Cross Country Chase Tips & Odds
The Cross Country Chase takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and will be run on Wednesday 12th March 2025 Read More
A unique jumping test, you can check out the latest odds and racecards for the Cross Country Chase here, as well as our Cheltenham tips for the race closer to the event. We also try and help and guide you through placing a bet on the event with some of the most notable horse racing betting sites, as well as look at past winners and trends.
About The Cross Country Chase
The Cross Country Chase is a unique event and was introduced in 2005 as part of the extension of the festival from three days to four. The race is currently backed by Glenfarcas and is run over three miles, six furlongs and 37 yards, with 32 obstacles cleared in total.
Since its introduction in 2005, the Cross Country Chase has been dominated by Enda Bolger, who has won the race five times - though it’s worth noting that Gordon Elliott has won each of the last three renewals. The race was originally run as a handicap, but was switched to a conditions race in 2016, and since that switch it has quickly become a popular warm-up race for the following month’s Grand National at Aintree - a path taken by the winners of the last three renewals of the Cross Country Chase, Cause of Causes (2017) and Tiger Roll (2018 & 2019). The unique nature of the race means that specialists are common, and three horses have won the race on more than one occasion since its inception at the Cheltenham Festival; Garde Champetre, Balthazar King and Tiger Roll.
Gordon Elliott's Delta Work retained his Cross Country crown as the 11/10 favourite fended off his stablemate Galvin, as the pair pulled way clear of the rest of the field in 2023. The race was abandoned due to a waterlogged track in 2024.
Latest Betting
The odds for the Cross Country Chase will be revealed closer to the time...
Cross Country Chase Key Trends
- Three of the last 10 winners have been favourite
- Eight of the last 10 winners have been trained in Ireland
- Three of the last 10 winners have been aged 10 or older
- Only three of the last 10 winners had won their previous race before winning the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
Cross Country Chase Tips
We display Cross Country Chase tips from our very own longshot specialist, Raceolly, as well as our in-house tipping team, plus the best and most respected tipsters from the Racing Post and national newspapers. @RoadCheltenham will also have his tips live on-site nearer the time.
Previous Winners Of The Cross Country Chase
Year | Winner | Winning Jockey | Winning Trainer | Starting Price | AGE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE |
2023 | Delta Work | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott | 11/10 Fav | 10 |
2022 | Delta Work | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott | 5/2 Fav | 9 |
2021 | Tiger Roll | Keith Donoghue | Denise Foster | 9/2 | 11 |
2020 | Easysland | Jonathan Plouganou | David Cottin | 3/1 | 6 |
2019 | Tiger Roll | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott | 5/4 Fav | 9 |
2018 | Tiger Roll | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott | 7/1 | 8 |
2017 | Cause Of Causes | Jamie Codd | Gordon Elliott | 4/1 | 9 |
2016 | Josies Orders | Nina Carberry | Enda Bolger | 15/8 Fav | 8 |
2015 | Rivage D'Or | Davy Russell | Tony Martin | 16/1 | 10 |
2014 | Balthazar King | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs | 4/1 | 10 |
2013 | Big Shu | Barry Cash | Peter Maher | 14/1 | 8 |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Cross Country Chase
When is the Cross Country Chase?
The race takes place at 16:10 on Wednesday 12th March 2025
Where can I watch the Cross Country Chase?
You can watch the Cross Country Chase live on ITV1 and Racing TV which also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services.
The majority of betting sites will offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.
Who is the most iconic winner of the Cross Country Chase?
As mentioned above, we may never see a winner of the Cross Country Chase again who’s quite like Tiger Roll. The dual-Grand National winner has had an unconventional career, considering he made his name by winning the Triumph Hurdle in 2014, before his hurdling career very much went into the doldrums. However, after a very brief stint on the Flat via an all-weather race at Dundalk, he rediscovered his love for the game over fences, and came into his own as a staying chaser, recording successive Festival wins in the 2017 National Hunt Chase and the 2018 Cross Country Chase. Tiger Roll saved his finest season yet for the 2018/19 campaign, when he trailblazed to success in the Cross Country Chase, before becoming the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to defend his Grand National crown the following month.
Are there any trials for the Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is the feature event of the Glenfarcas Series, for which there are qualifying events at Cheltenham in November and December. Alongside this, there are also qualifying races in Ireland at Punchestown and in France at Pau.
Who is the most successful 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, courtesy of Heads Onthe Ground (2007), Garde Champetre (2008 & 2009), and Josies Orders (2016).
Who is the most successful trainer in the Cross Country Chase?
As mentioned above, the most successful trainer in the history of the Cross Country Chase is Enda Bolger, with five winners. Bolger is responsible for each of Nina Carberry’s winners in the race Heads Onthe Ground, Garde Champetre, and Josies Orders, and he also trained Spot Thedifference to victory in 2005.