2 minutes As excitement builds towards the Cheltenham Festival we will preview this year’s much-anticipated renewal of one of the biggest races of the week
The feature race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. The fourth of seven races on Wednesday is scheduled for 3:30pm and as excitement builds towards the Cheltenham Festival we will preview this year’s much-anticipated renewal of one of the biggest races of the week. As well as offering race insights and expert betting tips you’ll find the very best Cheltenham Festival free bet offers and race odds courtesy of race sponsors, Betway.
Established in 1959 and open to horses aged five years and over, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase is the UK’s most prestigious race for two-mile chasers and has been won by the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Master Minded and Moscow Flyer. Each of the past two renewals have been won by Energumene for trainer, Willie Mullins and the Irish trainer has an excellent chance of a third straight win this year with El Fabiolo.
El Fabiolo is the current market leader as he eyes a fifth Grade 1 win. El Fabiolo earned a dominant 5 ½ length win over Jonbon in last year’s Arkle and he has impressed in two runs this season, especially when winning by 8 lengths in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase last time out.
The biggest danger to El Fabiolo is once again likely to be Jonbon. The old rivals are 1-1 as they get ready to go head-to-head for a third time. Jonbon came out on top in the Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in 2022 before losing in last year’s Arkle. Jonbon has twice ran at Cheltenham Festival and has ran into a horse at the peak of his powers on both occasions. Twelve months prior to last year’s Arkle defeat, Jonbon was subjected to a 22-length defeat against stablemate, Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The biggest concern for potential Jonbon backers will undoubtedly be his most recent run. Here at Cheltenham, Jonbon was odds-on to win the Clarence House Chase but a poor round of jumping saw him lose out to 22/1 shot, Elixir De Nutz. Incidentally, the Clarence House Chase winner is also likely to line up in Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Although Jonbon has had the beating of Edwardstone twice already this season, Alan King’s ten year old should not be ruled out. The 2022 Arkle winner rolled back the years to land the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month. Other likely entries in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase include Captain Guinness, Boothill and Gentleman de Mee.
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase Odds (NRNB)
(Each Way: 1/5 odds 3 places)
| Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase | Odds |
|---|---|
| El Fabiolo | 4/9 |
| Jonbon | 100/30 |
| Edwardstone | 7/1 |
| Captain Guinness | 14/1 |
| Elixir De Nutz | 20/1 |
| Gentleman de Mee | 33/1 |
| Boothill | 40/1 |
| Funambule Sivola | 100/1 |
