Tips For The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 2022 – Tiger Roll’s Last Race

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is open horses aged five or older and is run over a distance of three miles and six furlongs.

There are thirty-two obstacles to navigate around including cheese wedges, railed hedges, several types of ditches, banks and jumps.

It is run on a unique figure of eight style course. Horses can qualify for the race by either placing in preparation races run at Punchestown, Pau or any of the three races run at this track in November, December or March.

The Irish have dominated in this sphere in recent years as they have taken seven of the last ten renewals.

Only one six-year-old has won this race in the last decade and only two favourites have won the race within the same time-frame.

Easysland looks set to renew rivalry with previous three-time winner and double Grand National Hero Tiger Roll.

Previous Winners of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Runners To Watch

Below are selected runners who hold entries for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 2022.

Karl Hedley provides some recent form notes to help point you in the right direction of identifying the winner.

TIGER ROLL – GORDON ELLIOTT

Tiger Roll didn’t exactly come here in the best form last year and absolutely smashed the opposition all the same by a mere eighteen lengths.

He relishes this course and distance and his three wins in this race are proof of that.

A thirteen-year-old has won this in recent years (Any Currency), so despite being twelve now, the former two-time Grand National winner has to be a force to be reckoned with once again.

Gordon Elliott has his team in red hot form and he will want his stable star to go out on a high.

A huge chance here where he knows every blade of grass.

DELTA WORK – GORDON ELLIOTT

Delta Work hasn’t been seen in the best of light so far this season but he is an intriguing runner in this line-up. Be under no illusion this is no Grade 1 chase.

The likes of Galvin and Frodon are far superior opposition compared to what awaits him here.

If his schooling over this style of course has been good, he of course is a leading player and the one they all have to beat.

That has to be a serious concern but should the rains arrive, this mud-lark will revel under ideal conditions.

He is in need of a first career win since 2020 and perhaps this new sphere could open up further options.

PRENGARDE – ENDA BOLGER

Prengarde comes here with a lofty reputation and has won his two most recent races at Compiegne by eight and ten length margins.

This was enough for JP McManus to open the chequebook and purchase him. He is still co-trained by Hector de Lageneste and Guillaume Macaire he commands utmost respect.

However, his preparation for this event may leave him exposed as he has never been to this track before or contested a proper trial and that lack of experience may well explain why only one six-year-old has won this race in the last ten years.

SHADY OPERATOR – ENDA BOLGER

Shady Operator looks as though he could well have a major say here.

He has finished runner-up in the last two cross country chases that he has competed in at Punchestown.

Beaten only a neck on his previous start, Enda Bolger would love to bag this race yet again having enjoyed so much success in it previously.

If the ground turned testing in the extreme, he would come into his own. A first attempt at these particular fences but not dismissed.

EASYSLAND – JONJO O’NEILL

Easysland has not been the same horse since winning this race back in 2020.

He has clearly had his problems and has now switched yards from David Cottin to Jonjo O’Neill.

Sent off an unconsidered 50/1 shot for a handicap hurdle at Sandown just a couple of weeks ago, he ran like his price suggested and having made a serious mistake at the fifth, dropped out of contention altogether before being pulled up.

If he recaptures his old form he has a squeak, but that ‘if’ is beginning to look ever more remote.

BRAHMA BULL – WILLIE MULLINS

Brahma Bull has never lived up to the typical hype of a Willie Mullins horse.

He excels in mediocrity and just never seems to put his best foot forward.

He was last seen pulling up behind Longhouse Poet in the Thyestes Handicap and a drop down to this sort of company could be exactly what he needs.

He didn’t seem to like Cheltenham when he was ninth in the Ballymore back in 2018 though, so not high on any immediate shortlist.

DIESEL D’ALLIER – RICHARD BANDEY

Diesel D’Allier has never finished outside of the first four places in four previous attempts on this cross country course.

He warmed up for this nicely when beating Potters Corner by a nose back in December.

He is still only a nine-year-old so the best of him could still to be seen.

The market is heavily tilted towards Tiger Roll at the moment but Diesel D’Allier is a dual course and distance winner and commands respect.

Ticks The Right Boxes?

2022 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Tips & Key Trends

TIGER ROLL has not had the best of starts to his campaign this season. He is a twelve-year-old now and can be forgiven.

This place just seems to bring him back to life and he has proven time and time again that he loves racing in this sphere.

Michael O’Leary has said retirement beckons after this win, lose or draw. No surprise to see him have one last hurrah in a race he has made his own.

Diesel D’Allier can follow him home.

Key Trends

• 12 of the last 17 winners ran in the Cross Country race here in November or December
• 14 of the last 17 winners were Irish trained
• All six previous winners wore headgear

Odds With Paddy Power – correct at time of publication

• 6/4 Tiger Roll
• 11/2 Delta Work
• 13/2 Prengarde
• 9/1 Shady Operator
• 12/1 Easysland
• 14/1 Midnight Maestro
• 16/1 Brahma Bull
• 16/1 Diesel DAllier