Cheltenham’s cross country season gets underway on Friday, a month later than usual because of the dry summer, amid a dearth of home-trained candidates for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase, leg 7 of the Crystal Cup.

Nineteen entries have played their hand at the entry stage for the 16 places available, of which just 6 are trained in Britain, the remainder in Ireland or France. The best of the English is Mister Coffey, second in a Unibet Veterans Series  Chase qualifier here in November, and bridesmaid to Stumptown in the corresponding cross country 12 months ago. Nevertheless, he remains a maiden in 17 runs over fences, and one has to question if he’ll ever lose that tag.

Running off a low handicap mark, Latenightpass thrilled supporters over the two Cheltenham cross country races in 2023, but he’s struggled to find winning form now the handicapper has allotted him a higher rating. he was runner-up to Stumptown here in March, but now carries another 12lb.

Mickey Bowen saddles Statuario, who enjoyed a productive summer north of the border at Perth, winning two handicaps and second in another. Unless he improves a few pounds for the change in obstacles, he may find one or two too good here.

Chris Gordon has entered Unanswered Prayers, who has acquitted himself well enough in Class 3 handicaps, but has never ventured over this extended trip. There are more obvious candidates. It’s difficult to make a case for the remaining two British entries, The Big Breakaway and Sporting Ace.

And those candidates are almost (but not quite) exclusively Irish, making up 12 of the 19 entries, including 4 from Gavin Cromwell. Swerving this contest off top weight with Stumptown, the ascendant force in Irish jump racing  has several others up his sleeve, but they are all exposed against others in the race, apart from top weight Velvet Ellis, who is dropping back from listed and graded company.

Seven pounds lighter in the weights, Desertmore House went down by just 3/4l behind Busselton in the La Touche at Punchestown in May, but has since reversed that form with him when winning a similar banks race at Punchestown last month, Vanillier, Final orders, Peaches & Cream and Vital Island behind. He looks overdue to make his mark in this handicap.

Henry de Bromhead has entered Amirite, a gallant fourth over the Aintree fences in the shorter Topham Chase last April. On that premise, he shouldn’t be ruled out in pursuit of a third win over fences.

Another with his feet planted firmly on the ground is Emmet Mullins, whose French import J’arrive de l’Est is the youngest in the field. Winner of a £40k handicap at Auteuil in March, he has youth on his side, and an impressive 50% winning record over fences in his 10 starts.

The French connection is continued by David Cottin’s pair, Placenet and Iceo Madrik. The latter has something to prove here, having unseated his rider, Thomas Journiac at the third 12 months ago, and refusing at the trou de loup in Compiegnre last month. Placenet, winner of the Waregem leg of the Crystal Cup in 2024, has been running in the top grade since, including a distant 4th to Gran Diose in the Prix de la Haye Jousselin, Autueil’s autimn gold cup equivalent 12 months ago. Both are owned or part-owned by Caroline Tisdall, at Cheltenham to celebrate a milestone birthday.

The current going on the cross country course remains good to firm, with final declarations on Wednesday. Full racecard here.