Cross Country Handicap Chase Trends: Last year’s winner dominates

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Our in-house Horse Racing tipster Owen McMahon has gone through the card for Wednesday's Races and made a selection for every race. Read who he's backing and why with our Cheltenham Day 2 Tips. Add to that former Jockey Katie Walsh has passed on her Cheltenham Wednesday Tips to us here at Betfred.

Cross Country Handicap Chase Hurdle Odds

If you're planning on getting involved in the opener at Cheltenham, we're running a bet £10, get £10 promotion, where if you opt in daily and place a win or each-way bet of £10 or more on the first race on every day at Cheltenham 2026, you'll get £10 in free bets to use at Cheltenham on the same day.

Cross Country Handicap Chase Key Historical Trends

Age

• 6 of the last 8 winners have been under 10 years old 

• The average age of the last 10 winners is 9 years old

Runners who match this trend: Stumptown, The Goffer, Horantzau D'airy (all 9). Pied Piper (8)

 Official Rating (OR)  

• 6 of the last 10 winners were rated 155+

 Runners who match this trend: Stumptown, Favori De Champdou

Last Time Out (LTO) Position

• 7 of the last 10 winners placed outside the top four LTO  

Runners who match this trend: Desertmore House, Final Orders, Pied Piper, Latenightpass, Velvet Elvis, Minella Crooner

 Runs This Season  

• 7 of the last 10 winners had 3+ runs that season  
• 1 of the last 10 winners had 5+ in the campaign
• 3-4 runs has been the sweet spot

Runners who match this trend: Desertmore House, Vanillier, Latenightpass, Velvet Elvis, Famous Bridge, Horantzau d'Airy

Cheltenham Festival Experience  

• 16 of the last 20 winners had previously raced at the Cheltenham Festival 

Runners who match this trend: Stumptown, Favori De Champdou, Final Orders, Vanillier, The Goffer, Conflated, Fakir d'Oudairies, Pied Piper, Famous Bridge, Latenightpass

Trainer Trends  

• 17 of the last 20 winners had Irish trainers

Runners who match this trend: Velvet Elvis, Pied Piper, Fakir d'Oudairies, Conflated, The Goffer, Vanillier, Final Orders, Desertmore House, Stumptown, Favori De Champdou

Market Trends

• 18 of the last 20 winners were Top 3 in the betting

Runners who match this trend: Favori De Champdou, Desertmore House, Stumptown

Final Shortlist  

Horses matching most trends: 

1. Stumptown

2. Favori De Champdou

3. Desertmore House