Cheltenham Champion Chase betting tips
As we head into the Champion Chase, all eyes are on the Irish jockeys and horses who have experienced a strong start to the Cheltenham Festival. However, the standout runner in this race with strong form is Editeur Du Gite. Trained by Gary Moore, he heads to Cheltenham after two victories in the Desert Orchid Chase and the Clarence House Chase. Given he has won on this course and on soft ground, he offers good value in the betting markets.
Update: Champion Chase Results
Horses Finish:
1st Position: Energumene 2nd Position: Captain Guinness 3rd Position: Greaneteen
The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day festival which is a significant event in the National Hunt calendar. Taking place in March, it features many Grade 1 contests for punters to watch; on the second day of the festival, the feature race is the Champion Chase which is not only the shortest steeplechase race at Cheltenham but also across the entire season.
Before the race gets underway and you head over to the wide selection of Cheltenham betting odds, we have all the details about the race itself, including distance, runners and some Champion Chase betting tips to help you make an educated decision on which horses have a chance at taking the crown.
Latest Cheltenham Champion Chase Betting Tips
As the race day gets closer, we’ll be taking a detailed look at the Champion Chase racecard and seeing which of the top short-distance chasers have thrown their hat into the mix across the national hunt season.. All of the runners will have the calibre to feature in this race and handle the tricky Cheltenham fences. Before placing your bets and browsing the Champion Chase odds, remember to take a look over our tips and stats behind them once the final declarations are in.
Champion Chase Odds
As with all of the feature races here at the Cheltenham, we'll have all the available betting odds so you can browse the ante-post betting markets before making your decisions and placing your bets with us.
All about the Queen Mother Champion Chase
First established in 1959, it was originally called the Two-Mile Champion Chase before being given its current title in 1980 in honour of the former Queen mother. Contested over two miles (officially 1m 7f 199y), it’s the shortest national hunt race to take place not only at Cheltenham, but also across the entire season.
The race itself is run at breakneck speed and takes in 13 fences of the old course at Cheltenham, which means horses will have to face a narrow turn before they end up in the home straight, but on the flip side, they only have to face one obstacle in the final stages of the race which can be an advantage.
In regards to the race itself, multiple jockeys have managed to win this race five times in their career, including Pat Taaffe and, more recently, Barry Geraghty, which shows the Irish dominance within the runnings of this race. However, when it comes to the horse with the most victories in the race, that feat falls to Badsworth Boy, who won this race between 1983 and 1985.
When looking back at the stats of the race, 12 of the last 15 winners have been trained by Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Henry De Bromhead, which again shows the Irish colours flying high in this race.
Champion Chase Race Prize
As the Champion Chase is one of the most prestigious races hosted at the Cheltenham Festival, there is significant prize money on offer for participating in the race. The prize money for first prize is £168,810 of the £300,000 total amount.
Champion Chase Winners
The Champion Chase has thrown up many interesting winners at the Cheltenham Festival, some of which have won the Arkle Chase in the previous season and others which have also competed at the Festival before. Within these runners, some favourites have also gone on to win this race, and the present title holder sees the flag flying for Ireland across all categories.
- 2022 - Energumene - Paul Townend - Willie Mullins
- 2021 - Put The Kettle On - Aidan Coleman - Henry de Bromhead
- 2020 - Politologue - Harry Skelton - Paul Nicholls
- 2019 - Altior - Nico De Boinville - Nicky Henderson
- 2018 - Altior - Nico De Boinville - Nicky Henderson
However, if you look back on the Champion Chase role of success, there are many Irish runners who have managed to take the race, including the famous Moscow Flyer.
When it comes to the most successful trainer in the race, the Irish flag is also flying high, with Tom Dreaper landing multiple winners thanks to horses such as Straight Fort, Flying Bolt and Fortina.
Queen Mother Champion Chase Trials
When it comes to the Champion Chase, multiple races act as trails and feeder races across the jumps season, which means preparation is key for a strong performance. They are raced across different points of the season across many of the feature race courses within Ireland and the UK, and we’ve selected the key contests below.
Irish Feeder Races
The Hilly Way Chase - Cork
Many of the Irish champion chase runners will start their season in this race at Cork. Raced over a similar, slightly longer distance to the Champion Chase, Energumene, has been the victor in this contest for the last two seasons, but has yet to transform that form to Cheltenham.
The Racing Post Novice Chase
A Grade One race contested at Leopardstown at the ChirChristmastival. This race has provided a key stepping stone for many Irish runners heading to Cheltenham. Raced over a distance of two miles and one furlong, 11 obstacles will be jumped by the runners. Throwing up winners such as Moscow Flyer, Min and Douvan, it has been a key stepping stone for Irish horses heading to Prestbury Park
UK Feeder Races
Shloer Chase (The Cheltenham Chase)
This race is the first for many Champion Chase competitors is the Cheltenham Chase which is also held on the same course across a slightly altered distance of one mile and seven furlongs. The last renewal was won by Nube Negra, who is expected to feature in the main race.
The Desert Orchid Chase
Named after the famous Cheltenham runners, this two-mile contest is the next destination for many Cheltenham Festival runners looking to chance their arm in the Champion Chase. This race was won by Editeur Du Gite, who has since gone on to win the Clarence House Chase.
The Clarence House Chase
The final preparation race for the Champion Chase is the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase which takes place in January of each year. Enticing runners from across Ireland and the UK as many try to get one final victory in their form book ahead of the Festival. The winner of this year’s race was won by Editeur Du Gite, but previous Irish winners of the race include Un De Sceaux.
However, if you’re looking for horses to do the double with this race and the Champion Chase as a potential betting stat, four horses have managed to do that in recent years, including Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy, Dodging Bullets and Altior.
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