CROSS COUNTRY 'CHASE HISTORY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS

The BGC Chase was the first of the new races to be added to the programme to create the new four-day Cheltenham Festival in 2005. It is run over 3m 7f of the ever-popular Cross Country Course. It is open to horses aged five years old and upwards.

The Cross Country features a selection of natural and man-made obstacles incorporating banks, ditches, hedges and water. Designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, responsible for the 3-Day Event cross country course at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the configuration of the course weaves around the centre of Prestbury Park, with left and right turns leading runners on a variety of routes and directions.

Interesting in the Cheltenham statistics is that Irish-trained horses have won all four renewals, with Enda Bolger training three winners. All four winners were strongly fancied and in the first two in the Cheltenham betting.

Check out the latest Cross Country Chase Odds by clicking here!


2008 GARDE CHAMPETRE (Jockey: Miss Nina Carberry, Trainer: Enda Bolger)

Nina Carberry improved her already impressive Cheltenham statistics with a facile victory on Garde Champetre (4/1 in the Cheltenham betting). Amateur rider Carberry, sister of professional pilots Paul and Philip, was completing a double in the race, having ridden 2007 winner, Heads On The Ground. Trainer Enda Bolger completed an impressive treble in the race. 2006 winner, Native Jack returned to form to be a creditable second at 40/1. Michael Hourigan's A New Story and Bolger-trained Freneys Well completed an Irish 1-2-3-4.

2007 HEADS ON THE GROUND (Jockey: Miss Nina Carberry, Trainer: Enda Bolger)

The huge Cheltenham Festival crowd hoped for a fairytale seventh win over these fences for SpotTheDifference. However, he ruined his chance with a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes and could never reach the leaders, finishing a creditable fourth. Enda Bolger still managed to collect the prize with Heads On The Ground. The winner was well backed, starting the 5/2 Cheltenham betting favourite. Along with runner-up Silver Birch, he pulled well clear on the run-in, suggesting this was a decent renewal. Heads On The Ground idled in front, otherwise the victory margin would have been greater, and he was given an excellent ride by Nina Carberry, who hugged the inside throughout. Third-placed Le Duc raced up with the pace throughout and had every chance until fading after the last. He may have done better on quicker ground. The rest were well strung out, with 2006 winner Native Jack particularly disappointing.

2006 NATIVE JACK (Jockey: Davy Russell, Trainer: Phillip Rothwell)

Horses with previous experience of the demands of a cross country style course dominated the finish of the race. 7/2 joint favourite in the Cheltenham betting, Native Jack, arrived in his best-ever form, despite advancing years. His win gave trainer Phillip Rothwell and jockey Davy Russell their first Cheltenham Festival successes. 2005 victor, SpotTheDifference would have been a popular winner and his second place was a fine effort, especially as the slow early pace was against him. Edna Bolger and JP McManus love a tilt at this race and also had Buailtes And Fadas in third (ridden by Nina Carberry) and Good Step in sixth.

2005 SPOTTHEDIFFERENCE (Jockey: Mr. J.T. McNamara, Trainer: Enda Bolger)

The 2005 Cheltenham festival saw the inaugural Cross Country Chase, won by one of the most popular equine stars, in the shape of cross country specialist SpotTheDifference, well-fancied in the Cheltenham betting, at 4/1. Ferdy Murphy's Luzcadou and Mrs. Be, ridden by the accomplished Polly Gundry, filled the minor berths.

2004 and Previous - Not Run