Jonbon is the one to beat in this year’s Champion Chase under Nico De Boinville despite all three of his career defeats coming at Cheltenham.
Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival and the pinnacle of the season for the 2-mile chase division.
It is a top-level Grade 1 event over 2 miles on the old course. Eight horses have been declared for a race that has produced some unexpected outcomes in recent years. All eyes will be on Jonbon to see if he can secure his first Festival victory.
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Champion Chase Winners, Trends & Stats
There have been nine horses to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase multiple times, with Badsworth Boy holding the record with three consecutive victories from 1983 to 1985.
More recently, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Energumene have each claimed two wins, with the latter having the chance to equal the record this year.
Here are some key trends to consider if you are placing a bet on the Champion Chase:
- Nine of the last 14 winners were trained by either Nicky Henderson (five) or Henry De Bromhead (four).
- 10 of the last 13 winners were priced at 6/1 or shorter, but six odds-on favourites have been defeated in the past nine years.
- 14 of the past 24 winners had previously secured a victory at the Festival.
- Seven of the last 14 Arkle winners to have competed have won the race.
- 18 of the last 20 winners had run just two or three times that season.
- 30 of the previous 38 winners were aged between seven and nine.
- 14 of the last 23 winners had won their most recent race.
- Eight of the last 13 winners contested the Clarence House Chase.
- Six of the previous 11 winners ran in the Shloer Chase.
Champion Chase Key Runners & Contenders
Jonbon
Nicky Henderson’s standout chaser has won 17 of his 20 career races, with nine victories at Grade 1 level. His three defeats have all occurred at Cheltenham, including two at the Festival when finishing second behind Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and runner-up to El Fabiolo in the Arkle.
The nine-year-old is unbeaten in his eight starts when partnered by Nico De Boinville and will be a short-priced favourite to secure a first victory in this race for owner JP McManus.
Marine Nationale
Triumphed in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in impressive fashion but has managed only one win from five chase starts over fences.
He produced his best performance on ratings when finishing second to Solness in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase last time out. A return to Cheltenham and better ground could enhance his chances.
Energumene
A two-time winner of this race who made a successful return from a 593-day absence in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase at Cork. He benefited from weight concessions against both Banbridge and Dinoblue on that occasion but showed promise despite the layoff.
However, he was beaten by 6½ lengths by Jonbon last time out in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, which suggests he may struggle to turn the tables.
Solness
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, this runner has been a revelation in his last two outings when adopting aggressive front-running tactics.
He defeated Gaelic Warrior by 3¾ lengths in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Christmas before securing a two-length victory over Marine Nationale at the Dublin Racing Festival. Whether he can employ the same tactics in this contest remains to be seen, but he commands respect.
Captain Guinness
Benefited from El Fabiolo’s underperformance to win this race last year but has struggled this season, being pulled up once and finishing 26 and 32 lengths behind the winner in his three outings.
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Champion Chase Trainers & Jockeys to Watch
Both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson share the record for most wins in this race with Tom Dreaper, each having six victories, though neither has won since Politologue triumphed for Nicholls in 2020.
Since then, Henry De Bromhead has won the race twice with Put The Kettle On (2021) and Captain Guinness (2024), while Willie Mullins has secured back-to-back victories with Energumene in 2022 and 2023.
Mullins does not have an exceptional record in this race, with Un De Sceaux, Douvan, Chacun Pour Soi, and El Fabiolo all suffering defeats as odds-on favourites since 2016.
Nico De Boinville has won this race three times since 2016 aboard Sprinter Sacre and Altior and will be hoping to extend his perfect record on Jonbon to nine wins from nine rides.
Champion Chase Ground Conditions & Weather
Firmer ground is expected to favour Jonbon, Marine Nationale, and Solness over Energumene, whose two victories in this race came on soft ground. Given that he was beaten by Jonbon on good ground at Ascot, he appears vulnerable against the favourite once again.
Champion Chase Pace & Tactics
Jonbon has made the running in all three of his starts this season, but Solness is the likely front-runner this year, having thrived under aggressive tactics in recent outings.
He was well beaten by Jonbon when held up in the Tingle Creek in December but has since led from the front in both of his Leopardstown wins.
Initially, the race seemed set to feature a strong pace with Matata and Il Est Francais, but as they appear to be targeting other events, Solness could once again secure an uncontested lead.
Champion Chase Tips
Much will be made of the fact that Jonbon’s three career defeats have all come at Cheltenham, but he remains the one to beat this year under Nico De Boinville.
At a much bigger price, Found A Fifty could be an intriguing contender, likely to be held up off a strong pace. The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old has won five of his nine chase starts, finishing second on three other occasions, though he needs to bounce back after pulling up at Leopardstown last time out.
He suffered a bleed that day but has been given time to recover. It is worth noting that he finished second in last year’s Arkle behind Gaelic Warrior and defeated Solness while conceding 7lbs at Navan in November. At odds of 20/1, he could be an underestimated outsider.
