The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the most respected two-mile race of the year. It will hold most of Wednesday’s attention and is due to get underway at 16:00.
The race is run at breakneck speed by the fastest chasers, one minor mistake can often spell the end of a champion’s chances. The name of the race originates from 1980 in recognition of Queen Elizabeth II’s Mother’s love for jump racing. It is run on Cheltenham’s Old Course consisting of 13 fences. A £400,000 cash prize is waiting for 2025’s Champion Chase winner.
Going into this year’s Champion Chase, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nichols have each trained six winners. Despite Paul Nichols not having a horse in this year’s chase, Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is the horse that everyone has their eyes on.
However, with the race being so cutthroat, mistakes have meant only 11 of the last 33 favourites have won the race. This has led to the race becoming a graveyard for favourites going into the race. Out of the last 24 winners this century, 19 of them had run the Cheltenham Festival before.
Key Contenders
Jonbon (Trainer: Nicky Henderson)
It is no secret that Jonbon is this year’s favourite, and is currently hovering at around EVS to win the Champion Chase. Trainer Nicky Henderson is no stranger to winning the race and will be confident in his star chaser.
Horse expert Samantha Martin of the Times says: “Jonbon is rightfully favourite for the Champion Chase, having beaten Energumene at Ascot, Quilixios and Solness at Sandown and Captain Guinness back in 2023.
“Those Irish horses are his nearest challengers in what is a very strong contingent from over the Irish Sea, including Marine Nationale, who has placed on all three starts this year.”
Jonbon’s jockey Nico de Boinville will know that just because he and Jonbon are favourites to win, one small mistake could take victory out of their hands. Martin thinks that Jonbon’s competitors “will be looking to take advantage of any of Jonbon’s vulnerabilities, which could well be his slightly inefficient jumping and a perceived (likely fictional) problem with Cheltenham. He deserves to get his Cheltenham Festival win, and I fully expect him to.”
All eyes are on this front-runner ahead of Wednesday’s principal race.
Marine Nationale (Trainer: Barry Connell)
Currently many tipsters’ next best pick after Jonbon, Marine Nationale comes in at 5/1. The Bay Gelding is not unfamiliar with a win at Cheltenham, winning the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle outright. Sadly, the horse was unable to run the following season in 2024 due to injury.
This term, Marine Nationale has been unable to win in its last three starts, losing to Solness twice and Quilixios once despite running well in each race. However, this year Marine Nationale is held in higher regard than each Solness and Quilixios due to the quicker ground, landing him a better contender.
Marine Nationale’s proven festival experience and consistent form make him a worthy contender in this year’s Champion Chase. He won at the festival in 2023 in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle under the ride of the late Michael O’Sullivan, and victory today would most definitely be dedicated to him.
Energumene (Trainer: W P Mullins)
A well-respected Willie Mullins horse who has come into strong form this season. He defended his crown in 2023 beating Captain Guinness by 10 lengths in the renewal of this race.
Aiming for a third Champion Chase victory in 2025, Energumene will look to further cement his legacy at Cheltenham with current odds at 13/2. The Brown gelding has been carefully managed this season with an aim to be in peak performance for the Cheltenham Festival.
Mullins is optimistic about Energumene’s current condition going into the biggest stage of the season. The Mullins camp, however, has expressed that Energumene will prefer softer ground. This suggests that any rainfall leading to the race will increase the horses’ odds and make for an exciting bet.
Paddy Power Expert Tips
Ruby Walsh- Jonbon 4/5
Tony Mullins- Jonbon 4/5
Johnny Dineen- Jonbon 4/5
Lydia Hislop- Jonbon 4/5
