tuesday's Races
wednesday's Races
thursday's Races
friday's Races
13:20Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:00Arkle Chase
14:40Ultima Handicap Chase
15:20Mares Hurdle
16:00Champion Hurdle
16:40Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:20National Hunt Chase
13:20Turner's Novices' Hurdle
14:00Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:40Coral Cup Hurdle
15:20Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
16:00Champion Chase
16:40Grand Annual Chase
17:20Champion Bumper
Champion Chase
16:00 Cheltenham Festival
2025-03-12
Winner: £226,944
Runners: 8
Going: Good To Soft
No. of hurdles: 13
Distance: 1m7f199y
The BetMGM 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
Sort by Saddle Number
HORSE
Sort by Horse Name
ODDS
Sort by Best Odds
JOCKEY& TRAINER
Sort by Trainer
AGE
Sort by Horse Age
WGT
Sort by Weight
OR
Sort by Official Rating
RPR
Sort by Racing Post Rating
2(0)
311/12
Energumene
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
11
11-10
166
176
Major force in this division in his prime and recorded emphatic wins in this contest in 2022 (albeit with the race falling apart) and 2023, both on soft; successful in Cork Grade 2 and second to Jonbon in Ascot Grade 1 since returning from lengthy layoff, doing enough to put him in calculations in this third Champion Chase attempt; sets the standard on peak figures, but whether he's capable of reproducing them at the age of 11 is open to doubt.
1(0)
1-2P56
Captain Guinness
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
10
11-10
160
172
Has performed well in both Champion Chase attempts but proved no match for Energumene in 2023 and looked a fortuitous winner last year when the race fell apart (Jonbon was withdrawn and odds-on El Fabiolo failed to complete); his recent form adds doubt, having been well held in Leopardstown contests won by Solness the last twice.
7(0)
85-124
Quilixios
-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: Henry De Bromhead
8
11-10
158
167
Landed the Triumph Hurdle here in 2021; still seeking a first Grade 1 success over fences and form dipped in the Dublin Chase most recently, failing by a long way to confirm Naas November placings with Marine Nationale; ran well but was no match for Jonbon in the Tingle Creek in between; not the percentage call.
4(0)
11-111
Jonbon
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
9
11-10
171
181
Acts on any ground; withdrawn from this contest 12 months ago when his stable was under a big cloud; has become a powerhouse in this division and readily beat Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot most recently, registering an eighth Grade 1 success over fences; has met his only defeats at Cheltenham, including twice at the Festival (admittedly a creditable second both times), and two Shloer wins over C&D do not feature among his best figures; furthermore, favourites have a notoriously bad record (only three wins and several dismal flops) in this race in the last decade; those doubts aside, he's better than ever judged on last two performances and the clear pick on current form.
5(0)
123-12
Libberty Hunter
-
J: Adam Wedge
T: Evan Williams
9
11-10
151
164
Has form figures of 112312 in completed chase starts and 121 (three handicaps) at Cheltenham; good second in the Grand Annual on this card 12 months ago and filled the same position in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; progressive but has the lowest rating of the field.
3(0)
21-11P
Found A Fifty
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
8
11-10
162
169
Sometimes jumps right; probably best to forgive his rare blip last time, as he was found to have a slight bilateral nasal discharge after the race; chase record otherwise reads 12122111, beating Solness by a neck in Navan Grade 2 the final occasion; respectable second in the Arkle at this meeting last year and was a dual Grade 1 scorer during that novice campaign; likely to bounce back and perform well.
8(0)
132411
Solness
-
J: J J Slevin
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
7
11-10
162
170
Looked a notch or two below championship standard for most of his career; however, he's taken his form to a completely new level with front-running Grade 1 wins at Leopardstown (yielding/good to yielding) the last twice, both times establishing a clear lead at various points and not for catching; stuck on gamely to beat Marine Nationale by 2l latest, confirming his sudden emergence as a realistic Champion Chase contender; possibilities, provided he's able to dominate in the same manner.
6(0)
15-232
Marine Nationale
-
J: Sean Flanagan
T: Barry Connell
8
11-10
159
167
Unraced on heavy, acts on any other ground; unbeaten spell featured a ready success in the Supreme at this meeting two years ago when given a superb ride by the late and greatly missed Michael O'Sullivan; 0-4 since successful debut over fences but ran very well (produced a career-best RPR) in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown most recently, emerging from the chasing pack to finish only 2l behind Solness and pull clear of the remainder; peaking at the right time and, with a fast pace likely, the cards could drop perfectly on this return to Cheltenham; respected, with further progress very plausible.
RACING POST TIP
Marine Nationale
Jonbon isn't totally bombproof given the setting and the recent record of favourites in this contest but he otherwise holds leading claims and would be a worthy winner, having been so prolific and largely dependable in the 2m chase division. The most persuasive alternative is MARINE NATIONALE who is peaking at the right time, should have the ideal tactical set-up and landed the 2023 Supreme in his only appearance at Cheltenham. Solness may not be allowed his own way up front on this occasion but he ties in with the selection and is respected on the back of two Grade 1 wins. The 11yo Energumene will defy the stats if he lands a third Champion Chase, as only three horses older than ten have won this prize since its inception in 1959.
Cheltenham Free Bets
Verdict
CHAMPION CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2024 | Captain Guinness | 22-1P3 | 9 | 17-2 | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2023 | Energumene | 113 | 9 | 6-5F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 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 |
CHAMPION CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Won over at least 2m1f, 9/10
- No more than 10lb off RPR top-rated, 10/10 (four were top-rated)
- Adjusted RPR of at least 174, 8/10
- Grade 1 chase winner, 8/10
- Won Graded chase within last two starts, 8/10
- No older than nine, 9/10
- Between seven and 16 runs over fences, 6/10
Other factors
- Five winners had previously won at the festival.
- In the past ten years 36 French-breds have run, yielding four wins, eight seconds and six thirds.
We have all the best Cheltenham Betting offers ahead of placing your bets on the Queen Mother Champion Chase
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CHAMPION CHASE 2024
El Fabiolo proved disappointing for favourite backers in last year’s Champion Chase, with Captain Guinness capitalising for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. Jonbon, one of the leading contenders, was taken out of the race after Nicky Henderson’s stable form concerns and El Fabiolo was pulled up after the fifth fence having jumped poorly. Captain Guinness proved a willing partner for Blackmore and repelled Gentleman De Mee by a length and a half. He was a fourth different winner for De Bromhead since 2011, with the trainer also successful with Sizing Europe, Special Tiara and Put The Kettle On.