10-10 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ms Katie Walsh; SP-20/1
16 ran, Time-8m 23.80s, Dist-2¼, 1, 2 9/2 Fav Toutancarmont (ran out)

2014-WINNER-BALTHAZAR KING 10-11-12 Owner-The Brushmakers; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-4/1
2ND-Any Currency 11-10-08 Owner-Cash Is King; Trainer-Martin Keighley; Jockey-Ian Popham; SP-10/1
3RD-Big Shu 9-11-09 Owner- Hugh Duffy, Richard Robinson & Caroline Woods; Trainer-Peter Maher IRE; Jockey- Paul Carberry; SP-3/1
Fav
4TH-Duke Of Lucca 9-10-10 Owner-Lesley Field; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Tom O’Brien; SP-25/1
16 ran, Time-8m 19.20s, Dist-sh, 3, 5

2013-WINNER-BIG SHU 8-10-05 Owner-Hugh Duffy, Richard Robinson & Caroline Woods; Trainer-Peter Maher IRE; Jockey-Barry Cash;
SP-14/1
2ND-Shakervilz 10-10-00 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ms Katie Walsh; SP-20/1
3RD-Outlaw Pete 9-10-09 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-John Halley IRE; Jockey- Mr Josh Halley; SP-6/1
4TH-Bostons Angel 9-11-00 Owner- Elder Scouller; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-9/1
16 ran, Time-8m 44.70s, Dist-4, 10, 1¼ 9/4 Fav Arabella Boy (7th)

2012-WINNER-BALTHAZAR KING 8-10-09 Owner-The Brushmakers; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-11/2
2ND-A New Story 14-10-06 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP-20/1
3RD-Wedger Pardy 11-9-08 Owner-Lord Leigh; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Miss Jacqueline Coward; SP-33/1
4TH-Sizing Australia 10-11-01 Owner-Ann & Alan Potts Partnership; Trainer-Henry de Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-5/1
16 ran, Time-7m 51.70s, Dist-hd, 5, 2½ 100/30 Fav Scotsirish (PU)

2011-WINNER-SIZING AUSTRALIA 9-10-09 Owner-Ann & Alan Potts Partnership; Trainer-Henry De Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-13/2
2ND-Garde Champetre 12-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Edna Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-5/1
3RD-A New Story 13-10-05 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP-12/1
15 ran, Time-8m 6.22s, Dist 1 ¼, 1 9/2 Fav Maljimar (4th)

2010-WINNER-A NEW STORY 12-9-07 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP33/1 2ND-L’Ami 11-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-4/1 3RD-Lacdoudal 11-9-12 Owner-Carol Skan; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Rhys Flint; SP-28/1 4TH-Another Jewel 8-10-00 Owner-F Magee; Trainer-Denis Murphy IRE; Jockey-Davy Condon; SP-16/1 16 ran, Time-8m 18.00s, Dist-2½ , 2¾ , nk 7/4 Fav Garde Champetre (5th)

2009-WINNER-GARDE CHAMPETRE 10-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-7/2
2ND-L’Ami 10-11-08 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-7/4 Fav
3RD-Drombeag 11-10-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Robert Power; SP-7/1
4TH-A New Story 11-9-11 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Jack Doyle; SP-14/1 16 ran, Time-8m 47.54s, Dist-1¾, 14, 24

2008-WINNER-GARDE CHAMPETRE 9-10-13 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-4/1
2ND-Native Jack 14-10-12 Owner-Gerard Burke/Robert Bagnall/N O’Farrell/K Sexton; Trainer-Philip Rothwell IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-40/1
3RD-A New Story 10-10-08 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Andrew McNamara; SP-20/1
4TH-Freneys Well 8-10-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr G Mangan (7); SP-25/1 16 ran, Time-8m 39.52s; Dist-10, 1½ , 4½ 5/2 Fav Wonderkid (6th)

2007-WINNER-HEADS ONTHE GROUND 10-10-02 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-Silver Birch 10-11-00 Owner-Brian Walsh; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-14/1
3RD-Le Duc 8-10-10 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Sam Thomas; SP-8/1
4TH-Spot Thedifference 14-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-6/1
16 ran, Time-8m 43.80s, Dist-3½, 12, 5

2006-WINNER-NATIVE JACK 12-10-08 Owner-Gerard Burke/R J Bagnall/N O’Farrell/K Sexton; Trainer-Philip Rothwell IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-7/2 Jt Fav
2ND-Spot Thedifference 13-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-12/1
3RD-Buauiltes And Fadas 11-9-11 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-6/1
4TH-Il De Boitron 8-10-06 Owner-Clonakilty Racing Club; Trainer-Thomas O’Leary IRE; Jockey-Andrew McNamara; SP-100/1
16 ran, Time-8m 30.10s, Dist-2, 5, 5 7/2 Jt Fav Good Step (6th)

2005-WINNER-SPOT THEDIFFERENCE 12-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-4/1
2ND-Luzcadou 12-10-13 Owner-A G Chappell; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Alan O’Keeffe; SP-22/1
3RD-Mrs Be 9-9-12 Owner-J H Burridge; Trainer-Grant Cann; Jockey-Miss Polly Gundry; SP-20/1
4TH-Lord Noelie 12-11-08 Owner-Executive Racing; Trainer-Bridget Nicholls; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-14/1
16 ran, Time-8m 44.00s, Dist-2.5, 6, .75 100/30 Fav Comanche War Paint (Fell)

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