Sixteen stand their ground in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, leg 7 of the Crystal Cup, in what promises to be a fascinating contest on good to soft ground.

The French tricolor was raised over Cheltenham a month ago when Sweet David won the first of Cheltenham’s 3 cross country contests. This time around, progressive 6 year old Iceo Madrik bids to put trainer David Cottin back among the winners at Cheltenham 4 years on from winning over the same course and distance with Easysland in March 2020.

The handily-weighted Iceo Madrik comes here on the back of a solid win of leg 6 of the Crystal Cup at Compiegne in early November, a race avoided by Gariel Leenders with Sweet David, who took the Cheltenham route. That win enhances the form. Thomas Journiac takes the ride.

A win for Iceo Madrik would allow Cottin to wrest the initiative in pursuit of the Crystal Cup. Currently in third place on 21 pts, 18 behind leader Josef Vana, a win would bring him within 6pts of the leader with the remaining races in the Series taking place in western Europe, 3 in France. Vana is unlikely to run in England, although Punchestown may be an option to protect his lead.

The Frenchman is unlikely to have it all his own way on Friday however, with plenty of candidates looking to burnish their credentials for a Festival entry en route to the Grand National. Stumptown, Latenightpass, Mister Coffey, Arizona Cardinal, Coko Beach and Vanillier are six whose intentions have been plain from the outset.

Stumptown comes here fresh from success in a banks race at Punchestown; Latenightpass won this race last year before acquitting himself well in the National; Mister Coffey finished second to Sweet David a month ago; Arizona Cardinal will strip fitter for his seasonal bow at Chepstow in October but is yet to sample the unique obstacles of the cross country genre; Coko Beach would have finished close in the Velka Pardubicka but for unseating 4 out, whilst Vanillier was well behind Stumptown at Punchestown.

Gordon Elliott has solid claims on this race through his five runners. Delta Work is a winner of the March equivalent and his top weight is eased by the booking of amateur rider Rob James, who claims 7lb. Coko Beach’s credentials are also solid, and Carl Millar’s 5lb allowance reduces his burden to 11st 5lb.

The stable pick appears to be Chemical Energy, whom Sam Ewing has selected to ride. Ewing has the pick of the Elliott runners in the absence of stable jockey Jack Kennedy. James Bowen and Danny Gilligan pick up the rides on the two remaining Elliott runners Gevrey and The Goffer.

Joseph Patrick O’Brien has left both his entries in. Fakir d’Oudairies is no slouch, running in graded company recently, and this drop in class may support his claim, whilst stablemate Bussleton was well beaten in the corresponding race a month ago.

Denis Murphy sends over Three By Two, who was second to Stumptown at Punchestown, and can reverse that form on more favourable terms this time around. Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride.

The field is completed by outsiders Statuario and Escaria Ten for the Bowen and Keighley stables, both of whom have ground to make up.