Queen Mother Champion Chase tips 2023

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View Our tips for the Queen Mother Champion Chase

When is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 2023?

Cheltenham Wednesday 15th March 15.30pm

Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase  (Grade 1) (4yo+)

Distance: 2 Miles

Weights: 11st 10lb, 7lb allowance for mares

The fourth race on Ladies Day is the feature race – the Queen Mother Champion Chase, a grade one chase, over two miles of the old course comprising twelve fences. It is an exciting race for the fastest two-mile chasers in national hunt racing.

This is speed jumping at its best and one mistake could cost a horse the race – hold onto your hats, it is sure to be a thriller.

 

Champion Chase Records

Fastest Win: SPRINTER SACRE 2016 ridden by Nico Boinville trained by Nicky Henderson finished in 228.9 s – 3 minutes 48.9 seconds

Most successful horse (3 wins):

Badsworth Boy – 1983, 1984, 1985

Leading jockey (5 wins):

Pat Taaffe – Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Straight Fort (1970)
Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Big Zeb (2010), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

Tom Dreaper – Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Muir (1969), Straight Fort (1970)
Nicky Henderson – Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016), Altior (2018, 2019)
Paul Nicholls – Call Equiname (1999), Azertyuiop (2004), Master Minded (2008, 2009), Dodging Bullets (2015), Politologue (2020)

Leading owner (3 wins):

George Ansley – Fortria (1960, 1961), Straight Fort (1970)
Doug Armitage – Badsworth Boy (1983, 1984, 1985)
John Hales – One Man (1998), Azertyuiop (2004), Politologue (2020)

Queen Mother Champion Chase Trends and Statistics

12 Year Trends and Statistics 

  • Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9. 5 of them were aged 9 and only 26 horses of that age have run in the last 12 years.
  • Sex – All of the last 12 winners were geldings
  • Trainer – Nicky Henderson has won this race 5 times in the last 12 years. Paul Nicols has recorded 3 wins and Henry De Bromhead 2 in the same time period.
  • Horse – 2 horses have won the race twice in the last 12 years. 
  • Country – 6 of the last 12 winners were bred in Ireland, 4 in France and 2 in Great Britain.
  • Colour – 8 of the last 12 winners were bay.
  • Weight Carried – All 12 winners have carried 11st 10lb and mares 11st 3lb.
  • Starting Price (SP) – 8 of the last 12 winners returned a SP of 6/1 or less. 
  • Starting Price Rank – 5 of the last 12 winners started as favourite and 11 were in the first 4 in the betting.
  • Headgear – None of the last 12 winners wore any headgear.
  • Days Since Last Run – 9 of the last 12 winners had run between 31 and 60 days ago, the rest were between 76 and 120.
  • Last Run Form – 7 of the last 12 winners had won last time out, 10 of them finished in the first 3 last time.
  • Official Rating – 10 of the last 12 winners had an official rating of at least 164.

Who are the Queen Mother Champion Chase Leading Contenders?

This race has been dominated by Nicky Henderson and Henry de Bromhead in recent years, however, it was Willie Mullins’ Energumene who triumphed at Prestbury Park in 2022 as the 5/2 second favourite.

Outsiders rarely prevail here, with the winner having started the race in the top three of the betting in ten of the last 11 renewals. The 9-yr-old Energumene is back to defend his crown this time around. However, with the exception of Altior, we rarely see back-to-back winners in this race.

Energumene disappointed in the Clarence House and will be looking to bounce back here. Alan King’s Edwardstone is considered to be the main threat to the favourite and does have a good record at this track. He was a close second here at the end of January in the aforementioned Clarence House Chase, beaten by a head, and connections will be hoping that he can turn the tables on Editeur du Gite this time around.

As always, this race is likely to be contested at a frenetic pace and there are plenty of chances. However, recent trends make it difficult to look beyond the first three or four in the betting.

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. 

What’s Our Queen Mother Champion Chase Tips?

Willie Mullins’ Energumene will be hoping to defend his crown in a competitive-looking Champion Chase. Since Altior’s back-to-back victories in 2018/2019, favourites have struggled in this contest in recent seasons, and it may be worth taking on the two market leaders. Despite this, the winner of this race has started the day in the top six of the betting in each of the last 20 renewals.

Blue Lord ran third behind Edwardstone in last year’s Arkle, however, with over seven lengths to make up on the second favourite, he may struggle to close the gap at Prestbury Park. If you’re looking at recent form, it might be wise to follow Editeur du Gite, who was a late entry in the re-arranged Clarence House Chase, and managed to edge out the much-fancied Edwardstone.

Having won three of his last five appearances at this track, Gary Moore’s runner could be one to keep an eye on.

Pick – Editeur du Gite – 5/1

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.

Champion Chase Results

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
2 1st Energumene (FR) 8 11-10 175 Mullins, W P Townend, P 5/2 3.90 1.42
held up in rear, headway going well on outside 9th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, asserting last, came well clear flat, easily BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 4.1 Owner: Tony Bloom
4 2nd 8.5 Funambule Sivola (FR) 7 11-10 159 Williams, Miss Venetia Deutsch, Charlie 40/1 54.94 4.50
towards rear on outside, closed 4th, left 2nd 9th, challenged 4 out until 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner but kept on well BF IP MIN 11 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: My Racing Manager Friends
3 3rd 4.5 Envoi Allen (FR) 8 11-10 161 Bromhead, Henry De Blackmore, Rachael 10/1 10.00 2.23
led until 2nd, 2nd until 4th, stayed handy, led 3 out, headed and not fluent 2 out, soon 3rd and no impression BF IP MIN 3 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Cheveley Park Stud
6 4th 12 Politologue (FR) 11 11-10 165 Nicholls, P F Cobden, Harry 80/1 150.00 7.86
chased leaders, outpaced from 4 out, well held 3 out, modest 4th before 2 out BF IP MIN 16 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr J Hales
8 5th 2.25 Put The Kettle On (IRE) 8 11-3 158 Bromhead, Henry De Coleman, A 20/1 28.90 3.80
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, left in lead 9th, headed 3 out, soon weakened BF IP MIN 6 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: One For Luck Racing Syndicate
7 PU Shishkin (IRE) 8 11-10 177 Henderson, N J Boinville, Nico 5/6 (Fav) 2.00 1.22
never going well towards rear, not fluent 6th, soon last, pulled up before 9th BF IP MIN 1.95 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mrs J Donnelly
1 UR Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 10 11-10 176 Mullins, W P Mullins, Mr P W 8/1 12.51 2.23
with leader, led 2nd, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, narrow lead when got in tight, stumbled and unseated rider 9th BF IP MIN 4 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mrs S Ricci
No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
10 1st Put The Kettle On (IRE) 7 11-3 156 Bromhead, Henry De Coleman, A 17/2
led until 1st, led 2nd until 3rd, led 8th, headed after next, led and reached through 3 out, headed after 2 out, led again final 50 yards, stayed on gamely
6 2nd 0.5 Nube Negra (SPA) 7 11-10 165 Skelton, Daniel Skelton, Harry 11/1
held up towards rear, closed 4 out, stumbled slightly last, switched right flat, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
1 3rd 1 Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 9 11-10 173 Mullins, W P Townend, P 8/13 (Fav)
chased leaders, went 2nd and edged slightly left towards rail after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden and headed final 50 yards, lost 2nd towards finish
4 4th 0.5 Greaneteen (FR) 7 11-10 161 Nicholls, P F Cobden, Harry 50/1
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, held in 4th and carried right flat, kept on
9 5th 1.75 Sceau Royal (FR) 9 11-10 163 King, A Jacob, Daryl 16/1
mid-division on inside, headway 6th, chased leaders on inside when badly hampered and lost ground after 3 out, went 5th and kept on from last, no impression
3 6th 2.75 First Flow (IRE) 9 11-10 166 Bailey, K C Bass, David 11/1
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, not fluent and looked to be hanging right from 6th, lost place 7th, wide but closed 3 out, held from 2 out, kept on
5 7th 2.75 Notebook (GER) 8 11-10 162 Bromhead, Henry De Blackmore, Rachael 22/1
chased leaders, lost place 4th, closed 6th, beaten last, weakened flat
2 8th 11 Cilaos Emery (FR) 9 11-10 165 Mullins, W P Cooper, Bryan J 12/1
not jump well, behind, closed from 3 out but never got on terms, another mistake 2 out and well beaten after
8 9th 1.5 Rouge Vif (FR) 7 11-10 163 Whittington, H Sheehan, Gavin 20/1
led 1st, headed 2nd, led 3rd until 8th, led after 9th, mistake 4 out, headed 3 out, soon beginning to lost place and hampered, well behind 2 out

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  

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
6 1st Politologue (FR) 9 165 Nicholls, P F Skelton, Harry 6/1 7.60 2.60
made virtually all, clear before 2 out, ridden approaching last, driven flat, unchallenged BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 8
5 2nd 9.5 Dynamite Dollars (FR) 7 160 Nicholls, P F Cobden, Harry 7/1 11.14 2.76
chased leaders, disputing 2nd from 4th, mistake 4 out, pushed along after next, ridden and hanging left before last, no impression on winner BF IP MIN 7.2 BF IP MAX 1000
2 3rd 3.25 Bun Doran (IRE) 9 160 George, T R Burke, Jonathan 33/1 48.00 6.60
led until 1st, chased winner, pushed along after 3 out, no impression before 2 out, ridden before last, lost 2nd flat, no extra BF IP MIN 10 BF IP MAX 1000
4 4th 0.5 Defi Du Seuil (FR) 7 170 Hobbs, P J Geraghty, B J 2/5 (Fav) 1.45 1.24
held up in touch on outside, rider lost right iron briefly 4 out, close enough 3 out, soon pushed along and beaten, well held when landed awkwardly last, closed on 3rd towards finish BF IP MIN 1.4 BF IP MAX 1000
7 5th 32 Sceau Royal (FR) 8 163 King, A Jacob, Daryl 10/1 13.50 3.26
held up in last, pushed along before 3 out, soon beaten, well behind 2 out, tailed off BF IP MIN 13.5 BF IP MAX 1000

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

Champion Chase Previous Winners

Date Track Distance Going Runners Winner Stallion Age Jockey (Clm) Trainer Odds Weight OR Days
Cheltenham 2m Soft 7 8 5/2 11-10 175 53d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 9 7 17/2 11-3 156 80d
Cheltenham 2m Soft 5 9 6/1 11-10 165 95d
Cheltenham 2m Soft 9 9 4/11 11-10 175 53d
Cheltenham 2m Soft 9 8 Evens 11-10 170 32d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 10 10 11/1 11-10 159 46d
Cheltenham 2m Good 10 10 5/1 11-10 170 80d
Cheltenham 2m Good 9 7 9/2 11-10 171 53d
Cheltenham 2m Good 11 8 11/4 11-10 169 53d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 7 7 1/4 11-10 179 46d
Cheltenham 2m Good 8 9 4/1 11-10 164 53d
Cheltenham 2m Good 11 9 10/1 11-10 160 45d
Cheltenham 2m Good 9 9 10/1 11-10 165 45d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 12 6 4/11 11-10 186 53d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 8 5 3/1 11-10 170 33d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 10 6 5/1 11-10 167 32d
Cheltenham 2m Good 12 8 16/1 11-10 0 55d
Cheltenham 2m Good 8 11 6/4 11-10 0 45d
Cheltenham 2m Good 8 7 15/8 11-10 172 32d
Cheltenham 2m Good 11 9 7/4 12-0 0 38d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 12 8 7/4 12-0 169 95d
Cheltenham 2m Good 9 8 7/2 12-0 160 39d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Soft 13 9 7/2 12-0 150 53d
Cheltenham 2m Good 8 10 7/2 12-0 0 35d
Cheltenham 2m Good To Firm 6 10 9/1 12-0 0 18d

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Cheltenham Festival Wednesday

Race Schedule

START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE
13:30 The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race 2m abt 5f Hurdle
14:10 The Festival Novices’ Chase (RSA Chase) (Grade 1) 3m abt ½ f Chase
14:50 The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Grade 3) 2m abt 5f Hurdle
15:30 The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
(feature race)
Abt 2m Chase
16:10 The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f Chase
16:50 The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3) 2m abt ½f Chase
17.30 The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) 2m abt ½f Bumper

The Countdown to Cheltenham 2024

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