Cross Country Chase Predictions, Betting Tips, Odds & Trends (Cheltenham 2025 - DAY 2)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Cross Country Chase is the first major cross country chase of the Cheltenham Festival. The race challenges entries to cover a distance of 3 miles 7 furlongs and it is run over a special man made course which involves ditches, banks, rails and even a Grand National type fence. Delta Work beat the legendary Tiger Roll in this race in 2022 and recorded back to back victories last year at odds of 11/10f, for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Keith Donoghue. Last year's edition was abandoned due to bad weather conditions. This article contains our 2025 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase race preview, with free predictions, free bets, no deposit bonuses, odds, recent trends and special promotions.
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CROSS COUNTRY CHASE BETTING PREVIEW
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase is really popular race amongst punters since being introduced to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005. It is a great spectacle, very different to the other races at the festival. The contest is a Cross Country chase covering three miles and seven furlongs, for horses aged five years and upwards, with a prize purse of £75,000. The race has become a handicap now, but remains a stamina test for the horses and also a mental test, with many different types of fences to jump.
This is also a test for jockeys, who have to be aware and know the route they have to take.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the Cross Country Handicap Chase 2025?
Second in the 2023 Kim Muir and a winner of a top quality handicap chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day last season, Gavin Cromwell's STUMPTOWN is the odds-on favorite following his sparkling victory at the December Meeting. Prior to that, he ended off all comers to land the Risk Of Thunder XC Chase at Punchestown on November.
Veteran GALVIN won the National Hunt Chase and the Savills Chase in 2021, and was narrowly beaten by Delta Work in this race two years ago. He finished 4th in last year's Grand National behing I Am Maximus. Gordon Elliott's star has only run once since then, suffering a narrow defeat in the American version of the Grand National at Far Hills in October.
LATENIGHTPASS finished only third to Stumptown over the course and distance in December, but he is now better off at the weights. Tom Ellis' runner did not win this season but this is the race he is being trained for and he has proven he has the ability to run well. He is brilliant at jumping and should not be underestimate in this company.
With the race being converted to a handicap, BUSSELTON's mark of 138 puts him on a featherweight and he looks to have been minded since running an eye-catching race behind Stumptown in December. His run in the Boyne Hurdle last month should put him spot on for this contest.
VANILLIER, a former winner of the Albert Bartlett at the meeting, relished the application of first-time headgear when winning the P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase at Punchestown and could run well at fair odds while MISTER COFFEY is still yet to win over fences but has run well on his two starts around the Cross Country course this term.
Dark horses?
ROI MAGE finished behind Iceo Madrik at Compiegne in November. He fell at the twentieth on his only previous try at this track in January 2023. Anyway, his stamina and jump ability make this horse a smart each-way option.
THE GOFFER enters this race on the back of eight lengthy defeats in a row and is now rated 10 pounds lower than 12 months ago. He made his Cross Country debut in the Crystal Cup, finishing 7th despite making good late gains.
After a couple of disappointing outings, BACK ON THE LASH bounced right back to form with an excellent third in the November Cross Country Handicap Chase.
Experienced horses like ESCARIA TEN, COKO BEACH, GEVREY, MINELLA CROONER and IWILLDOIT are also entered here and could have top 3 ambitions.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
All the bookmakers we recommend are offering No Runner No Bet on every Cheltenham Festival race.
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE TRENDS
- Just 6 of the last 19 winners were favourites
- 10 of the last 12 winners were sent off 7/1 or shorter, 7 of the last 8 had an SP no bigger than 9/2.
- 16 of 19 Cross Country Chase winners were trained in Ireland, including eight of the last nine.
- 10 of the last 12 winners had run in at least one Cheltenham cross country race before
- 13 of the last 14 winners have been aged 8 or older
- The last 6 winners had a rating of 150 or higher
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE PREDICTIONS
The following section contains our free betting tips on the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 2025. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival pick and get the best available odds on the most recommended bookmakers by clicking the 'Bet' button!
Ruby Walsh's Cross Country Chase Tips
Cheltenham Festival’s winning-most jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh has shared his Cross Country Chase tips."I’ve been all over VANILLIER for a while. He’s the one for me in the Cross Country Chase. Galvin is a bigger danger at the weights than Stumpton. Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue are keen on Stumpton but I’m not listening, I’m still going with Vanillier."
2025 Cross Country Chase Free Bets
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2025 CHELTENHAM DAY 2 TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
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2025 Cross Country Handicap Chase FAQs
What time is the Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is the 4th race run on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Wednesday March 12, 2025 and the official starting time is 3:20pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Cross Country Chase?
There are 32 obstacles to jump for the Cross Country Chase runners
What is the distance of the Cross Country Handicap Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is run on a distance of 3 miles 6 furlongs and 37 yards
What is the prize money for the Cross Country Chase?
The total prize money on offer for the Cross Country Chase at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be £75,000.
Who won the Cross Country Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was called off after parts of the track were waterlogged. In 2023 the race was won by Delta Work at SP of 11/10F, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Keith Donoghue.
What weights are carried for the Cross Country Handicap Chase?
11st 4lbs with a 7lb allowance for mares.
Who is the leading jockey in the Cross Country Chase?
The most successful jockey in the history of the Cross Country Chase is Nina Carberry, who has ridden four winners in the race. Keith Donoghue has won three of the last seven renewals of this race (two with Tiger Roll). Davy Russell has won the race twice overall, and placed three times also from 11 rides.
Who is the leading trainer in the Cross Country Chase?
The most successful trainer in the history of the Cross Country Chase are Enda Bolger and Gordon Elliott, with five winners. The latter has won the last two renewals courtesy of Delta Work and also has five placings from 15 runners.
