Day two of the Cheltenham Festival focuses on the two-mile chasers, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase the feature event.
It is always a dramatic race, and one with a history of getting short-priced favourites beaten. Run over the bare two-mile distance, this is the ultimate test of jumping skill and is as often won by the safest conveyance as the outstanding performer in the division.
A field of eight has been declared for Wednesday’s big race and our expert has picked out a pair to follow.
Champion Chase Betting Odds
- Jonbon – 10/11 with BoyleSports
- Marine Nationale – 5/1 with BoyleSports
- Energumene – 6/1 with BoyleSports
- Solness – 10/1 with BoyleSports
- Found A Fifty – 12/1 with BoyleSports
- Captain Guiness – 25/1 with BoyleSports
- Quilixios – 33/1 with BoyleSports
- Libberty Hunter – 33/1 with BoyleSports
Odds displayed are correct as of 11:14am, Wednesday 12th March 2025. Odds are subject to change.
Top Picks:
NAP: Jonbon @ 5/6 with BoyleSports
Next Best: Libberty Hunter each-way @ 28/1 with BoyleSports
Cheltenham no sweat for prolific Jonbon
In some corners, there is talk that JONBON is not as effective at Cheltenham as he is elsewhere. His record at Cheltenham suggests that is harsh: his form figures here are 22121. Standing against that are his form figures away from Cheltenham: 111111111111111.
Form figures are not telling the story that you might think. Jonbon’s three defeats at the track include a second to Constitution Hill, who broke the course record that day, and a second to El Fabiolo who at the time was one of the highest-rated Arkle winners of the century.
His other one, admittedly, was hard to explain away. But it was mostly pilot error, the usually solid James Bowen got his first shot at a major ride and fluffed it.
Nico De Boinville has taken to riding Jonbon with a bit more dash since, and the results have been exceptional. A perfect five from five, and career-best efforts on each of his last two starts.
Last time at Ascot, Jonbon drew right away from Energumene, who is arguably his biggest threat again. If anything is going to stop him claiming a championship prize, it is unlikely to be the track.
Hunter can sniff out some minor money
This time last year, LIBBERTY HUNTER was in the Grand Annual on the same card. He was second to Unexpected Party, but you sense he might have won but for getting the worst of a messy start that left him with ground to make up.
Since then, Libberty Hunter has done plenty to suggest he was the moral winner that day. His BHA mark has gone up by 12lb for one, after he finished third in a Grade 1 next time, won a handicap at this course and then shaped as well as anything in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last time.
Choosing this race over the Grand Annual, which does not look especially strong, was a bold call, but the Champion Chase has a recent history of producing shock results, with the horse who can get round without mishap often coming out on top. That is exactly what happened when Captain Guinness won last year.
Libberty Hunter will likely be ridden to pick up the pieces, and that is a tactic that gets you some joy in the Champion Chase. He is a big price and makes appeal as an each-way alternative to Jonbon.
