Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase |
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| Class 2, Cheltenham 14:55 £35,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 6f 37y  |
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1 Foxy Jacks 9/1
2 Latenightpass 9/2
3
Didero Vallis 22/1
13 ran Distances: 1¼l, 10l, 3¾l
Time: 8m 8.99s
Who saw that coming?
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 17, 2023
Foxy Jacks has never completed this course in two attempts, but a bold jumping performance means today is his day as he lands the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase in style 💥 pic.twitter.com/bY1fBUVSWp
Mouse Morris added another triumph to his record in Britain as Foxy Jacks secured an excellent victory.
This season, Morris has already achieved success in the Charlie Hall with Gentlemansgame.
Guided by Gavin Brouder, the nine-year-old delivered an impressive jumping performance to narrowly defeat Latenightpass, trained by Dan Skelton, in an exciting finale.
While Morris is no stranger to success at Prestbury Park, he expressed his delight with Foxy Jacks, marking his first triumph at the track since First Lieutenant's victory at the Festival in 2011.
“It was very tenacious, he’s not simple but got a great ride, he jumped super,” said Morris of the 9-1 scorer.
“I thought he was in great shape coming here, but there are 30 fences to jump and jumping is not what he is noted for. These sort of races change his mind a little.
“It was his first time over the banks and I couldn’t be happier. There are a lot of days he hasn’t delivered which makes these days good.
“He has been running well this year, he won the Midlands National and was third in the Kerry National, so something has happened to him.
“I don’t think weight matters to this fella, it is just getting him on his day. He belongs to great people who love the craic and we will go where we can have some fun.”
Gordon Elliott’s pair of Delta Work and Galvin fought out the finish of the cross country at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring but finished down the field in their return to action.
Both have a return in March on the agenda, but Elliott is keen to see how Delta Work (sixth) comes out of the contest having failed to sparkle in the second half of the contest.
“Keith (Donoghue) actually said for the second half of the race he never jumped which he usually does and he was a bit sore pulling up. So we will have to see how he is,” said Elliott.
“Cheltenham is the plan in March, but once he’s OK in the morning that is all that matters. You can see in the second half of the race he never jumped like he can.
“In fairness we were happy with the run, if we got beat today we wouldn’t have been disappointed but he never jumped for the second half of the race, he just wasn’t right.
“Galvin (eighth) ran very well, he just hated the ground and we’re very happy. March is the plan and it will probably be one run over hurdles and that is it.”
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
£35,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 6f 37y, Class 2
13 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Foxy Jacks 9 11-3 M F Morris Gavin Brouder 9/1
2 1¼ Latenightpass 10 10-5 Dan Skelton Miss Gina Andrews 9/2
3 10 Didero Vallis 10 10-2 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 22/1
4 3¾ Francky Du Berlais 10 10-3 Peter Bowen James Bowen 10/1
5 1¾ Volcano 9 10-2 Sheila Lewis Ben Jones 33/1
6 nk Delta Work 10 11-13 Gordon Elliott Keith Donoghue 4/1
7 2½ Whatsyourstatus 10 10-2 Gearoid O'Loughlin Ricky Doyle 66/1
8 1¼ Galvin 9 12-0 Gordon Elliott Mr R James 100/30F
9 1 Diesel D'Allier 10 10-3 Richard J Bandey Harry Bannister 14/1
10 20 Back On The Lash 9 10-3 Martin Keighley Sean Bowen 15/2
11 15 Musical Slave 10 10-2 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Micheal Nolan 12/1
PU Dieu Vivant 10 10-2 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Toby Wynne 40/1
PU
Debden Bank 9 10-2 Martin Keighley James Best 200/1
