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The key form race to review for the best form for the 2014 Cross Country Chase is the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham December meeting. This is one of the only chances during the year that many of the runners will get a chance to race in this fantastic race. There are very few cross country races during the season so any that do take place are well worth keeping a close eye on.
There are certain trainers worth following through the season with Edna Bolger being top of that list, the Irish trainer will always have a good cross country chaser on his books so his runners should be watched very closely.
Race OverviewARABELLA BOY has plenty going for him after two wins over Punchestown's banks course this season, always provided this normally sound jumper holds it together at the fences after unseating over C&D in between. A strong stayer and with comparative youth on his side, he may well be another winner of this for his trainer, who has a fine record in the race. Outlaw Pete is next best, ahead of Saddlers Storm and Any Currency, who could be a danger to all if he takes to it on his cross-country debut. [Mel Cullinan]
Odds provided by Paddypower
| No. | Runner | Details | Rating | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Uncle Junior (IRE) Mr P W Mullins W Mullins | 12 yrs / 166 lbs 461U04 | ||
CommentUncle Junior
Unplaced in 2012; 2 C&D wins; respected
| 2 |  | Outlaw Pete (IRE) Mr Josh Halley J Halley | 9 yrs / 156 lbs 5O3163 |
CommentOutlaw Pete
Big player on C&D win in December
| 3 |  | Bostons Angel (IRE) R M Power Mrs J Harrington | 9 yrs / 154 lbs 06F226 |
CommentBostons Angel
Claims on C&D 2nd to Outlaw Pete in December
| 4 |  | Sizing Australia (IRE) A E Lynch H De Bromhead | 11 yrs / 151 lbs 4-046F |
CommentSizing Australia
Won this in 2011; current form and ground concerns now
| 5 |  | Arabella Boy (IRE) Ms N Carberry E Bolger | 8 yrs / 149 lbs -P41U1 |
CommentArabella Boy
In form; unseated here in Dec; trainer does well in this
| 6 |  | Passato (GER) T J Murphy Jo Davis | 9 yrs / 147 lbs -14876 |
CommentPassato
Big trip and ground concerns
| 7 |  | Saddlers Storm (IRE) P Carberry A Martin | 11 yrs / 146 lbs 3-97U0 |
CommentSaddlers Storm
Claims on last April's La Touche Cup third
| 8 |  | Big Shu (IRE) B M Cash P Maher | 8 yrs / 145 lbs 1-F742 |
CommentBig Shu
Claims on latest cross country 2nd but ground then was desperate
| 9 |  | A New Story (IRE) A P Heskin M Hourigan | 15 yrs / 144 lbs 0CP776 |
CommentA New Story
34132 in this; 15yo now and vulnerable win wise
| 10 |  | Any Currency (IRE) I Popham M Keighley | 10 yrs / 142 lbs -614U4 |
CommentAny Currency
Quirky but nice mark and a player if he takes to it
| 11 |  | Freneys Well R McLernon E Bolger | 13 yrs / 141 lbs -41733 |
CommentFreneys Well
460 in 3 runs in this before; cheekpieces help; opposed
| 12 |  | Shakervilz (FR) Ms K Walsh W Mullins | 10 yrs / 140 lbs 121365 |
CommentShakervilz
Fair sixth over C&D in December and bit to prove after that
| 13 |  | Leac An Scail (IRE) Samantha Drake Miss J Foster | 12 yrs / 140 lbs 3513F2 |
CommentLeac An Scail
E/w chance on C&D 3rd in December
| 14 |  | Sacree Tiepy (FR) J Reveley E Clayeux | 7 yrs / 140 lbs P1-612 |
CommentSacree Tiepy
In form in French cross country races; only 7yo; respected
| 15 |  | Wedger Pardy (IRE) Miss J Coward K Bailey | 12 yrs / 140 lbs 6O3-F9 |
CommentWedger Pardy
E/w shout on his 3rd in this in 2012 off same mark now
| 16 |  | Double Dizzy A Glassonbury R Buckler | 12 yrs / 140 lbs P04334 |
CommentDouble Dizzy
Failed in this twice before; others preferred
February 2013
Enda Bolger has a great record in this race as a trainer and the Irish handler looks to have another contender on his hands this season in the form of Arabella Boy. The horse won the Punchestown Cross Country Chase at the start of the month under a good ride from Nina Carberry to enter the Festival picture. It was an impressive run on heavy ground with another Festival contender in the form of Uncle Junior back in fourth place.
December 2012
We saw a number of the horses from the Cross Country race in November back at Cheltenham for the Cross Country Handicap race at the International Meeting in December. This time it was a different story for Uncle Junior who unseated his rider at the Aintree fence carrying a massive weight on his back with the excellent Outlaw Pete going on to claim a win. He stayed really well in testing conditions to streak clear of former RSA Chase winner Bostons Angel who has been sent over the Cross Country fences for the first time.
November 2012
The first big Cross Country Chase of the season took place at the Open Meeting as always and we saw all the main contenders face off over the Festival course and distance. In the end it was Uncle Junior who won in some style ahead of Balthazar King and we can expect both horses to go head to head at the Festival in March. Uncle Junior seems to love these fences and he is sure to be a major contender in this division once again this winter.
Following on from last year, we are delighted to announce that we are featuring horse racing tips from Channel Four Racing presenter, Tom Lee.
Tom appears on Channel 4's Morning Line & covers live Racing in the afternoon as well fronting RTE's Racing coverage in Ireland, his Cheltenham Festival Tips and previews of each day's Racing will be available during the Festival and supported with opinions and views from our Racing writers.
View Tom's Racing Tips
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