Queen Mother Champion Chase: Timeform preview and free Race Pass
The Queen Mother Champion Chase (15:30) at Cheltenham on Wednesday is available as a free Race Pass, which means logged-in customers can view all our premium comments and ratings.
Just the seven runners for the Queen Mother Champion Chase (15:30) but it’s a high-quality renewal of the two-mile chasers’ championship in which the first three from January’s Clarence House Chase, which was switched to Cheltenham, all meet again.
The winner that day was Gary Moore’s front runner (Timeform weight-adjusted rating 180+) who caused something of a surprise having got into a perfect rhythm in front, going with enthusiasm and jumping best, and having enough in reserve at the finish to rally for a head win. That was a career-best effort from Editeur du Gite who was following up an even longer-priced win in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton when going off harder and running his rivals into the ground.
Editeur du Gite needs respecting on his latest effort and his excellent record at Cheltenham – he also won a couple of handicaps there last season – making him one of several in this field to have the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag, but he may have to settle for third this time behind the pair who were placed behind him in January.
Edwardstone (185), for ‘Hot Trainer’ Alan King, ran with credit to go down narrowly to the rallying Editeur du Gite having headed him briefly, giving the impression he’d be able to turn the tables on the winner with different tactics as he’d been ridden principally to beat chief rival Energumene. Prior to that, the tough and likeable Edwardstone had suffered a very rare jumping lapse when unseating in the Desert Orchid, but his Tingle Creek Chase victory at Sandown in December had shown he had progressed again from an excellent novice chase campaign which had seen him win the Sporting Life Arkle at last year’s Festival. Held up as usual at Sandown, Edwardstone quickened clear on the run to the final fence to win by nine lengths with favourite Shishkin a well-beaten third.
Energumene (189) provided ‘Hot Trainer’ Willie Mullins with his first victory in the Champion Chase last year, which also earns Energumene the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag, and was odds on for the Clarence House but suffered only his second defeat over fences, having gone down to Shishkin in the same race at Ascot the year before. Unlike then, he clearly wasn’t at his best last time, beaten six and a half lengths into third, though would have been a fair bit closer but for belting the final fence when disputing second.
Normally a good jumper when ridden prominently, the decision to employ more patient tactics with the pace-setting Editeur du Gite in the field didn’t pay off. But Energumene is one of the best chasers around otherwise, going on to win at Punchestown after Cheltenham last year and returning at Cork in December to win the Hilly Way Chase easily for the second year running.
The rest of the field will be relying on one of the big three to slip up in order to pick up some place money. Nube Negra (172+) has already finished runner-up in a Champion Chase, beaten half a length by the mare Put The Kettle On two years ago, and both his wins since have come in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting, earning him the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag. Nube Negra had a very simple task in beating a couple of inferior rivals in the latest edition of the Shloer but wasn’t at his best when chasing home Editeur du Gite in the Desert Orchid Chase last time.
Greaneteen (177) was a close fourth in that same Champion Chase two years ago and was a dual Grade 1 winner at Sandown last season in the Tingle Creek and the Celebration Chase, winning the latter contest for the second year running. However, after returning with a win in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter when giving plenty of weight away all round, he was no match for Edwardstone when bidding to win the Tingle Creek again and can probably be forgiven his latest effort when only third of four in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on firm ground.
That race went to Funambule Sivola (173) for the second year running, returning to the front-running tactics which had also been successful the year before. He was a 40/1 shot when eight and a half lengths second to Energumene in this race last year which earns him the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag but it will be a surprise if he’s able to do something similar again having been left trailing behind the big three here in the Clarence House.
While Captain Guinness (171) also has the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag (third in the Arkle two years ago) and his trainer Henry de Bromhead has the ‘Hot Trainer’ flag, he looks the outsider here although capable of high-class form on his day, such as when winning the Fortria Chase at Navan in November. However, he was well held behind Energumene at the Punchestown Festival last year and ran just respectably behind that one’s stablemate Blue Lord in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown last time.
Timeform 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.
Timeform weight-adjusted ratings
189 Energumene
185 Edwardstone
180+ Editeur du Gite
177 Greaneteen
173 Funambule Sivola
172+ Nube Negra
171 Captain Guinness
Race Passes are the ultimate form guide, providing Timeform analysis, Flags and ratings for every runner in every race in Britain and Ireland. Subscribers have access to additional features that add extra levels of insight, including complete performance histories, an extensive form archive and unlimited use of horse, jockey and trainer searches.
Just log in and click hereto view the full card and Timeform analysis for the 15:30 at Cheltenham on Wednesday. You can subscribe to Race Passes to access every race here.
