15:00 Cheltenham

Friday 15 December 2023

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

Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 8m 29.07s

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Selected odds by:

Minella Indo³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 160| C

7/1

Been rather in and out since landing 2021 Gold Cup, returning with a poor effort in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal. Obviously a class act on his day, though, and he's an interesting newcomer to this sphere.

Form: 2P/1P-14

Galvin²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 157| BF| C

11/2

Tough and genuine performer with a good Cheltenham Festival CV, second to a stablemate with an even better one in Delta Work on his first go in a cross-country race in March. Not at best since but should come on for his return here and boasts leading claims.

Form: 1462U-8

Fury Road^p,t¹²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 156

18/1

High-class chaser at his peak and, while he's not been firing for a while, his stable has an excellent record on this Cross-Country track, so could bounce back after a break.

Form: 36F5-06

Gesskille^b³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 144

18/5

Reliable sort who underlined his liking for the National fences when landing the Grand Sefton at Aintree last time. That form is working out well and he's the sort to take to this new discipline.

Form: 69-P711

Enjoy D'allen^t,v¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: E Walsh⁽³⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 141

18/1

Useful chaser at his best who was quite highly tried last term. Probably needed the run (didn't have a hard race) on first go at Cross-Country chasing at Punchestown last time, so he's likely to step forward from it.

Form: 00060-5

Latenightpass²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| C

3/1

Landed the Aintree Foxhunters' in April 2022. Good fourth in that corresponding race and started out for current yard with a good second over C&D last month. Another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 1/2114-2

Francky Du Berlais^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132

14/1

Won the 2022 Summer Plate at Market Rasen and some good efforts since, including twice in September. Shaped as if still in form when fourth over C&D last time.

Form: 052384

Diesel D'Allier^p1,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: R Bandey| OR: 130| C

33/1

Useful chaser on the cross-country circuit but he's not the force of old and failed to feature over C&D last time. Up against it again.

Form: 14/0P-49

Vital Island^t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: R P O'Keeffe| OR: 127

28/1

Course winner. Latest win in La Touche Cup in April. Back to form when second in Cross-Country event at Punchestown last time but has a bit on from out of the weights.

Form: 1121-P2

Fameaftertheglory¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123

16/1

Error-prone chaser who has been struggling for form over hurdles this season. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 3-67617

Wick Green^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 122

9/1

Thriving since joining Ben Pauling, already a three-time winner for the yard, and he has hit the frame in a couple of handicaps here the last twice. Stiff task from out of the weights, though.

Form: P-11334

Volcano^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 118| D

40/1

Strong stayer who is something of a Warwick specialist. Ran well from out of the weights over C&D last time but a place is the best he can hope for faced with a similar scenario.

Form: 541P-25

Didero Vallis²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

16/1

Useful chaser at his best and, while he was out of sorts last season, he stopped the slide when third from out of the weights over C&D last time. Place claims again.

Form: 355PP-3

Forecasts

Latenightpass (3/1), Gesskille (18/5), Galvin (11/2), Minella Indo (7/1), Wick Green (9/1), Francky Du Berlais (14/1), Fameaftertheglory (16/1), Didero Vallis (16/1), Enjoy D'allen (18/1), Fury Road (18/1), Vital Island (28/1), Diesel D'Allier (33/1), Volcano (40/1)

GALVIN took well to this course when second to his stablemate at the festival in March and he shaped as if the run was needed here last month, so he's worth another chance. Minella Indo is another class act and an intriguing addition to this sphere, while another solid showing is expected from Latenightpass.