The Champion Chase is the championship race for chasers over two miles. It is the most prestigious steeplechase in the sport over the distance. It is the fourth race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival which is usually a Wednesday and in 2020 is on March 11.
The race distance is the shortest for a chase in the UK. The race takes place on the Old Course at Cheltenham and the start time is 3.30pm. The race has a history of producing multiple winners and Altior has prevailed in the last two years. The winner of the Arkle Chase in the previous year is often a leading contender for the Champion Chase. Both races are run over the minimum chase distance.
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Champion Chase race conditions
The Champion Chase is run at speed and one jumping error can take a horse out of the race. It is run over one circuit and a bit on the sharper Old Course and there are 13 fences. The race is more a test of speed than stamina.
The Champion Chase is open to horses aged five and older. Regardless of age, all the runners carry 11-07 but mares receive an allowance of seven pounds. The total prize fund is £400,000 and the winner receives £225,080. At the time of writing 31 horses have been entered at the first declaration stage, but the final field usually has less than 10 runners.
History of the Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase was first run in 1959 under the title of the National Hunt Two Mile Champion Chase. The current title was established in 1980 to mark the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother.
She owned several successful National Hunt horse, including Game Spirit who was second in the 1976 Champion Chase. The race was first sponsored in 2007 and has had several title sponsors. Betway have sponsored the race since 2015.
2019 Champion Chase result
Altior was the defending champion and won the Champion Chase again. That meant the horse had won a race at four successive Cheltenham Festivals. Altior jumped left at a number of fences but led three fences from the finish. He was then headed but led again on the flat and stayed on well towards the finish. Politologue was less than two lengths adrift in second place at the finishing line. Sceau Royal had led at the last fence but dropped off the pace to finish third, one and three quarter lengths behind Politologue.
Result
| Place | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Atior | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henders | NA | 4/11 F |
| 2nd | Politologue | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls | 1 3/4 | 11/1 |
| 3rd | Sceau Royal | Daryl Jacob | Alan King | 1 3/4 | 16/1 |
Champion Chase Prize Money
- Winner: £225,080.00
- 2nd: £84,000.00
- 3rd: £42,440.00
- 4th: £21,200.00
- 5th: £10,640.00
- 6th: £5,320.00
- 7th: £2,640.00
- 8th: £1,360.00
Betting dividends
- Tote Win: £1.40 Place: £1.10, £2.20, £3.20
- EX: £6.30
- Trifecta: £50.70
- SF: £7.20
- Tricast: £45.22
- Swingers: £2.20, £3.90, £10.70
There were 9 runners so each way bets were settled at one fifth the odds for 3 places.
Champion Chase Winners — This Century
| YEAR | WINNER | SECOND | THIRD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ALTIOR (IRE) | POLITOLOGUE (FR) | SCEAU ROYAL (FR) |
| J: Nico de BoinvilleT: Nicky Henderson | J: Harry CobdenT: Paul Nicholls | J: Daryl JacobT: Alan King | |
| 2018 | ALTIOR (IRE) | MIN (FR) | GOD’S OWN (IRE) |
| J: Nico de BoinvilleT: Nicky Henderson | J: P. TownendT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland | J: Paddy BrennanT: Tom George | |
| 2017 | SPECIAL TIARA | FOX NORTON (FR) | SIR VALENTINO (FR) |
| J: Noel FehilyT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | J: Aidan ColemanT: Colin Tizzard | J: Paddy BrennanT: Tom George | |
| 2016 | SPRINTER SACRE (FR) | UN DE SCEAUX (FR) | SPECIAL TIARA |
| J: Nico de BoinvilleT: Nicky Henderson | J: R. WalshT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland | J: Noel FehilyT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | |
| 2015 | DODGING BULLETS | SOMERSBY (IRE) | SPECIAL TIARA |
| J: Sam Twiston-DaviesT: Paul Nicholls | J: Brian HughesT: Mick Channon | J: Noel FehilyT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | |
| 2014 | SIRE DE GRUGY (FR) | SOMERSBY (IRE) | MODULE (FR) |
| J: Jamie MooreT: Gary Moore | J: Dominic ElsworthT: Mick Channon | J: Paddy BrennanT: Tom George | |
| 2013 | SPRINTER SACRE (FR) | SIZING EUROPE (IRE) | WISHFULL THINKING |
| J: Barry GeraghtyT: Nicky Henderson | J: A. E. LynchT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | J: Richard JohnsonT: Philip Hobbs | |
| 2012 | FINIAN’S RAINBOW (IRE) | SIZING EUROPE (IRE) | BIG ZEB (IRE) |
| J: Barry GeraghtyT: Nicky Henderson | J: A. E. LynchT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | J: Robbie PowerT: Colm A. Murphy, Ireland | |
| 2011 | SIZING EUROPE (IRE) | BIG ZEB (IRE) | CAPTAIN CEE BEE (IRE) |
| J: A. E. LynchT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | J: Barry GeraghtyT: Colm A. Murphy, Ireland | J: A. P. McCoyT: Edward P. Harty, Ireland | |
| 2010 | BIG ZEB (IRE) | FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE) | KALAHARI KING (FR) |
| J: Barry GeraghtyT: Colm A. Murphy, Ireland | J: A. P. McCoyT: Thomas Cooper, Ireland | J: Graham LeeT: Ferdy Murphy, France | |
| 2009 | MASTER MINDED (FR) | WELL CHIEF (GER) | PETIT ROBIN (FR) |
| J: R. WalshT: Paul Nicholls | J: Timmy MurphyT: David Pipe | J: Barry GeraghtyT: Nicky Henderson | |
| 2008 | MASTER MINDED (FR) | VOY POR USTEDES (FR) | FAIR ALONG (GER) |
| J: R. WalshT: Paul Nicholls | J: Robert ThorntonT: Alan King | J: Richard JohnsonT: Philip Hobbs | |
| 2007 | VOY POR USTEDES (FR) | DEMPSEY (IRE) | RIVER CITY (IRE) |
| J: Robert ThorntonT: Alan King | J: Noel FehilyT: Carl Llewellyn | J: Tom DoyleT: Noel Chance | |
| 2006 | NEWMILL (IRE) | FOTA ISLAND (IRE) | MISTER MCGOLDRICK |
| J: Andrew J. McNamaraT: John Joseph Murphy, Ireland | J: A. P. McCoyT: M. F. Morris, Ireland | J: Dominic ElsworthT: Sue Smith | |
| 2005 | MOSCOW FLYER (IRE) | WELL CHIEF (GER) | AZERTYUIOP (FR) |
| J: Barry GeraghtyT: Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland | J: Timmy MurphyT: M. C. Pipe | J: R. WalshT: Paul Nicholls | |
| 2004 | AZERTYUIOP (FR) | FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (IRE) | TIUTCHEV |
| J: R. WalshT: Paul Nicholls | J: Richard JohnsonT: Philip Hobbs | J: A. P. McCoyT: M. C. Pipe | |
| 2003 | MOSCOW FLYER (IRE) | NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) | CENKOS (FR) |
| J: Barry GeraghtyT: Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland | J: Conor O’DwyerT: A. L. T. Moore, Ireland | J: R. WalshT: Paul Nicholls | |
| 2002 | FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (IRE) | NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) | CENKOS (FR) |
| J: Richard JohnsonT: Philip Hobbs | J: Conor O’DwyerT: A. L. T. Moore, Ireland | J: Timmy MurphyT: Paul Nicholls | |
| 2000 | EDREDON BLEU (FR) | DIRECT ROUTE (IRE) | FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (IRE) |
| J: A. P. McCoyT: Henrietta Knight | J: Norman WilliamsonT: Howard Johnson | J: Joe TizzardT: Paul Nicholls |
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Champion Chase Betting Trends Since 2000
- The average price of the winners: almost 9/2.
- Range of Starting Prices: 1/4 to 16/1.
- Number of outright and joint favourites: 9.
- Odds-on favourites: 3.
- Double-figure priced winners: 4.
- Most common range of odds: 5 winners from Evens to 15/8.
Race Trends Since 2000
- British trained winners: 13.
- Irish trained winners: 6.
- Most common age: 8 and 9 with 5 wins.
- Weight range: All winners carried 11-10.
- Leading jockey (wins): Barry Geraghty (5).
- Leading trainer: (wins): Nicky Henderson (5).
Champion Chase 12 Year Winner Other Trends
- 10 aged from 7 to 10.
- 5 favourites.
- 9 in top 3 in the betting.
- 9 won previous race.
- 11 ran in the last 53 days.
- 7 ran in the Clarence House Chase on previous start.
- 5 won the race and 1 was placed.
- 11 had run at Cheltenham before.
- 7 had won at Cheltenham.
- 10 had run at least 9 times over 15 to 17 furlongs.
- 10 had won 6 times or more over that distance.
- 12 had run in 7 chases or more.
- 11 won 5 chases or more in the past.
- 10 rated 164 or higher.
- 11 had won at Grade 1 level.
- 12 had won at Grade 2 level.
- 11 ran 2 times or more earlier in the season.
- 11 won a race that season.
Champion Chase Records Since 1959
The Champion Chase has thrown up some amazing records – here are history’s best jockey, trainer, horse and most successful owner.
-
Horse
There is only one three times winner, Badsworth Boy in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
-
Jockey
- Pat Taaffe: Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966 and Straight Fort (1970).
- Barry Geraghty: Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Big Zeb (2010), Finian’s Rainbow (2012 and, Sprinter Sacre (2013.)
-
Trainer
- Tom Dreaper: Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Muir (1969) and Straight Fort (1970).
- Nicky Henderson: Remittance Man (1992), Finian’s Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016) and Altior (2018, 2019).
-
Owner
- George Ansley: Fortria (1960, 1961) and Straight Fort (1970)
- Doug Armitage: Badsworth Boy (1983, 1984, 1985).
2020 Champion Chase Leading Contenders
The Champion Chase betting is dominated by Defi Du Seuil and Altior towards the end of January. Here are the most fancied runners in the market and the leading contenders. Please note that all statistics and ratings are correct as at January 21, 2020, and are subject to change.
Defi Du Seuil
| Trainer | Philip Hobbs |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Barry Geraghty |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 171 |
| Best Official Rating | 170 |
| Best RPR this season | 167 |
| Best OR this season | – |
| Chase runs | 9 |
| Chase wins | 6 |
| Career runs | 20 |
| Career wins | 14 |
| Total prize money | £594,912 |
Altior
| Trainer | Nicky Henderson |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Nico de Boinville |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 183 |
| Best Official Rating | 175 |
| Best RPR this season | 177 |
| Best OR this season | 175 |
| Chase runs | 15 |
| Chase wins | 14 |
| Career runs | 23 |
| Career wins | 20 |
| Total prize money | £1,249,710 |
Chacun Pour Soi
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Paul Townend |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 167 |
| Best Official Rating | 169 |
| Best RPR this season | 167 |
| Best OR this season | 169 |
| Chase runs | 4 |
| Chase wins | 2 |
| Career runs | 7 |
| Career wins | 3 |
| Total prize money | £116,130 |
A Plus Tard
| Trainer | Henry de Bromhead |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Rachael Blackmore |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 170 |
| Best Official Rating | 165 |
| Best RPR this season | 170 |
| Best OR this season | 160 |
| Chase runs | 7 |
| Chase wins | 3 |
| Career runs | 12 |
| Career wins | 5 |
| Total prize money | £209,045 |
Cilaos Emery
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Danny Mullins |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 166 |
| Best Official Rating | 165 |
| Best RPR this season | 166 |
| Best OR this season | NA |
| Chase runs | 3 |
| Chase wins | 3 |
| Career runs | 10 |
| Career wins | 6 |
| Total prize money | £160,792 |
Cyrname
| Trainer | Paul Nicholls |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Harry Cobden |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 181 |
| Best Official Rating | 177 |
| Best RPR this season | 179 |
| Best OR this season | 177 |
| Chase runs | 12 |
| Chase wins | 6 |
| Career runs | 18 |
| Career wins | 7 |
| Total prize money | £320,739 |
Min
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Paul Townend |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 180 |
| Best Official Rating | 171 |
| Best RPR this season | 164 |
| Best OR this season | 171 |
| Chase runs | 14 |
| Chase wins | 8 |
| Career runs | 19 |
| Career wins | 10 |
| Total prize money | £695,046 |
Bun Doran
| Trainer | Tom George |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Jonathan Burke |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 163 |
| Best Official Rating | 160 |
| Best RPR this season | 163 |
| Best OR this season | 156 |
| Chase runs | 15 |
| Chase wins | 3 |
| Career runs | 20 |
| Career wins | 5 |
| Total prize money | £163,950 |
Douvan
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Paul Townend |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 178 |
| Best Official Rating | 167 |
| Best RPR this season | 166 |
| Best OR this season | NA |
| Chase runs | 13 |
| Chase wins | 10 |
| Career runs | 19 |
| Career wins | 15 |
| Total prize money | £609,835 |
Politologue
| Trainer | Paul Nicholls |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Harry Cobden |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 173 |
| Best Official Rating | 165 |
| Best RPR this season | 168 |
| Best OR this season | 166 |
| Chase runs | 19 |
| Chase wins | 8 |
| Career runs | 25 |
| Career wins | 10 |
| Total prize money | £673,767 |
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Champion Chase form and betting analysis
The race could develop into a showdown between the champion in Altior and the younger pretender in Defi Du Seuil. The latter has the best form over two miles this season in the field while his opponent is proven over the course and distance. Defi Du Seuil was impressive in winning the Clarence House Chase, a major trial for the Champion Chase. However, ALTIOR has only been beaten once in 20 starts and the horse did not look totally fit behind Cyrname at Ascot. Altior at his best is good enough to become just the second horse to win the Champion Chase three times.
Willie Mullins has never won the Champion Chase and in most years Chacun Pour Soi would be the favourite to deliver a first win. However, on ratings the horse has something to find with the two market leaders. A Plus Tard won a handicap chase at Cheltenham last March but has looked impressive at a higher level this season. Min and Douvan are closely matched on form while Politologue could make the payout places again. Cyrname looks a big price based on form with Altior while Sceau Royal had his chance to win the Champion Chase last season.
Our Champion Chase tip: