RACING boff Gaurav Chaddah (@Gchaddahjourno) shares his thoughts on the Cross Country Chase, the fifth race on Day 2.
Cross Country Chase | Wednesday 13th March 2019, 16:10 | ITV1
The Irish have saddled 12 of the last 14 winners of this race and it’s difficult to see beyond them again, with the top three in the market all making the trip across. Interestingly, 17 of the last 21 winners all came from the top three in the market, so that might be the place to stay.
Enda Bolger has an impressive record in this race, having it won it five times and is responsible for two of the market principles here in the form of Auvergnat (13/2 Ladbrokes) and Josies Orders (9/1 Bet Victor).
Both bring respectable form to the table, Auvergnat has finished fourth in the last two renewals and the hope is the addition of blinkers will bring out something extra in the nine-year-old, whilst Josie Orders was a winner here in the November meeting and is a four-time course and distance winner.
All that being said, they have it all to do to beat last year’s winner Tiger Roll (6/5 Bet365) who had both Bolger horses behind him in last year's race.
Josie’s Orders did beat the selection over course and distance in November, with even Fact Of The Matter (16/1 William Hill) ahead of Tiger Roll but the selection was conceding over a stone in weight to the field and ran on well towards the end.
He has been campaigned with this race in mind and off level weights, last year’s Grand National winner should take all the beating.
Best Bets
Cross Country Chase – Tiger Roll (6/5 Bet365)
