Irish contenders make up half the entries for next month’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, leg 8 of the Crystal Cup, as owners from the Emerald Isle continue to assert their authority on the Cheltenham Festival, and on this race in particular. Eight of the last 10 winners have been trained in Ireland, 5 of them from Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra powerhouse.

Elliott and Gigginstown Stud are well represented by Delta Work, winner in each of the past two runnings, and seeking to emulate Tiger Roll, winner of this race three times as well as 2 runner-up berths. Other Gigginstown entries include Conflated, winner of the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, and Coko Beach, who warmed up for this in a cross country chase at Punchestown earlier in the month.

Conflated holds entries in the Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup and a the preferred option is most likely the former of these. Coko Beach is en route to the Grand National alongside Elliott’s other entry Galvin, owned by grocery wholesaler Ronnie Bartlett.

Henry de Bromhead has entered 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, whose sole victory this season to date was in a Grade III conditions chase at Punchestown in October, Delta Work behind him on that occasion. However, he shaped very well in Cheltenham’s December cross country – a handicap – when giving 20lbs (9kg) to the winner, Latenightpass. The third horse there, Fameaftertheglory, trained by Gavin Cromwell, who enjoys an enviable record with his Cheltenham runners this season, also reappears here, but on considerably less advantageous terms.

The Mullins team is solely represented by Stattler, also owned, like Galvin, by Ronnie Bartlett. Stattler has struggled to find winning ways since winning the National Hunt Chase at the Festival of 2022, and was behind Coko Beach in the PP Hogan Memorial cross country at Punchestown at the start of the month.

Mouse Morris aims to revisit the Winner’s Enclosure with Foxy Jacks, winner of this race back in November. Whilst that was a creditable performance in its own right, the conditions of this race put him at a disadvantage to other higher-rated horses, even though he has winning credentials.

Best rated among the home-trained contingent is Fergal O’Brien’s Highland Hunter, most recently 4th in Haydock’s Grand National Trial in heavy ground 10 days ago, but he has no experience of these fences. Francky du Berlais, Diesel d’Allier and Didero Vallis all have good records over course and distance, but appear well held.

An interesting entry is Jamie Snowden’s Farceur du Large, winner of two military chases at Sandown in February. He is another making his debut over the quirky cross country fences.

The Continent is represented by one candidate, Escaria Ten, last trained by Gordon Elliott for Max McNeill, but recently switched to the care of Patrice Quinton at Dragnes. Quinton has a superb record in cross country chases, notably those of the Crystal Cup, but has yet to win at the Festival. Escaria Ten eschewed the recent winter meeting at Pau to aim for this race, and French champion rider Felix de Giles will ride. Quinton’s participation also makes him eligible for the Crystal Cup trainer bonus, having run horses in two other countries outside France.

Full field and ante-post odds: 4:10 Cheltenham | Standard Racecard | 13 March 2024 | Racing Post