Velka Pardubicka winner Stumptown bids for back to back Festival success in Wednesday’s Glenfarlcas Cross Country Handicap Chase on the second day of the annual Cheltenham Festival, and punters look set to send him off favourite in the fourteen runner field for leg 9 of the Crystal Cup.

Rarely has a Festival race been so dominated by horses from Ireland as this. Just four runners hail from the home team, the last of the European entries withdrawn at 48 declaration stage. Indeed, it looks a straight fight between the yards of Gordon Elliott, who fields four against Gavin Cromwell’s three. Only Martin Brassil or Nicky Richards seem capable of upsetting an inevitable victory by these two leading pretenders.

Stumptown has been tenderly handled this season, opening his account in Pardubice last October with an accomplished win in the Czech Republic’s most famous steeplechase. That performance and his 7l win over Latenightpass in the corresponding race last year have landed him top weight of 11st 10, but rider Keith Donoughue has no peer over these fences, and will take the shortest route.

Cromwell fields veteran Vanillier and December Crystal Cup winner here over the same course and distance, Final Orders, but Donoughue has opted for the market leader, which tells its own story in a race where experience counts double.

A resurgent Caloundra is looking to bounce back after a torrid Cheltenham 12 months ago, and in Favori de Champdou, Elliott and Gigginstown look to have unearthed a suitable candidate to put them in with a big shout for another Festival cross country  success, from a yard more than familiar with the race after Tiger Roll (3) and Delta Work (1).

Favori de Champdou pulled hard and hit the floor in his first outing over the cross country obstacles in December, but has made good since in the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, and subsequently here at Cheltenham at the end of January, a race postponed from early autumn when the course was unfit. He was a comfortable 8l winner that day with Latenightpass and Final Orders well held.

If there’s to be an upset, then it may come from Desertmore House. Martin Brassil’s 11year old has spent much of his career in top class handicap company, but showed a liking for the cross country genre in Punchestown’s La Touche last May, running Busseltown to a 3/4l second, and following up over the same course albeit a shorter distance in January, with Final Orders, Vanillier and the perennial The Goffer behind. Whilst in the twilight of his career, he can capitalize on any weakness among the top two in the market.

Lower down the handicap, the sole British raider not yet exposed at this level is Nicky Richards’ Famous Bridge. This autumn’s performances have not troubled the judge much, but on a line through his disqualified first place in Haydock’s Grand National Trial of February 2025, he’d merit consideration if he takes to the unorthodox style of fences.

As to the Crystal Cup standings, a win for Cromwell would bring him within hailing distance of long time leader Josef Vana, but that ship has by and large sailed. Stumptown could yet, however, pull off the accolade of Leading Horse.

For a final list of runners & riders, click here