Cross Country Chase Odds
The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is full of Grade 1 races but also features the one-of-a-kind Cross Country Chase. Taking place after the feature race of the day, it is one of the most specialist Cheltenham Festival races and is a key preparation race for the Grand National as it features many national hunt chase obstacles which will need to be negotiated at different heights and distances in order to pass the post first.
Cross Country Chase Betting Odds
Punters will be able to find all of the top Cross Country Chase betting odds for the horses who are likely to participate in the event on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. You may find these will alter close to the race itself due to the final declarations being made, but you can still place ante-post bets, and your selection may fall under or non runner no bet offer.
As this race is run after the feature race of the day, there is the chance that odds can fluctuate in the build up to the race itself. Especially if a jockey or trainer manages to land a win earlier in the day, so this is always something to take into consideration when you are placing your bets.
Overview Of The Cross Country Chase
Established in 2005, when the Cheltenham Festival was extended to four days, the inaugural Cross Country Chase was won by SpotTheDifference.
Offering punters the chance to bet on one of the most unique races to be contested at Prestbury Park, the cross-country course contains 32 different obstacles over a distance of approximately three miles and six furlongs. , it is run as a conditions race instead of a handicap. A specialist race which tends to see many past winners return on multiple occasions, the famous of these is possibly dual grand national winner Tiger Roll.
The Cross Country Chase Odds Analysis
One of the most notable betting trends to take note of when browsing the betting odds is that returning runners and even winners often tend to sit in the favourite's position in the markets. This can be identified in the upcoming racecard, with last year’s winner Delta Work already leading the market with a major gap to any of his competitors.
Cross County Chase Recent Winners
When browsing the previous winners of the Cross Country Chase, one of the most noticeable betting trends which will influence the Cross Country Chase odds is that Irish trainers and runners have experienced the most success. As shown below, all but two of the most recent winners have been trained in Ireland, with Gordon Elliott topping the rankings.
| Year | Horse & Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Delta Work - Gordon Elliott | 5/2 |
| 2022 | Delta Work - Gordon Elliott | 5/2 |
| 2021 | Tiger Roll - Gordon Elliott | 9/2 |
| 2020 | Easysland - Jonathan Plouganou | 3/1 |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll - Gordon Elliott | 5/4 |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll - Gordon Elliott | 7/1 |
| 2017 | Causes of Causes - Gordon Elliott | 4/1 |
| 2016 | Josies Orders - Enda Bolger | 15/8 |
| 2015 | Rivage D'or - A J Martin | 16/1 |
| 2014 | Balthazar King - Richard Johnson | 4/1 |
| 2013 | Big Shu - Peter Maher | 14/1 |
The Cross Country Chase Key Trends
Partnering with those significant betting trends for Irish winners is leading trainer Enda Bolger who has managed to win this race four times since its inauguration in 2005. However, if you prefer to look for another trainer, Gordon Elliott is next on the list after his fourth victory in the race last season.
If you’re also looking to place a bet on the favourite, in the race, five favourites have successfully won this race and finished in the place positions on six occasions in recent years, so there is always value within each-way betting markets.
As the weights for all of the horses in this race will be the same at 11-7, punters will need to focus on the other trends we’ve listed when browsing the Cross Country Chase odds. One of the biggest is that 62% of runners within the last renewals have been listed within the first nine in the betting markets.
An additional factor to look at before placing your bet with the Cross Country Chase odds is a horse who has managed to achieve a ranking of above 134 across their career and that 85% of runners have won between a distance of 2m6f and 4m2/12f, and those who have won at the higher end of that scale often perform better.
One further thing to factor in when selecting your horse for this race is the ground alongside form. Given that the course can be tricky, it is sometimes the first run for many horses this season, so if the ground is heavier, you will need to select a runner with previous festival experience or who can handle the conditions.
Like any race trends, there are negatives, and one of these for this race is that mares underperform this race, having produced zero wins from six entries in the race. This could be due to the fact there is no weight allowance for the race. But it’s a key stat to note.
Cross Country Chase FAQS
What is the Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country chase is a conditions event which is open to horses of five years or over and is contested on the old course at Cheltenham.
What time is The Cross Country Chase?
The race is run at 16:10pm on Wednesday 14th March.
What is the prize money of the Cross Country Chase?
The prize money for the Cross Country Chase is approximately £50,000.
How long is the Cross Country Chase?
The race distance is approximately three miles and six furlongs and 32 obstacles will be jumped in this unique test of jumps racing.
Who is the favourite to win the Cross Country Chase?
This year, the favourite for the race is returning winner Delta Work who is currently 7/2 in the betting.
