Glenfarclas Chase cancellation leaves French with Crystal Cup whip hand
The Glenfarclas Chase, leg 8 of the Crystal Cup, will not form part of the Cheltenham Festival card after the race was abandoned due to waterlogging following an 8 am inspection today.
Cheltenham confirmed that the event will not be rescheduled with an unsettled forecast meaning conditions are unlikely to improve enough later in the week. Officials had considered deferring the race until Gold Cup day on Friday.
The cancellation means there are revised times for the six remaining races on the second day of the Festival, with the first race delayed 15 minutes to 1345.
The cancellation leaves a clutch of Grand National candidates without a prep run for the Aintree spectacular. The race has become a proving ground for Grand National contenders in recent years, notably Tiger Roll.
The cancellation also leaves the French in pole position to win the Crystal Cup awards with just two legs remaining, at Fontainebleau on March 29 and Lion d’Angers on May 8.