On hurdles form, Yanworth is head and shoulders above the other runners in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this Friday. But can the horse adapt to the different challenge of the discipline?
Cross country king Bolger has strong hand at Cheltenham
On hurdles form, Yanworth is head and shoulders above the other runners in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this Friday. The horse started the +200 favourite for the Champion Hurdle in 2017, and that is a level of ability that few other horses in this field can match.
So, is Yanworth the horse to back at +700 with online bookmakers?
Yanworth has never contested a cross country race, which involves negotiating a variety of obstacles. The horse’s undoubted ability could prevail, but the competition includes some seasoned campaigners in the discipline. The current antepost favourite is Urgent De Gregaine, who is a course and distance winner.
The cross country chase course is located in the centre of the track at Cheltenham and finishes at the conventional winning post in the straight. The runners clear 32 obstacles on Friday, including banks, hedges, water jumps and hurdles. The course characteristics suit nimble jumpers that can adapt to the various jumping tests. Yanworth was a fast and accurate hurdler.
The Glenfarclas-sponsored contest is a Class 2 race for horses aged five and older. The race distance is three miles, six furlongs and 37 yards. The projected going is soft, which puts even more emphasis on stamina. Yanworth had the speed to reach the top over two miles and eight hurdles. If the horse translates that form on Friday, it is a question of the winning distance.
However, collateral form is not an exact science. Other things remaining equal, Yanworth wins by at least 10 lengths. However, other things rarely remain equal and many factors could count against Yanworth. The horse might not take to the variety of obstacles and the distance may take Yanworth out of his comfort zone.
The latest betting is another part of the equation. Josies Orders was the winning +200 favourite 12 months ago in a small but select field. Tiger Roll finished fourth but went on to win the Festival cross country race and a second Grand National. Urgent De Gregaine won a similar contest on Trials Day in 2017 and has never finished out of the frame in four Cheltenham cross country races.
The value of course form should not be underestimated. Horses run well in a number of cross country races and others underperform. Josies Orders (2nd) and Urgent De Grenaine (3rd) finished behind Tiger Roll at the Festival in March. Yanworth may have the speed and class but has never competed in a cross country race of this nature.
However, the horse is now trained by Enda Bolger, who is the master of cross country racing at Cheltenham. He has built a variety of obstacles at his stables so his runners are not facing a new experience at Cheltenham. A cross country race was added to the Festival in 2005 and Bolger has trained five winners, including Josies Orders in 2016.
Tea For Two is another interesting entry, running for the second time after wind surgery. The horse is quoted at a best price of +1400 with Bet365.com and as short as +1000 with other bookmakers. Tea For Two beat Cue Card by a neck off level weights at Aintree in April 2017. That single piece of form gives the horse a great chance in Friday’s cross country contest.
Even so, the ‘Bolger Factor’ is key to the outcome of the race. However, there are too many imponderables with Yanworth. Bolger also trains Blue Templar, which won a Punchestown cross country race this May when Josies Orders finished second. Yanworth certainly has the class, but Blue Templar’s experience in the discipline is the deciding factor.