Queen Mother Champion Chase tips 2023

In many ways this is the hardest race to preview, mainly because I have to submit before the Clarence House Chase (Ascot 22nd January) where the two market leaders, Shishkin and Energumene are due to clash, ‘I will believe it when I see it’ given their trainers records of avoiding a tough race before Cheltenham. It is a best -priced 30/100 that one of those two will become champion two-mile chaser in March and who can realistically argue with that, the pair looks streets ahead of anything we’ve seen from the rest.

Having advised in the autumn that members back Shishkin at 15/8, I can’t advise backing him now at around even money, despite the fact that I believe him to be the banker of the week, even ahead of Honeysuckle. Unbeaten in eleven completed races over hurdles and fences, Shishkin has been electric over fences and has barely had to come off the bridle in six races. Given that Shishkin and Energumene are both currently unbeaten over fences, so something will have to give, either at Ascot or Cheltenham. Let’s hope for a clash at Ascot with the camp of the defeated claiming they can reverse the form at Cheltenham. I am firmly in the Shishkin camp and with his Festival record of two from two, and more importantly last year’s Arkle winner – seven of the last eleven Arkle winners from the previous season to run have won, including Put The Kettle On last year. While Energumene has been dominating small fields and is yet to be tested at Cheltenham.

At this stage, it makes sense to find a big-priced alternative to hit the frame and with the race likely to cut up into fewer than eight runners, hopefully be in a good position with extra places. 

Third in the market with most firms is a stable mate of Energumene, is Chacun Pour Soi, who looked like a champion before two well below par efforts in both starts into Britain. Something was clearly amiss when last of five in the Tingle Creek in December, he looks a risky proposition for an ante-post bet and a serious doubt for March. 

As mentioned above, the reigning champion Put The Kettle On maintained a good record of Arkle winners returning twelve months later to claim the Champion, she has not been in good form since and is dismissed along with stablemate, Envoi Allen who failed to impress with a workmanlike defeat of Battleoverdoyen in Paddy's Rewards Club Chase over Christmas.

Greaneteen was impressive when winning the Tingle Creek with Shishkin in the dugout but was firmly put in his place at Kempton over Christmas. Although that could have come too quickly for  Greaneteen, coming only three weeks after Sandown. I was disappointed with Nube Negra at Sandown when finishing fourth of five behind Greaneteen, Hitman and Captain Guinness with no obvious excuses. The rain-softened ground was offered as a possible explanation and that he is best after a break, but he struggled to beat Chacun Pour Soi, who was possibly injured. However, Nube Negra he goes well at Cheltenham and was possibly an unlucky runner-up in 2021. He could place again, but I have a feeling that the Nicholls pair may have improved past him. As I indicated at the start, I think the Champion Chase ‘landscape’ will be completely different by the time you read this.

Here's what Keith wrote ahead of the Champion Chase:

CHACUN POUR SOI – Lightly raced 9 year old who is 5 wins from 7 over fences including 3 Grade 1’s

POLITIOLOG – Won this last year and proved he has lost none of his sparkle when winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown on reappearance.

ALTIOR – Dual winner of this race who missed last year’s renewal. 15 wins from 17 over fences.

NUBE NEGRA – Young pretender who had the mighty ALTIOR behind when winning the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas. 

Members will see our Champion Hurdle Tips below.  If you can't see our antepost selection you will need to log in, or join for free. 

While I love ALTIOR and want him to run well every time he is getting a bit long in the tooth at 11 years old, NUBE NEGRA who beat him last time is probably not quite the finished article at just 7. POLITILOGUE made-all to win last year but with a couple of the principals missing there were only 5 runners, he is unlikely to get things his own way this year. CHACUN POUR SOI is the absolute box ticker and this is a race that his trainer Willie Mullins would dearly love to win as it has eluded him thus far, currently ante-post favourite at 6/1 he is my selection for the race.. 

On the day, Keith told our members:

NUBE NEGRA 15:05 Cheltenham 11/1 each way – Hard to get away from CHACUN POUR SOI and he was my pick in the Cheltenham mag when 6/1, I hope some of you got on at those odds, however 4/5 is absolutely no value. NUBE NEGRA was very classy when winning the Desert Orchid at Kempton just after Christmas and is cracking each way value.

How did he do?

NUBE NEGRA – pipped at the post by half a length, was held up towards rear, closed 4 out, stumbled slightly last, switched right flat, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, couldn't quite reach the winner however Each Way money was taken at 11/1

For the 2020 Cheltenham Festival Antepost Guide Keith wrote about his antepost selections for the Queen Mother Champion Chase: 

This year’s renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase looks set to be a thriller. The three to concentrate on are CHACUN POUR SOI, ALTIOR and DEFI DU SEIUL.   

The first one to be eliminated is CHACUN POUR SOI who is the least experienced having had only four Chase runs and has not run at Cheltenham before.  Now we are down to a head-to head, and whilst DEFI DU SEIUL was impressive at Royal Ascot, quickening  clear before being eased on the run  in, ALTIOR in turn won pretty readily at Newbury, finding an extra gear  after the last and running on well.  

ALTIOR – Keith’s tip for the Champion Chase, no surprise here.  Some quarters have criticised ALTIOR’s win last time for leaving it late but that is how he has won most of his races so I  am sticking with him.

On the day, Keith went for DEFI DU SEUIL

Result: DEFI DU SEUIL turned out to be a disappointing odds-on favourite in the Queen Mother Champion Chase finishing a well beaten fourth of five.

Non Runners – Politologue (FR)

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
Distance: 2m (3499 yards) Prize (winner): £225080 Direction: Left Handed
Runners: 5    Going: Soft    Class: Class 1 Grade 1    Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 4 mins 10.03s   Avg OR: 164     Median OR: 163  

Non Runners – Altior (IRE), Chacun Pour Soi (FR)