Defi and Chacun go head to head for vacant crown in red-hot Champion Chase clash

3.30 Cheltenham
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 2m | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

The king has temporarily abdicated, but two young two-mile princes remain primed for battle in a race that could still live up to its billing as the week's best, despite the absence of Altior.

Nicky Henderson's Champion Chase hero for the last two years has been ruled out with a lameness issue, leaving emerging aces Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi as the likely protagonists, although few could argue the field contains an obvious no-hoper.

Trained by Philip Hobbs for JP McManus, Defi Du Seuil has won six times at Cheltenham and his festival honours include the 2017 Triumph and last year's JLT (now the Marsh Novices' Chase).

He has built on that this term, winning the Tingle Creek and Clarence House and Hobbs said: "Altior being out means there's one less to worry about and our fella is in very good nick. He knows his way around Cheltenham pretty well by now and the ground doesn't really make any difference to him, but soft ground does suit him."

Asked how Defi Du Seuil, who will be ridden by Barry Geraghty, will be ridden and delivered, Hobbs, a Champion Chase winner in 2002 with Flagship Uberalles, replied: "I think the time to be talking about that will be in the paddock."

The classy seven-year-old could come late, such is his effective turn of foot and aim to pounce on Chacun Pour Soi, who beat him easily when they met at Punchestown in May.

"I'm really looking forward to Chacun Pour Soi," said the gelding's jockey Paul Townend.

"He beat Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown last year. It will be Chacun's first run at Cheltenham so we don't know how he's going to handle it, but it shouldn't be a worry."

Chacun Pour Soi: beat Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

Owned by Susannah Ricci, Chacun Pour Soi was beaten in a Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas but underlined his claims in commanding fashion when beating the rock-solid Min in the Dublin Chase at the track last time.

"From riding against Defi Du Seuil on Un De Sceaux earlier in the season, I'm very happy to be taking him on with Chacun," the rider added.

What they say

Tom George, trainer of Bun Doran
His fall last time was very uncharacteristic, but he loves the track and will like the ground. He's in good form and has form with a few of the others in there and Altior being out makes our life easier. His win at Kempton in the Desert Orchid on good ground probably wasn't his optimum conditions by a long stretch of the imagination, so I hope he can improve on that in this. He's been progressing well bar that blip last time.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Dynamite Dollars and Politologue
For a horse having his first run for a year and his first run outside novice company, Dynamite Dollars ran an absolute blinder at Newbury. He was always going to need that race but he could be very interesting now. If the big two happen to underperform he could have a real chance. Harry Cobden had the choice and just preferred the younger horse to Politologue but he's brilliant fresh and we have purposely not run him since the Tingle Creek, a run you can forget. Before that he ran Defi Du Seuil close when trying to give him weight at Cheltenham, plus he ran a big race in last year's Champion Chase.

Alan King, trainer of Sceau Royal
He gave us one of the highs of last year's festival, leading at the last in the Queen Mother Champion Chase before finishing third, and I hope he'll run another big race. We were delighted with his run in the Game Spirit and he's had a straightforward preparation since. He's working as well as he's ever done and delighted Daryl Jacob when he had a pop over a few fences on Monday. But I'm under no illusions about the size of his task. This looks like being a tremendous contest, even without Altior with Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi.

Racing Post Ratings view

The 10-year average winning rating of 176 is somewhat inflated by freakish figures of 190 (Sprinter Sacre) and 183 (Altior), and the 8-year average excluding that pair is a more representative 173. Chacun Pour Soi (175) was having only his fifth start over fences when exceeding that level at Leopardstown and, although this is his first visit to Cheltenham, he already has a verdict over dual festival winner Defi Du Seuil (171), comfortably accounting for that rival at last year's Punchestown Festival.

Defi Du Seuil has looked an improved performer this season, but will probably need to step up again to turn the tables. Last year's runner-up Politologue (171) is difficult to predict but cannot be completely ruled out, while stablemate Dynamite Dollars (164) remains open to a fair bit of improvement.
Steve Mason

Spotlight verdict

The late defection of reigning champion Altior is very unfortunate but this is still an enthralling Champion Chase, with two rising stars locking horns for a second time. Chacun Pour Soi got the better of Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown last spring but the latter is taken to gain revenge and bag a third Cheltenham Festival success. Chacun has no experience of this track, whereas Defi is a multiple course winner who is guaranteed to relish the test. Dynamite Dollars may prove best of the remainder.
Steve Boow

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