2023 December

Cheltenham’s December Crystal Cup test is surely enough to silence the sceptics

The pace of change can be infinitesimally slow in horseracing’s conservative circles. Purists of the sport are often able to articulate their views to retain the status quo and hinder progress. This manifests itself in the example of Cheltenham’s cross country races, introduced to a previous generation of spectators in 1995, 30 years ago. Yet still, there are sceptics among the UK racing fraternity who say the race has no place in Cheltenham’s calendar, let alone gracing the Festival.

And looking back at the opening contests – all handicaps – there was some merit in those arguments. Unlike in France, where the genre is well established and widespread, the isolated incidence at Cheltenham made the race vulnerable, especially when the opening winner Macgregor The Third, was little more than a modest handicapper, the runner-up a former eventer.

It took a multiple winner and former highly-rated horse in Spotthedifference to put the race on the map. Trained by innovator and forward-thinking Kim Bailey, the horse was also conveniently owned by race sponsor Compton Hellyer, then Chairman of sponsor Sporting Index.

Ironically the current sponsor was also among the sceptics of the genre. Glenfarclas, fifteen years ago a niche trade brand of malt whisky, was being advised by the late Charles Hamer, a Jumps purist whose family donated the National Hunt Challenge Cup to the Festival, and who worked for distributor Pol Roger. Charles was interested in investing in Point-to-Point racing, but swallowed his pride and disdain for the race to understand that two niche brands could complement each other, especially with network TV coverage which was missing in the amateur code. This most longstanding sponsorship is now 17 years old, and Charles’ legacy has been well adopted by brand owner John Grant.

In the early years, long before the invention of the Crystal Cup, international runners were more frequent, in part where runners from Czechia and France were well handicapped against their peer group in the UK and Ireland. Latterly however, the Cheltenham races have grown in stature, not least as part of a preparation not so much for the Festival as for the Grand National, and in some respects at least, this has focused international competition for the time being from Ireland rather than the continent.

It’s an irony that at the same time that Cheltenham’s cross country races have prospered, Ireland’s have waned in importance. Handicappers of the quality of Risk of Thunder, multiple winner of the la Touche each April, are harder to find at Punchestown, although the 2023 winner Vital Island, a runner 2 weeks ago, is rated over 130.

Even the sceptics would be hard pressed to criticize the quality of the most recent renewal of the Crystal Cup stage at Cheltenham’s Christmas fixture, which featured three Grade I winners, where a winner of the Aintree Foxhunters beat a former Gold Cup winner. The quality of runner in the only conditions race for this genre of race in the UK in March is even higher, even if this means the race is ironically less competitive as the autumn’s handicappers are poorly treated against those that have been running sometimes in graded company.

But the acceptance by trainers of high calibre horses seeking graded success means also that after 30 years, the cross country must surely have found its place. For the sceptics, it’s time to put up or shut up.

Latenightpass provides December thriller amidst grand National contenders

Cheltenham’s cross country races are rapidly acquiring a reputation as a proving ground for the Grand National, and Friday’s seventh stage of the Crystal Cup delivered on all counts. Whilst entries for the Aintree spectacular are still some way off, at least half the field is working its way toward a suitable handicap mark to be included in the 36 runner maximum field.

But this was a gripping race in its own right, fielding a former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and winners of graded races alongside regulars already proficient over the unique set of obstacles presented in any cross country. Experience counts over the wide variety of obstacles and so it proved, as former Point-to-Pointer and hunter chaser Latenightpass continued his rise up the rankings to take advantage of a competitive handicap mark to win by four lengths.

It would be an exaggeration to describe Latenightpass’s rise to prominence as a rags to riches story; this winner of nine Point-to-Points has already scaled the heights in winning over Aintree’s National fences in the 2022 Foxhunter. Ably educated by champion Point-to-Point trainer Tom Ellis and wife and rider, Gina Andrews, he ran here in Dan Skelton’s name, but by his own confession, only to comply with qualification criteria. Receiving 20lbs (9kg) from top weight Minella Indo was more than enough to assert his authority.

The good news for Crystal Cup fans is that owner Pippa Ellis is not too sweet on a tilt at the National, although family pressure may come to bear.

Didero Vallis, Wick Green, Volcano and Vital Island were prominent for much of the race, each well versed in the course’s quirks following runs here in an identical race a month previously. Vital Island, winner over Punchestown’s banks in April, reappeared at Craon in September, but connections’ sporting efforts were not rewarded that time when the horse ripped a hind shoe in two in running. None of the four is likely to reappear at Cheltenham for the 9th leg in March, being poorly treated against higher-rated horses in a conditions event.

Galvin, winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Festival and second in the 2023 Festival cross country made headway in the latter stages, as did the eye-catching Minella Indo, debuting on this course, scene of his greatest triumph in the 2021 Gold Cup. As prep races for the Festival go, this was about as good as it gets and jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead were well satisfied.

But take nothing from the winner. A home-grown winner brought up in the amateur ranks and progressing to the big time is precisely the sort of story the sport needs, and demonstrates the grass roots appeal of the cross country genre. And if Aintree seems less than appealing, we may yet see Latenightpass at Lion d’Angers in the Spring.

Not so lucky were connections of Gesskille, who incurred a fatal injury at the 16th of the 30 obstacles.

Cheltenham serves up high quality field for Crystal Cup qualifier

With the current Crystal Cup series approaching its seventh stage, a hot race is keenly anticipated at Cheltenham this Friday where 13 go to post in the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Chase over 3m 5 1/2f (6,000m).

For the first time in several years, the leaderboard in pursuit of €50,000 of bonuses is dominated by stables from outside France. With no runners from France or Czechia, this is a chance for British and Irish stables to get their name on the leaderboard. Patrick Graffin, trainer of Roi Mage, winner in Compiegne, is an absentee, looking for his route to the Grand National next Spring.

Although a handicap, the appeal of the race as a Grand National trial has ensured a quality rarely seen even in handicaps of this value, with the lowest-rated horse just 142lbs (64.4 kg).

Latenightpass, touched off 1 1/4l by Foxy Jacks in the equivalent race at Cheltenham’s November fixture, looks to go one better and heads the market for the Dan Skelton team. He is being aimed at Aintree’s showpiece in April, as is Gesskille, who comes into this race on the back of a Listed success at Auteuil in September and a 2l beating of Percussion in the Grand Sefton at Aintree. After Aintree’s fences, the cross country should hold no fears.

Galvin also knows his way around this course, having finished runner-up to Delta Work over course and distance here in March before unseating in the National. Others were more fluent in his opening race of the season here at Cheltenham last month.

The quality of the race is amply demonstrated by the presence of Minella Indo, a winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2021, second in 2022 and a distant fourth in Downpatrick’s Champion Chase last month. Ostensibly, this drop in class should allow him to demonstrate his class, but this will be a debut over cross country obstacles.

Didero Vallis also merits a mention. Third in the November race at Cheltenham, he has run consistently well over cross country obstacles under the able guidance of Charlie Deutsch for trainer Venetia Williams, whose horses are in excellent form. Francky du Berlais, Diesel d’Allier and Volcano also renew rivalry, having been down the field a month back.

Gavin Cromwell has been serving it up to the Mullins and Elliott yards in Ireland and in successful sorties to the UK mainland this autumn. He introduces Point-to-Point winner Fameaftertheglory, a wild card running off bottom weight for the first time over cross country fences.

And another Irish horse not to be underestimated is Vital Island, last seen in the Craon cross country, where his chance was compromised by ripping off a hind shoe which led to him pulling up. A winner of the La Touche at Punchestown last April, he is back in fine form and should put in a strong effort.