The Cross-Country course at Cheltenham is nearly 30 years old, it was the stage for three of the dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll’s five Festival successes and is a circuit where market leaders and track specialists – both equine and human – have a consistently strong record. McGregor The Third, who took the first ever race over the course in 1995, was also its first multiple winner, and popular favourites like Spot Thedifference, with seven course wins, and Garde Champetre (six) have followed his lead.
And yet, there are still plenty of punters who regard the novel circuit that criss-crosses the Cheltenham infield with indifference at best, and hostility at worst. For some, the three races over the cross-country track each season are three too many.
Even the most die-hard cross-country sceptics might be persuaded by Friday’s 13-runner handicap over the circuit, however, as three of the runners have a Grade One victory to their name, including a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in Minella Indo, who took chasing’s most prestigious prize in 2021.
Minella Indo has had a stop-start career since his Gold Cup success but went on to finish second when defending his crown 12 months later, in a race where Galvin, also a runner in Friday’s race, finished fourth. The third previous Grade One winner in the field, meanwhile, is Fury Road, whose current rating puts him just 4lb behind Minella Indo and 1lb behind Galvin.
All three are giving at least 12lb to their rivals, which makes it a fascinating challenge from a punter’s perspective and could well mean that Latenightpass, first and fourth in the Foxhunters’ at Aintree in the last two seasons, sets off as the favourite at around 7-2.
“This is obviously a new discipline for him, but he has done plenty of cross-country schooling at home,” Rachael Blackmore, Minella Indo’s jockey, told her Betfair blog on Thursday, “and he has also had a pop over some of the obstacles at Cheltenham.
“Of course, you can’t beat racing experience around that track, but he has shown us plenty with the cross-country bits that he has done. He has to give weight away to all his rivals, but he’s a Gold Cup winner that retains a lot of ability and I’m hoping that he can run well.”
Doncaster 11.25 Rare Middleton 11.55 Zain Nights 12.30 Stratton Oakmont 1.05 Sageburg County 1.40 Brian’s Jet 2.15 Scrum Diddly 2.50 Rula Bula 3.22 Whatsdastory
Cheltenham 12.05 Spirits Bay 12.40 Ginny’s Destiny (nb) 1.15 Ginger Mail 1.50 Walk In Clover 2.25 Le Ligerien 3.00 Latenightpassmn3.35 Bold Endeavour (nap)
Bangor 12.20 Abaya Du Mathan. 12.55 Fakir 1.30 Tiger Orchid 2.05 Butler’s Brief 2.35 Classic Lord 3.10 Rolypolymoly 3.42 Guard The Moon
Southwell 5.00 Bang On The Bell 5.30 Call Glory 6.00 Mattella 6.30 Sharp Distinction 7.00 Vondelpark 7.30 Tea Sea 8.00 She’s The Danger 8.30 Vitalline
Minella Indo is still just 10 years old and if he takes to his latest challenge, his quality could see him through, but it is quite a task to win first time up over this track when giving weight to several rivals with course experience.
As a result, Latenightpass (3.00), beaten less than two lengths on his cross-country debut last month, could be a better bet on Friday. Elsewhere on the Cheltenham card, Bold Endeavour (3.35) has plenty to recommend him, including Freddie Gordon’s 5lb claim, in the concluding handicap hurdle, and Walk In Clover (1.50) could build on an encouraging run at the November meeting when she lines up for the mares’ handicap chase.
