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15:30Champion Chase
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17:30Champion Bumper
Champion Chase
15:30 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-15
Winner: £226,672
Runners: 7
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 13
Distance: 1m7f199y
The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of four championship races held at the Cheltenham Festival and is the feature race on day two of the meeting. It is the most prestigious race for two-mile chasers in the jumps season and has been landed by greats of the division such as Viking Flagship, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Altior.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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HORSE
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JOCKEY& TRAINER
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7(0)
143-12
Nube Negra
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
9
11-10
163
172
Withdrawn from this contest last year due to soft ground; an absence since December (when beaten by Editeur Du Gite at Kempton) is a positive as he goes well fresh; had a straightforward task over C&D (good) the time before, recording a second win in the Shloer; strong-finishing second in this race (good to soft) two years ago, looking a tad unlucky having stumbled on landing at the last fence and been forced to switch halfway up the run-in; however, needs a career-best performance to gain compensation this time round.
6(0)
51-123
Greaneteen
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
9
11-10
169
177
Got his season off to a great start by bagging a second success in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (good); beaten 9l by Edwardstone when bidding for a second Tingle Creek win and failed to take advantage of what looked a good chance at the weights in the Game Spirit at Newbury (turned over at odds-on; about 4l behind Funambule Sivola) most recently; finished 2l fourth in this race in 2021 but appears unlikely to get so close this time.
4(0)
21-113
Energumene
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
9
11-10
175
181
Better than the bare result (almost 7l behind Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone) in the rescheduled Clarence House having lost all momentum with a final-fence blunder, though was under pressure at the time and didn't show his usual brilliance; otherwise has an impressive record that includes a ready win in this race last year (soft) when admittedly helped by main rival Shishkin's flop; still has a great strike-rate (8-10) over over fences under rules, including four Grade 1 wins, and he's top of this field on peak ratings; latest effort sounds a note of caution but he's a leading player if back on song.
2(0)
4P-311
Editeur Du Gite
-
J: Niall Houlihan
T: Gary Moore
9
11-10
166
174
Progressive front-running chaser; took advantage of Edwardstone's fifth-fence departure in Grade 2 at Kempton over Christmas, then rallied gamely to beat that rival by a head in the rescheduled Clarence House here last time; those two wins came on soft but he's versatile ground-wise; form figures at Cheltenham now read 11431; connections won this contest with Sire De Grugy, who had a similar preparation, in 2014; strong contender.
3(0)
12-1U2
Edwardstone
-
J: Tom Cannon
T: Alan King
9
11-10
170
178
Leading 2m novice chaser last term, the highlight his success in the Arkle here which is a race that has thrown up numerous Champion Chase winners; big performances in his two completed starts (unseated in between) this season, powering home in the Tingle Creek at Sandown on first occasion; shade unlucky in the rescheduled Clarence House here latest, having used up excessive energy from well off the pace to challenge Editeur Du Gite who had the reserves to rally close home (only a head between them at the finish); raced mostly on ground softer than good; an ideal candidate and commands major respect.
5(0)
P-6451
Funambule Sivola
-
J: Charlie Deutsch
T: Venetia Williams
8
11-10
157
169
Below par in races won by Edwardstone and Editeur Du Gite this term prior to bouncing back at Newbury (good) where he recorded a second success in the Game Spirit; creditable second in this contest 12 months ago, though was no match for Energumene and was helped by two other main players failing to complete; unlikely to repeat that result.
1(0)
16-412
Captain Guinness
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
8
11-10
159
168
Creditable third in the Arkle here (soft) two years ago; respectable second in major race at Leopardstown when last seen, though proved no match for the winner and took his Grade 1 record to 0-9; well behind Energumene the last time they met; towards the bottom of this pack on ratings and faces a tough task.
RACING POST TIP
Edwardstone
One of the key pieces of form is the rescheduled Clarence House here 46 days ago when EDWARDSTONE shaped like the best horse in the race. Having enhanced his Champion Chase claims this season, he's taken to bolster the good record of Arkle winners in this contest. Editeur Du Gite may struggle to confirm last-time-out placings with the selection but he's still a major contender, being such a progressive sort, and is the suggestion for the forecast. Energumene was only third in that Clarence House, having been under pressure when a late error exacerbated matters, but he has otherwise been a leading force in this division and would go very well in this bid to retain his Champion Chase crown granted a peak-form display.
Verdict
CHAMPION CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Energumene | 111-12 | 8 | 5-2 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2021 | Put The Kettle On | 211-13 | 7 | 17-2 | Henry de Bromhead |
Aidan Coleman
|
| 2020 | Politologue | 422-25 | 9 | 6-1 | Paul Nicholls | Harry Skelton |
| 2019 | Altior | 11-111 | 9 | 4-11F | Nicky Henderson |
Nico de Boinville
|
| 2018 | Altior | 1111-1 | 8 | EvensF | Nicky Henderson |
Nico de Boinville
|
| 2017 | Special Tiara | 3-6315 | 10 | 11-1 | Henry de Bromhead | Noel Fehily |
| 2016 | Sprinter Sacre | 2P2-11 | 10 | 5-1 | Nicky Henderson |
Nico de Boinville
|
| 2015 | Dodging Bullets | 45-311 | 7 | 9/2 | Paul Nicholls |
Sam Twiston-Davies
|
| 2014 | Sire de Grugy | 12111 | 8 | 11-4F | Gary Moore | Jamie Moore |
| 2013 | Sprinter Sacre | 111-11 | 7 | 1-4F | Nicky Henderson |
Barry Geraghty
|
CHAMPION CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- Won over at least 2m1f, 10/10
- No more than 10lb off RPR top-rated, 10/10 (four were top-rated)
- Adjusted RPR of at least 174, 9/10
- At least seven runs over fences, 9/10
- Grade 1 chase winner, 9/10
- No older than nine, 8/10
- Won Graded chase last time out, 6/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CHAMPION CHASE 2022
The 2022 Champion Chase had the makings to be yet another classic with Shishkin and Energumene set to do battle again following their phenomenal clash in the Clarence House at Ascot in January. Nicky Henderson was looking for his first winner in this Grade 1 since 2019, and he had a huge opportunity with his 5-6 favourite Shishkin. However, after not jumping like we’ve seen with him, he was pulled up after the eighth fence, leaving the contest wide open. The Willie Mullins-trained Chacun Pour Soi then fell at the ninth before his stablemate Energumene took the lead on the turn for home. He was locked in a battle with Envoi Allen and Funambule Sivola, but made all and bolted up the Cheltenham hill after the final fence to hand Mullins a maiden victory in this race. Funambule Sivola finished eight and a half lengths back in second, ahead of Envoi Allen in third.