Balthazar King can rule again in Cross Country Chase

The former has scored twice over course and distance this season, staying on strongly on both occasions to win with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

Josies Orders clearly loves the course, and warmed up for this with a spin over hurdles at Navan.
The eight-year-old remains open to further improvement, but is rated 5lb below Balthazar King and faces no easy task now that the race is not a handicap.

Quantitativeeasing was going strongly in last year’s renewal when getting carried out two from home and the 11-year-old looks sure to make a bold bid to gain compensation.

Foxrock has a touch of class

Foxrock is a classy sort and another fascinating contender for Ireland. The Ted Walsh eight year-old won the valuable Leopardstown Handicap Chase last season and went on to finish a fine second to Carlingford Lough in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Foxrock also ran a cracker when a one length third to leading Gold Cup hope Don Poli in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on his penultimate outing, but his previous two runs at the Festival have been disappointing and this will be the first time that he has run in a cross country event.

Related

Read our extensive horse racing archive.

Take a look at our dedicated Cheltenham Festival section.

Coral’s top tip: Balthazar King comes alive at Cheltenham and can make a dream winning return to action. Josies Orders looks the pick of Enda Bolger’s runners and can give him most to do.