Cross Country Chase Tips - 4.10pm Cheltenham

2019 PREVIEW DUE by MARCH 5th-10th

Leading Contenders

This race has changed in recent years and is now a level weights conditions contest where up until 2106 it was a handicap. I have to say it hasn’t altered much else with owner JP McManus taking the prize twelve months go for the sixth time!

Cause Of Causes came home by 9 lengths last year and completed a 1-2 for trainer Gordon Elliott who was also responsible for Bless The Wings. It was the third year in a row that the 10yo had been successful at the Festival and amazingly in three different races having already won the National Hunt Chase and the Kim Muir previously.

He went on to finish second in the Aintree Grand National and I’m sure that will be his ultimate target this season. So far this tern we have just seen him once and that was over an inadequate trip at Leopardstown and should be much fitter when he lines up in March.

Bless The Wings will bid to go one better this season and showed he was in good form when beating Cantlow here over course and distance in December. He’s a 13yo now so this will probably be his last stab at the prize having also finished second two years ago.

A third Elliott contender is Tiger Roll, he’s only an 8yo and was the winner of the National Hunt Chase last season over 4 miles. Back in the day he also won the Triumph Hurdle so should never be ignored when travelling over to Cheltenham.

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He came here in December to have his first look at the Cross Country course and didn’t do too badly when finishing a well beaten 5th, he made a couple of errors which is only to be expected on his course debut, it can take some horses a few goes to get to grips with it.

Trainer Enda Bolger has won this race five times before and he will be represented by Josies Orders, Auvergnat and Cantlow, all run in the green and gold hoops of JP McManus.

Lets start with Josies Orders who was awarded this race in 2016 after the winner on the day Any Currency failed a urine test and was disqualified.

The 10yo has won here three times in four starts and was sent to Bolger from the Jonjo O’Neill yard to concentrate on cross-country events. He looks sure to be bang there once again and showed his well being by finishing second at Punchestown in February.

Auvergnat is the youngster in the yard at the age of 8 and he won that Punchestown race in a driving finish and just getting holding on to deny Josies Orders by short head. On that form there is nothing to choose between them although on official ratings both would need to be on their A-game to beat Cause Of Causes who is rated a few pounds higher.

He was fourth here last season after making a couple of errors but was staying on up the hill and there was plenty for connections to think his turn is not far away.

Cantlow was beaten ten lengths last year back in third and his record around here is 11,1, 2, 3, 4, 2. He’s another one who’s coming to the end of his career but usually runs his race and is a genuine sort..

It’s not just the Irish raiders who fancy their chances as we have a serious threat from France. Urgent De Gregaine surprised everyone when he came and won over Course and distance last January. He beat Cantlow by three lengths but unfortunately missed the Festival.

This season he has finished second in the Velka Pardubicka which is a gruelling contest to say the least, he was just collared on the run in that day. Next time out he ran a fine race here to finish third behind stable mate Vicomte Du Seuil and Kingswell Theatre. He is still relatively unexposed over these fences so must come into calculations.

Vicomte Du Seuil was having his first taste of Cheltenham last November and it was also his first run over the trip so it was a very pleasing effort. At the weights he has a bit to find but should give a good account of himself.

One interesting runner to mention is The Last Samuri who was second in the 2016 Grand National, he has never attempted the Cross Country course before so its a big gamble for trainer Kim Bailey to come here without a prep race over the fences. His last run was a very good effort behind Definitly Red at Newbury and his mark of 159 gives him every chance here.
 

Punters Lounge Tip: Cantlow EW 20/1 at Bet365 - Click Here To Bet
 

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