Queen Mother Champion Chase 2023 Racecard

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival, held on the Wednesday of the four-day meeting, and is a Grade 1 chase run officially over just shy of two miles (1 mile, 7 furlongs and 199 yards).

3:30 Wed 15 Mar QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE Distance: 15f 199y Age: 5yo + Prize: £400,000 Going: Gd/Sft Analyst's Verdict Potentially the race of the week featuring the 1-2-3 from the rearranged Clarence House Chase here in January, EDWARDSTONE getting the verdict to emerge on top this time and master reigning champion Energumene, who posted his first ever below-par effort when 6½ lengths back in third. Editeur du Gite was ridden to perfection that day and Gary Moore's bold-jumping front runner may have to settle for bronze on this occasion, in what promises to be a tactically-intriguing affair.

ENTRY FORM	SILKS	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT		ODDS
1		1. CAPTAIN GUINNESS (IRE) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	8 11-10		BET
Landed his first success at Grade 2 level in Fortria Chase at Navan on return in November and creditable effort when runner-up in Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase over Christmas. That was further evidence that he's vulnerable at this level, however.
2		2. EDITEUR DU GITE (FR) J: Niall Houlihan T: Gary Moore	9 11-10		BET
Dual winner at this venue last term but has cranked it up another notch this season, landing the Desert Orchid at Kempton and ridden to perfection when accounting for both Edwardstone and Energumene in Clarence House in January. Sure to give it a good go from the front.
3		3. EDWARDSTONE J: Tom Cannon T: Alan King	9 11-10		BET
A thoroughly likeable sort who won 5 in a row last season (including Arkle). Displayed top-class form when commanding winner of Tingle Creek on return and back on song after rare jumping blip when runner-up to Editeur du Gite in Clarence House in January. Bold bid anticipated.
4		4. ENERGUMENE (FR) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	9 11-10		BET
Top-class chaser who has tasted defeat only twice in his career over fences, both in the Clarence House (latest when staged at this venue in January). That was a first below-par effort, and having been an authoritative winner of this contest last season, he holds major claims once again.
5		5. FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (FR) J: Charlie Deutsch T: Venetia Williams	8 11-10		BET
Progressed well in open company last season, finishing runner-up to Energumene in this corresponding event. Bounced back to form to take Game Spirit for second year running at Newbury last month but will need to crank things up again if he's to get involved in this year's renewal.
6		6. GREANETEEN (FR) J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls	9 11-10		BET
Fourth in this race back in 2021 and developed into a top-class chaser soon after, winning a trio of Grade 1 contests. Haldon Gold Cup scorer on reappearance but unable to live with Edwardstone in Tingle Creek and wasted a golden opportunity when third to Funambule Sivola in Game Spirit since.
7		7. NUBE NEGRA (SPA) J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	9 11-10		BET
Hasn't stood much racing in recent times but arguably unlucky not to win this in 2021. Completed a simple task without alarm when Grade 2 winner on return here in November but below his best when runner-up to Editeur du Gite in Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas. Freshened up since.
Betting Forecast : 13/8 1.62 EDWARDSTONE, 7/4 1.75 ENERGUMENE, 11/2 5.5 EDITEUR DU GITE, 16/1 16 NUBE NEGRA, 25/1 25 GREANETEEN, 33/1 33 FUNAMBULE SIVOLA, 40/1 40 CAPTAIN GUINNESS

Established in 1959, the event is one of the highlights of the meeting and is considered to be the championship race for the two mile chasing division.

It was given its title in 1980, to mark the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday.

Tom Dreaper enjoyed plenty of success in the first few years of the race, winning it six times between 1960 and 1970, including twice with Fortria in 1960 and 1961, becoming the leading trainer in the race – a title which he still holds today.

However, both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson trail Dreaper by just one win, and the latter could level that tally in 2019 with the current odds-on favourite for the race, and 2018 winner, Altior .

Several horses have won this race on more than one occasion over the years, though to date only one has won the Queen Mother Champion Chase on three occasions, the Michael Dickinson-trained Badsworth Boy, who won the race in 1983, 1984 and 1985 (Monica Dickinson trained him for the latter).

Like the rest of the Festival, the race wasn’t run in 2001 due to the foot and mouth outbreak, and since then several famous names have gone on to win the race in recent years.

Three horses have won the race on more than one occasion this century; the Jessica Harrington -trained Moscow Flyer (in 2003 and 2005), the Paul Nicholls -trained Master Minded (2008 and 2009) and the legendary Sprinter Sacre (in 2013 and 2016).

In terms of Timeform ratings, Sprinter Sacre’s performance to win the 2013 renewal, a run which earned him a Timeform performance rating of 192, is considered to be one of the greatest National Hunt performances in history, one which saw him annihilate a field of high quality, multiple graded winners, including the 2011 winner of the race Sizing Europe.

That run produced the highest Timeform rating over jumps in the modern era, edging out Kauto Star’s wide-margin win in the 2009 King George, and it has been bettered only by Arkle and Flyingbolt.

There have been several remarkable winners of the race this century, though, with Moscow Flyer (2005), Master Minded (2008) and Altior (2018) all achieving Timeform ratings on or around the 180 mark for their victories. Altior’s most recent win in 2019 was around 10 lb lower.

The most successful trainer in the race is Tom Dreaper, who has won it six times with Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Muir (1969) and Straight Fort (1970).

The joint-most successful jockeys in the race are Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty , who both have five wins to their name.

Taaffe’s successes came on board Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966) and Straight Fort (1970), whilst Geraghty’s wins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase came on board Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Big Zeb (2010), Finian's Rainbow (2012) and Sprinter Sacre (2013).

Queen Mother Champion Chase FAQs

What is the distance of the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

1 mile seven furlongs and 199 yards

How many obstacles are jumped in the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

12

What day of the festival is the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

Day 2

What time is the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

15:30

What weights are carried for the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

11st 10lb. 7 lb allowance for fillies and mares.

What is the purse for the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

£400,000 (2019)

Who is the leading jockey in the Queen Mother Champion Chase*?

Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty, both on five wins.

Who is the leading trainer in the Queen Mother Champion Chase*?

Tom Dreaper, with six wins.

Who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

You can check out our Queen Mother Champion Chase results page here to see a list of previous winners.

Where can I compare the odds for the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

Click the link to visit our Queen Mother Champion Chase Odds Comparison page.

*Since 1959