Cheltenham Festival - Champion Chase preview

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is always one of the most eagerly awaited races of the four days, with the very best two milers always producing some thrilling finishes over the years. This year has a standout contender in the prolific Jonbon, and he is likely to be a real banker for many with most of his rivals having plenty of other options and a small field on the day very likely.

Jonbon

Nicky Henderson’s top class chaser has now won 12 of his 14 career starts over fences, and looked as good as ever when landing the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January. He is usually a backable price as he only does just enough in front and seems to win with little to spare, and is likely to be one of the bankers of Wednesday afternoon under regular pilot Nico de Boinville.

Odds: 1.80

Gaelic Warrior

Willie Mullins chaser has been an expensive failure on three runs this season so far, sent off 1/3f, 13/8f and 6/4f and only making the frame on each occasion. He did get a very quiet ride when well held behind Solness at the DRF, losing his place at halfway and plugging on late for minimal pressure to take an eye-catching third. A contested pace up front here by old rival Solness and confirmed trailblazer Il Est Francais could set things up nicely for him to close in late, but he has basically been very disappointing and it is hard to see him troubling Jonbon in truth.

Odds: 6.00

Il Est Francais

The french raider with a brilliant record round Kempton over three miles, impressing with his fast jumping from the front on good ground when reeled in only by Banbridge on Boxing Day. This will be a completely different test, and there will be no peace on the lead with Solness sure to be gunned from the tape. Hard to fancy with the Cheltenham undulations an unknown, and his ability to lay up over two miles doubtful.

Odds: 8.00

Enurgumene

Willie Mullins veteran is now an 11yo and does not quite seem the force of old, no match at all for Jonbon at Ascot in January, and it is hard to imagine a form reversal at this stage of his career.

Odds: 8.00

Banbridge

Winning the King George at Kempton over three miles would not be the usual preparation for a Champion Chase winner, and he seems sure to take up an entry in either the Ryanair Chase or the Gold Cup on Friday.

Odds: 9.00

El Fabiolo

Weak in the market and took a crashing early fall at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. Stable insiders report he is being aimed at the Ryanair Chase and makes no appeal at all at the current prices for this red hot contest.

Odds: 11.00

Marine Nationale

Ran really well when coming out of the pack to take second behind Solness at the DRF, and does make some each-way appeal here at a double figure price. The right age at 8 and with scope to improve after five career starts over fences, he should get a patient ride out of the heat of the race (and the stiff uphill finish suited well when he took the 2023 Supreme Novice).

Odds: 13.00

Solness

A revelation this season from the front at Leopardstown, blitzing the field twice under very enterprising tactics and sustaining a relentless gallop. There was no fluke about his win at the DRF under an inspired Danny Mullins, but whether this track is so suitable for those tactics is doubtful and other riders will surely not allow him so much rope.

Odds: 13.00

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