One of the most popular races on day two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Cross Country Chase. This unique race features an array of weird and wonderful obstacles, and only the strongest stayer in the field will triumph over this three-and-three-quarter-mile trip.
Cross Country Chase Key Facts
Date
Wednesday 13th March, 2024
Time
4:10pm
Course
Cheltenham Festival
Status
Class Two
Distance
3m 6f
Prize Pool
£65k
Age
5YO+
Cross Country Chase Odds
No odds are currently available for the Cross Country.
Cross Country Chase Tips
Our guide to the Cross Country will be published in the weeks leading up to the Cheltenham Festival.
The Cross Country Chase is the most unique race at the Cheltenham Festival. First run in 2005, the runners in the Cross Country tackle a series of weird and wonderful obstacles, during a three-mile-six-furlong course that winds its way around the grounds at Prestbury Park.
A series of Cross Country races are staged at Cheltenham throughout the season, giving possible Festival runners some valuable experience around this tricky track. Glenfarclas has been sponsoring Cheltenham's Cross Country series since 2008.
Irish Cross Country specialist, Enda Bolger dominated the early runnings of the Cross Country. Bolger saddled the Cross Country winner in four of the first five runnings, last lifting the trophy when Josies Orders was handed that race in 2016.
JT McNamara rode Bolger's first winner in 2005. Nina Carbery was in the saddle for Bolger's other four victories, and she remains the most successful jockey in the history of the race.
Garde Champetre secured back-to-back Cross Country wins in 2008 and 2009. His feat was matched by Philip Hobbs' Balthazar King, won scored at the Festival in 2012 and 2014.
Gold Cup winning trainer, Gordon Elliott has saddled three of the last four winners. His first Cross Country triumph came in 2017 with Cause Of Causes, who went on to finish second in the Grand National at Aintree.
Tiger Roll then took over where his stablemate left off in 2018, and successfully defended his crown in 2019. In both of those seasons, Tiger Roll went on to win the Aintree Grand National.
The great Tiger Roll attempted to become the first three-time Cross Country winner in 2020. Sadly, for his supporters, the favourite was beaten by French raider Easysland, who powered home on soft ground to beat Tiger Roll by a comfortable margin.
Just when it seemed like he was done, Tiger Roll roared back to top form to beat Easysland in the 2021 Cross Country.
Cross Country Chase Winners
Year
Winner
2023
Delta Work
2022
Delta Work
2021
Tiger Roll
2020
Easysland
2019
Tiger Roll
2018
Tiger Roll
2017
Cause Of Causes
2016
Josies Orders
2015
Rivage D'Or
2014
Balthazar King
2013
Big Shu
2012
Balthazar King
2011
Sizing Australia
2010
A New Story
2009
Garde Champetre
2008
Garde Champetre
2007
Heads Onthe Ground
2006
Native Jack
2005
Spot Thedifference
Cross Country Chase FAQs
When is the Cross Country Chase?
The 2023 Cross Country Chase will take place at 4:10pm on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 15th March.
What is the Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is a Class Two race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival. The Cross Country is a unique, three-mile-six-furlongs race, where a range of unusual obstacles will have to be scaled by the runners.
Who won the Cross Country?
Delta Work secured back to back victories in the Cross Country Chase in 2023.
Where can I watch the Cross Country Chase?
The 2024 Cross Country Chase will be shown live on ITV Racing. If you want to stream the race live on your mobile or tablet then visit our Live Streaming page for more details.
