Cheltenham Betting Preview - The Cross Country Handicap Chase
The Cross Country Handicap Chase was introduced to the Cheltenham Festival after its expansion to a four day meeting back in 2005.
Spotthedifference became a real stalwart of the race up to his retirement in 2007 and since then, it has been Garde Champetre who has regularly emerged as the one to beat.
Enda Bolger’s charge has been successful on his last four outings over course and distance, including when he landed this race at the Festival last year.
This season he has beaten Heads Onthe Ground and Sizing Australia at the Open and December meetings under hefty weights and it looks extremely unlikely that he will be turned over this March.
The 11 year-old warmed up with a spin over hurdles at Punchestown on Feb 17, an exercise taken out by connections purely to get their star in shape - ‘match fit’ if you like. He is a clear 2/1 favourite to claim a second Cheltenham triumph but that price is serious value.
He has form over all of the other likely contenders, of which, Sizing Australia is the only one who could cause a potential problem if he is eased at the weights.
A 7/1 shot, the 8 year-old, trained by Henry De Bromhead, is good each way value. He is a really genuine sort who enjoys his racing and tends to make the frame on the worst of days.
When beaten by Garde Champetre in December he was only a fraction away and should get close to him again. That day, he was receiving a massive 22lbs from the winner so he may well be handed another pound or so from the handicapper. His chances of getting past his rival however are still slim.
Elsewhere, Nick Williams Maljimar (9/1) has solid form around Cheltenham and could make the frame. He has placed on many occasions at Cheltenham before, including when an impressive second behind Wichita Lineman in the William Hill Trophy at last year’s Festival.
Beaten three lengths third by Garde Champetre last time out, he could also be a beneficiary of an ease in the weights in challenge to the favourite, so he could well make the frame.
Garde Champetre, Sizing Australia and Maljimar was the 1-2-3 in the last race over the course at Cheltenham and it is difficult to see beyond a similar outcome in a months time.
