The 2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase follows on the Champion Hurdle and is the first race of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival run over the Cross Country course.
The 3 mile 7 furlong handicap features no less than 32 hurdles and will be one of the toughest races to call at the meeting.
2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase Favourites
1. Garde Champetre:
JP McManus’s Garde Champetre heads the betting for the 2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase. He’ll be looking for his third consecutive win in the event after winning both the 2008 and 2009 editions of the race. He’s raced only once since winning the 2009 Cross Country Handicap Chase, and finished flat last in that event.
Given that he was pushed to within 2 lengths in both of his previous wins in the Cross Country Handicap Chase, it’s hard to imagine Garde Champetre making it three times in a row in 2010. He’s also priced too low to provide value on an each-way bet, trading at just over 2/1 at William Hill.
2. L’Ami:
Edna Bolger’s L’Ami is next in the betting for the 2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase. L’Ami has finished second in the Cross Country Handicap Chase twice line the last two races, losing out narrowly to Garde Champetre on each occasion. While he has the staying power to win this race, his form of late hasn’t been great, and his last trip over a similar distance at Fairyhouse saw him finish sixth out of ten runners. His low odds of 7/2 at Betfair make him a tempting lay betting option.
3. Sizing Australia:
Sizing Australia is the only other entry priced under 10/1. Henry de Bromhead’s entry last won a race in 2006 and has never won over fences. His price is largely the result of a string of places in his last four races, including two long distance events. His low odds of 6/1 make him a tempting lay betting proposition, as he doesn’t look to have it in him to win the 2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase.
Long Shots
There are a host of entries who could produce an upset, or good value on a place, in the 2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase if Garde Champetre fails to make it three in a row. Two of these are 33/1 priced Another Jewel, who has been in good form and will be carrying only 10st in the race, and Double Dizzy, who is priced close to 30/1 and has finished in the top four four times in his last six outings.
2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase Betting Tip
Garde Champetre is a classy distance runner, but it would be close to miraculous if he survived the host of fences and long distance of the Cross Country Chase to record a third consecutive win. With that in mind, we’ll be laying this entry at Betfair.
We’ll also place a speculative each-way punt on Another Jewel, who could be the big value bet in this race.
2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase Betting Specials
Bookies are paying to 4th place on each-way and place bets on the 2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase, offering great value on your long shot bets. If you want free faller insurance, back your entry at Sportingbet, which is offering to return all losing stakes on Cheltenham Festival fallers as free bets.
2010 Cross Country Handicap Chase Odds
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