Latenightpass is about to face a most 15 rivals within the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Nation Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.
The gelding scooted to a 4l victory in final season’s renewal and is barely 4lbs increased within the handicap for the defence of his title as Gina Andrews as soon as once more takes the trip for husband and coach Tom Ellis.
Delta Work, the two-time winner of the Cross Nation Chase on the Cheltenham Pageant, heads the weights and is joined by stablemates Chemical Power, Coko Seashore, Gevrey and The Goffer.
Mister Coffey, who completed behind Candy David in final month’s Cross Nation on the November Assembly, makes an attempt to interrupt his maiden standing over fences on the fifteenth time of asking.
Candy David doesn’t make the journey throughout the English Channel however there’s a French raider as David Cottin sends over the hat-trick in search of Iceo Madrik.
Stumptown can be in search of a third-consecutive victory after profitable over the banks at Punchestown in Could and November.
The stacked area for Friday’s 15:00 additionally contains 2023 Grand Nationwide second Vanillier, a number of Grade 1 winner Fakir d’Oudairies and final season’s Topham winner Arizona Cardinal.
The most recent Crystal Cup Cross Nation Handicap Chase odds are on the Paddy Energy web site and Paddy Energy app, in any other case Timeform’s information to the runners in addition to betting ideas from the racing boffins may be discovered beneath.
Crystal Cup Cross Nation Handicap Chase 2024 verdict
Timeform: Gordon Elliott comes right here mob-handed and his veteran DELTA WORK is fancied to capitalise on a handy-looking mark and improve his high-quality file spherical right here. Fellow Irish raider Stumptown has age on his aspect and is feared most in his bid for a hat-trick of cross nation occasions, with in-form maiden chaser Mister Coffey interesting because the choose of the house challengers. Former victor Latenightpass and Topham-hero Arizona Cardinal full the shortlist.
*All costs are bang updated with our snazzy widgets, whereas odds in copy are correct at time of publishing however topic to vary
Crystal Cup Cross Nation Handicap Chase 2024 runners and riders
The next horses have been declared for the Crystal Cup Cross Nation Handicap Chase 2024.
Delta Work
Coach: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Mr R. James Age: 11 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Excessive-class chaser who ended final season with a superb second in Grand Nationwide at Aintree. Final of 5 on his return in Champion Chase at Down Royal final month however this course winner is a participant again in these calmer waters.
*****
Coko Seashore
Coach: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Carl Millar Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
A really sensible chaser who reportedly suffered cuts to each hind legs when fifth in Punchestown situations occasion 19 days in the past. This course winner wants contemplating with cheekpieces refitted.
***
Fakir d’Oudairies
Coach: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: Richard Deegan Age: 9 Weight: 11st 9lbs
Good chaser who has caught the attention each runs this time period, not knocked about when fourth of 6 to Saint Sam in Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel (20.8f) 36 days in the past. Within the combine again up in journey.
***
Stumpton
Coach: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 7 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Arrives on a hat-trick after back-to-back 3m cross nation victories at Punchestown. This calls for extra however he’s not taken frivolously in his present temper.
****
Chemical Power
Coach: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Sam Ewing Age: 8 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Course winner however he’s not the best to catch proper and was tried in blinkers for the primary time when pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (24.2f) 26 days in the past. Others are most well-liked.
**
Gevrey
Coach: Gordon Elliott Jockey: James Bowen Age: 8 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Scored at Limerick in October 2023 however he’s been out of kinds since, pulled up in 3m handicap chase at Navan on his return. Onerous to heat to.
**
Vanillier
Coach: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 9 Weight: 11st 0lbs
It’s now 16 runs since his final win in 2021 and he got here in a below-form sixth of 13 to Stumptown in cross nation chase at Punchestown (3m) 19 days in the past. Must take a giant step ahead.
**
Latenightpass
Coach: Tom Ellis Jockey: Miss Gina Andrews Age: 11 Weight: 10st 13lbs
2022 Foxhunters winner at Aintree and he took this 12 months in the past for Dan Skelton. Had a wind op earlier than coming in tenth of 13 in Grand Sefton again at Aintree (21.1f, good) 34 days in the past. No forlorn hope again right here with that run below his belt.
***
Arizona Cardinal
Coach: Stuart Edmunds Jockey: Ciaran Gethings Age: 8 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Admirable kind who signed off final time period with victory in Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree. Seemed rusty when pulled up at Chepstow on October’s return to motion and higher anticipated on the again of a respiratory operation.
***
The Goffer
Coach: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Danny Gilligan Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
On a dropping run and he was tried blinkered for 1st time when a below-form seventh of 18 in 3m handicap chase at Navan 26 days in the past. Extra is required now again up in journey.
**
Busselton
Coach: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: Richie McLernon Age: 7 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Final success over jumps got here in 2022 Kerry Nationwide however resumed profitable methods with blinkers refitted on Flat at Galway (16.5f) in July. Hasn’t been in identical type on Flat/over fences since although. Heaps extra is required.
**
Mister Coffey
Coach: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Nico de Boinville Age: 9 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Nonetheless with out a win on this sphere however he returned with a strong second of 9 in handicap chase over C&D 28 days in the past. Can go nicely once more off a 2 lb decrease mark.
****
Escaria Ten
Coach: Martin Keighley Jockey: James Greatest Age: 10 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Very helpful chaser in his pomp however evidently not the pressure of outdated in current seasons and nicely held each begins for his present yard right here 6 months aside.
**
Statuario
Coach: Peter & Michael Bowen Jockey: Sean Bowen Age: 9 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Enhanced glorious Perth file with one other brace of small-field wins in Could/June. Bought again on monitor when fourth of 9 in handicap chase over C&D 28 days in the past so he can’t be dismissed off a 7 lb decrease mark.
***
Three By Two
Coach: Denis Paul Murphy Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Resumed profitable methods at Wexford in July and excelled herself when 2¾ lengths second of 13 to Stumptown in cross nation chase at Punchestown (3m) 19 days in the past. 6 lb out of the handicap right here although.
**
Iceo Madrik
Coach: David Cottin Jockey: Thomas Journiac Age: 6 Weight: 10st 2lbs
French chaser who comes right here bidding for a hat-trick after a pair of cross nation successes at Compiegne this winter. 11 lb “unsuitable” within the weights nevertheless.
**
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