Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase
Cheltenham 15:00
£40,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
3m 6f 37y, Class 2  
Friday 13th December 2024

BetGoodwin

1 Stumptown 4/1F
2 Mister Coffey 5/1
3 Latenightpass 5/1
15 ran NR: Gevrey Distances: 1l, 3¼l, ½l
Time: 8m 33.95s (slow by 45.95s)

Keith Donoghue delivered a perfectly timed ride aboard Stumptown, securing yet another victory over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham. Donoghue, who has won four of the last six editions of the Glenfarclas-sponsored race at the Festival in March, showcased his mastery of the course once again. His previous successes included three triumphs on Tiger Roll and a win in 2023 on Delta Work.

Stumptown, trained by Cheltenham regular Gavin Cromwell, went off as the 4-1 favourite after regaining form with two recent wins over the Punchestown banks course. Donoghue rode the horse patiently early on, but with plenty of ground to make up as last year’s winner Latenightpass and Escaria Ten led the way before the turn for home. Stumptown was traveling ominously well and breezed between the two on the run to the last obstacle, seemingly set for a comfortable victory.

However, Nico de Boinville mounted a late challenge with Mister Coffey, who had also finished second over these fences in November. Donoghue had to briefly urge Stumptown forward to secure a one-length victory.

Gavin Cromwell expressed his delight with the performance, stating, “You’d have to be delighted with that, and Vanillier (ninth) ran well too. Stumptown absolutely loves it, and it’s obviously a huge asset to have Keith on board because he’s very good at these cross-country races and gets a good tune out of the horses.”

Cromwell noted a slight concern about Stumptown adapting from Punchestown’s banks to Cheltenham’s hedges, but the horse took to it well. “We said we’d try it at the Punchestown Festival as we thought the handicapper had hit his max and it seems to have brought around a new lease of life for him. It’s unbelievable – he’s grown legs for it.”

Looking ahead, returning to Cheltenham for the Festival is an obvious target, with Cromwell also considering a crack at the Grand National. “That (Grand National) would definitely be on the agenda. We thought we’d try the cross-country route with Vanillier too as he’s getting a little bit older and he seemed to enjoy it, so he could come back here for the cross-country at the Festival as well.”

QuinnBet

Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
£40,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 6f 37y, Class 2
15 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Stumptown 7 11-4 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 4/1F
2 1 Mister Coffey 9 10-9 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 5/1
3 3¼ Latenightpass 11 10-13 T Ellis Miss Gina Andrews 5/1
4 ½ Escaria Ten 10 10-4 Martin Keighley James Best 80/1
5 7 Three By Two 8 10-2 Denis Paul Murphy Sam Twiston-Davies 28/1
6 3½ Busselton 7 10-9 Joseph O'Brien Richie McLernon 33/1
7 ½ The Goffer 7 10-11 Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan 12/1
8 ¾ Arizona Cardinal 8 10-11 Stuart Edmunds Ciaran Gethings 18/1
9 2¼ Vanillier 9 11-0 Gavin Cromwell Jonathan Burke 28/1
10 nk Coko Beach 9 11-10 Gordon Elliott Carl Millar 16/1
11 ½ Delta Work 11 12-0 Gordon Elliott Mr R James 18/1
12 11 Chemical Energy 8 11-1 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 14/1
13 hd Fakir d'Oudairies 9 11-9 Joseph O'Brien Richard Deegan 9/1
14 27 Statuario 9 10-2 Peter & Michael Bowen Sean Bowen 22/1
UR Iceo Madrik 6 10-2 D Cottin Thomas Journiac 11/2
NR Gevrey 8 11-0 Gordon Elliott NON RUNNER

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