Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the highlights of the Cheltenham festival each year. It is run over two miles and twelve fences at break neck speed over Cheltenham’s demanding circuit by the top chasers in France and the British Isles. It is open to horses aged five years old and upwards. The race was first run in 1959 and is the feature race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.

This race is the leading minimum distance chase in the National Hunt calendar and most National Hunt purists would consider it the ultimate championship test where speed and accurate jumping are necessary. It is the National hunt equivalent of the 100 metres where one mistake is extremely costly and speed is a prerequisite. For many people this race is considered the highlight of the four day festival as it produces year after year some breathtaking jumping and exciting finishes.

The race was previously known as the National Hunt Chase but in recognition of the support given to jump racing by the Queen Mother, the race has been named after her since 1980.

Recent Winners:

Favourites have a great record in this race in recent years as do previous winners of the Arkle Chase. It is most unusual to get a below par winner of this race and in recent times it is common for the winner of the Queen Mother to have a higher rating than the winner of the King George or Gold Cup.

This race has produced some fantastic winners over the years and many festival memories that have gone into Cheltenham folklore. The race’s roll of honour has includes plenty of multiple winners. Badsworth Boy (1983-1985) is the only three time winner. However, there have been ten double winners including Fortria, Pearlyman, Barnbrook Again, Viking Flagship, Moscow Flyer and Master Minded. Indeed, Master Minded will bid to equal Badsworth Boy’s record this year and will go off favourite to do so on St. Patrick’s Day.

Key Trends:

• All of the last 31 winners finished placed at worse last time out.
• 9 of the last 11 Arkle winners were 1st or 2nd in this race the following year.
• 26 of the last 28 winners started at single figure odds.
• 19 of the last 25 winners were placed at the festival previously.
• There has been only one winner older than 10 years since 1997.