In usual STW fashion, not sure on the options you’ve listed – I chose a Giant TCX SLR 2 due to the massive mud room at the chainstays and seat stays – there are no bridges to even hint at fitting mudguards.

All those you’ve mentioned when I was looking didn’t seem to have overly generous mud room, depends where you’ll be racing as to whether that will be important to you.

1×11 might also count against the Boardman if you want to use it on the road as well?

Of the three though, I’d go with the CAADX because of the CAAD heritage and Cannondale’s knowledge of how to make some of the best alloy frames around.

Fwiw, only started last season, but I’ve never had an issue with cable discs racing cross so wouldn’t worry about that.

That Crockett looks nice.

Edit. Also I have philosophical objections about 1 by systems for cross. When it’s muddy you can just shift at the front and avoid ripping your rear mech off trying to change if it gets clogged

I’ve had many cross bikes, steel, alloy and carbon (I used to race on a team years ago) and have had a CAAD X and currently ride the Planet X XLS.

Of those 2, I think the Planet X has by far the better ride quality. It handles all types of terrain well (tight/twisty vs open/fast), accelerates well, etc. To me, the Cannondale wasn’t quite as capable everywhere that the XLS is and didn’t do it’s stuff quite as well.

Downsides?
At this price range they’re all too heavy: you get a reasonable frame (not a great frame, but an ‘OK enough’ frame) that’s got fairly cr@ppy components on it, with really cheap/heavy wheels. My XLS with 105 weighs 23lbs.

These days I don’t race anymore, I just thrash around the woods, so it’s perfect for that – plus it makes an OK winter bike as it’s impervious to cr@p weather and has disc brakes. I even rode the full 254kms Tour of Flanders on my XLS this year – although there are better choices out there for that kind of thing, it’s definitely not a proper road bike.

I disagree with the comment about not enough mud clearance… there’s plenty. If you’re racing, you’re not gonna be running 40mm+ tyres anyway – it’s not Monstercross! Besides, you’d be too slow and you’re restricted to max width of 35mm in any case. Plenty of mud clearance with 35’s on my XLS.

Not sure about current model, but the 2014 boardman is great.
As @Digger90 pointed out, at that price point wheels are heavy. Don’t think i’d even consider racing my boardman without a wheel upgrade.

I’d beg borrow or steal (well maybe not steal)to get the extra £200 for one of the XLS with the better spec, hydro discs etc.

Pretty sure there was a vitus with sram hydros for under a grand on crc, i found it pretty tempting! Save up for some swanky wheels after that- i think the stock ones were wtb freq, so good but not light

go on then i was feeling kind so i found it

@crashtestmonkey, actually closer to 3kg for the wheels crazy as that may seem. I’d probably opt for a set of the cosines from wiggle for a cheap but significant saving.

I bought a 2014 model boardman cx team last Christmas. Think I paid just under £600 new for it. Only thing that lets it down are the wheels, they are strong enough but the hubs are poor. Mine were rough after only a month or 2. Just waiting for them to fail so I can justify a nice set of wheels for it.

The new caadx sora (new sora is excellent) is great for the £

I have the CAADX and it’s a great frame to start racing on (I’m into my second season on one) – also rides v well on the trails.
The wheels are absolute boat anchors (durable hubs though). This is actually OK for taking it out on MTB stuff (IMO) as you want something tank-like for CX over the rocks, but poor for the races. Brakes are average – not a real problem for racing, you use the mud to slow you down, but noticeable on the trails.