The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is run over a specially designed cross-country course consisting of 32 unique obstacles, including banks, ditches and hedges.
It was added to the Festival roster in 2005 when a fourth day was introduced.
In its early years, the race was dominated by trainer Enda Bolger who won 4 of the first 5 renewals, all for owner JP McManus.
He also trained Josies Orders - awarded the race in 2016 after Any Currency, who had finished first, was later disqualified.
Originally a handicap, the contest was changed to a conditions race in 2016.
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE TRENDS
In recent years Gordon Elliott has taken over as the trainer to follow - coinciding with it becoming a level weights contest.
Tiger Roll secured a remarkable hat-trick in this race in 2021, which would have added to Elliott's tally, but for his suspension.
However, in the 5 years prior he trained 3 winners, plus 4 to 2nd/3rd, from 10 entries.
Unsurprisingly for this specialised discipline, previous course form or Banks course form at Punchestown is key.
Rivage d'Or is the only winner not to not have prior experience of either.
Various Cross Country Chase winners had previously run in the National Hunt Chase.
In fact, Cause of Causes and Tiger Roll had both won that and a different Festival race.
It usually pays to swerve horses trained by Messrs Nicholls and Mullins whose records stand at 0-13 and 0-15 respectively.
A unique test of a horse's capabilities, it is no surprise to see repeat winners.
As well as Tiger Roll (2018, 2019 & 2021), both Garde Champetre (2008 & 2009) and Balthazar King (2012 & 2014) won twice.
LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Tiger Roll's third Cross Country Chase win was his fifth victory at the Festival in total:
JP McManus had a seventh Cross Country Chase winner with Easyland in 2020:
Tiger Roll romped to back-to-back wins in 2019, winning by 22 lengths:
His victory in 2018 made it three different types of races he had won at the Festival.
It was a first Festival win for jockey Keith Donoghue, while owner Michael O'Leary memorably said about his horse: