15:00 Cheltenham

Friday 10 December 2021

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 8m 24.62s

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Selected odds by:

Balko Des Flos²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161| C

12/1

Course winner who arrives on back of creditable fifth of 13 to Back On The Lash in handicap over C&D 28 days ago. Well in the mix.

Form: 64U2-05

Alpha Des Obeaux^b,t¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

12/1

Unreliable and not the force of old nowdays, only ninth of 11 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (29f) 12 days ago. I'ts now nineteen runs since his last win back in 2018

Form: 0C6-P89

Back On The Lash²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 141| CD

10/3

Made it 4-6 this season with career best in 13-runner handicap chase over C&D 28 days ago by neck from Singing Banjo, just holding on. Up 3 lb but he can his make presence felt again.

Form: 117151

Midnight Maestro²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: M P Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 140

6/1

Ran well on his cross-country debut after 7 months off when second of 15 at Punchestown (24f) 26 days ago. Up in trip now, and he's not taken lightly.

Form: 1PF14-2

Mortal^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

20/1

On a losing run, but he was given a considerate time of things on his return from 3 months off when ninth of 16 in handicap chase at Navan (24f) 19 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: F-5P059

Plan Of Attack^b²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

9/2

Useful chaser who returned from 4 months off with good fourth of 13 to Back On The Lash in handicap chase over C&D 28 days ago. Merits serious consideration off an unchanged mark now.

Form: P8F7-04

Singing Banjo^p²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr B J Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 137

12/1

Won a couple of Cross-Country in early summer and took his form up a notch after 5 months off when neck second to Back On The Lash over C&D 28 days ago. Firmly in the picture nudged up just 2 lb.

Form: 4711-12

Diesel D'Allier^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 137| CD

6/1

C&D winner for Emmanuel Clayeux who posted very good third of 13 to Back On The Lash here on his yard debut 28 days ago. Merits consideration off the same mark.

Form: 44236-3

Blast Of Koeman^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: J J Slevin| T: Peter Maher| OR: 132

40/1

Temperamental sort but he recorded respectable fifth of 15 at Punchestown (24f) 26 days ago. It's worth noting though that it's now twenty six runs since his last win in 2017.

Form: 3226P-5

Potters Corner²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 132

14/1

Won the 2019 Midlands National and Welsh National but not so productive since, pulled up in 25f handicap chase at Haydock 20 days ago, Needs to get back on track.

Form: 7PP-76P

Ballyboker Bridge^p²⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: Peter Maher| OR: 129

50/1

Is a stalwart of the cross-country sphere, but he wasn't at his best after 7 months off when seventh of 15 at Punchestown (24f) 26 days ago. No surprise to see him bounce back here, though.

Form: 2/2PS2-7

Fox Pro²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 127

22/1

Form: 2P2P27

Mr Diablo²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 127

100/1

Winless since 2017, though he wasn't disgraced after 6 months off when ninth of 15 at Punchestown (24f) 26 days ago. Plenty more is required from 8 lb "wrong" in the weights here, though.

Form: 20P6-P9

Call It Magic^b²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 125

80/1

Fairly useful chaser who landed cross country chase here in May. Not disgraced on his return when eighth in similar event at Punchestown last month, but 10 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 945P1-8

Super Citizen²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 116

40/1

Fair chaser. Faced stiff task when very good sixth on his cross country debut at Punchestown (24f) 26 days ago but he's 19 lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 007466

Non-Runners

Talkischeap²⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: M Keighley J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Back On The Lash (10/3), Plan Of Attack (9/2), Diesel D'Allier (6/1), Midnight Maestro (6/1), Singing Banjo (12/1), Balko Des Flos (12/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (12/1), Potters Corner (14/1), Talkischeap (14/1), Mortal (20/1), Fox Pro (22/1), Super Citizen (40/1), Blast Of Koeman (40/1), Ballyboker Bridge (50/1), Call It Magic (80/1), Mr Diablo (100/1)

Plenty are in with a shout. Enda Bolger has a good record in this event so MIDNIGHT MAESTRO gets the nod having made a promising start in the cross-country scene when second at Punchestown last month. Plan of Attack and Singing Banjo both acquitted themselves really well over C&D last time and seem sure to be on the premises, while Back On The Lash and Balko des Flos are on the shortlist too.