Champion Chase 2026 Runners

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The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the Cheltenham Festival’s flagship championship races and the premier two-mile chase in National Hunt racing. It is the ultimate speed test for elite chasers, demanding slick jumping at pace and producing some of the most thrilling moments of the entire week.

First run in 1959, the race has grown into one of jump racing’s most prestigious contests and was renamed in honour of the Queen Mother in 1980. Since then, the Champion Chase has become a defining target for the fastest chasers in training, with many winners entering the sport’s all-time great bracket.

Run over 2 miles (3,219 metres) on Cheltenham’s Old Course, the Champion Chase features 12 fences. The relentless tempo, sharp jumping test and undulating track mean even the smallest mistake can be costly, particularly on the climb for home where races are often decided.

The race holds Grade 1 status and takes place on Wednesday 11th March 2026 during the Cheltenham Festival. It consistently attracts the very best speed chasers from Britain and Ireland and remains the ultimate prize for specialist two-mile steeplechasers.

Notable Winners

• Sprinter Sacre – one of the greatest chasers of all time, winner in 2013 & 2016.
• Altior – brilliant Champion Chase winner in 2018, unbeaten at the Festival.
• Master Minded – a dominant two-time winner (2008 & 2009) for Paul Nicholls.
• Douvan – exceptional winner in 2017, one of the fastest chasers of his era.

Key Race Details

• Race Type: Championship Steeplechase
• Grade: Grade 1
• Distance: 2 miles (3,219 metres)
• Number of Fences: 12
• Location: Cheltenham Racecourse (Old Course)
• Date: Wednesday 11th March 2026 (Cheltenham Festival – Day Two)
• Prize Money: Typically over £400,000 in total prize fund (varies year-on-year)
• Inaugurated: 1959
• Sponsor: Betway

The Queen Mother Champion Chase remains one of the Cheltenham Festival’s most iconic races — a championship contest where pace, precision and bravery are tested to the limit. With little room for error and the sport’s quickest chasers battling for Grade 1 glory, it continues to be one of the most anticipated spectacles of the entire National Hunt season.