16.00
Good To SoftBetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £225080
- 1m 7f 199y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
9/2 (Won)
- Win: £6.00
- Place: £1.50
Form: 15-232 C
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
The 2025 Champion Chaser arrives here a fresher horse than most after missing Cheltenham with a sore neck; returned to action at Leopardstown in December with a pleasing effort behind Solness after making an early mistake; no match for Majborough at the DRF on testing ground but he's a much better horse on a sounder surface; won this in fine style last year and could repeat the dose. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top-class novice hurdler had an interrupted novice chase season but came good last term, finishing runner-up to Solness in this race before winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; he then followed up at Punchestown in style; did well to recover from an error on comeback over C&D last time, just losing out to Solness again; this testing ground is a question, but is the one to beat if handling it. |
15/8 |
|
1st 4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
towards rear but in touch with leaders, smooth headway 3 out, soon niggled along, challenging after 2 out, led going best approaching last, shaken up and went clear run-in, comfortably |
5/4 |
4/5
- Place: £1.20
Form: 11-111 CD
Last run: 53 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 171
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion. |
13/2 |
|
1st 5 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 13y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained. |
8/15 |
20/1
- Place: £2.60
Form: 1-2P56 CD
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 160
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has a good record (213) in the Champion Chase but is by no means certain to sustain it; proved a somewhat fortuitous winner of a weak edition two years ago (on soft ground) when the race fell apart and only three runners completed; far from solid on his form this term, below par in Grade 3 most recently, and returns to Cheltenham as an 11yo who may be on the wane; wears first-time headgear. |
50/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Six-time chase winner, the highlight being the 2024 Champion Chase (2m, soft); not at his best last season but signed off with a solid runner-up finish behind Marine Nationale at Punchestown (2m, yielding); pulled up on seasonal return in the Fortria at Navan (2m, soft to heavy) and tailed off at Leopardstown last time (2m1f, yielding); should be a player here but he's a risky proposition given his form although trainer reported him to be 'really coming to himself' in a recent stable tour. |
13/8 |
|
2nd 1 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
raced in second, challenging 2 out, no chance with winner from last, kept on |
20/1 |
7/1
Form: 132411
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 162
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Smart front-runner whose Grade 1 form features three wins at Leopardstown (2m1f) in 2024/2025 and neck second, showing career-best form, at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on latest start; one of the main contenders back down in distance. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 7 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Tailed off at Leopardstown in February when the soft ground was against him and a visor replaced his usual cheekpieces, which return today; prior to that he posted a third Grade 1 win at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; there's a question mark regarding the step back up in trip for this front-runner but his trainer won this twice in a row with Fakir d'Oudairies in 2021 and 2022, and this 8yo arrives fresh after just two starts this winter; chance. |
9/1 |
|
5th 6 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Made huge progress last season, emerging from handicaps to win two Grade 1s over C&D including this race, beating Marine Nationale; wasn't as good at Cheltenham and Punchestown after but returned to again get the better of his old rival back over C&D last time; is at his best around this track, but the testing ground isn't in his favour; visor replaces cheekpieces. |
3/1 |
12/1
Form: 21-11P D
Last run: 75 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 162
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat. |
7/4 |
|
3 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February. |
33/1 |
|
4th 2 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 90y |
11st 8lb |
Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April. |
13/8 |
13/2
Form: 311/12 CD
Last run: 53 days
W: 11st 10lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 166
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
Rolled back the years with a dominant win at Fairyhouse on latest, his first start at 2m4f for almost six years; won this in 2022 and 2023 but he's a 12yo now and Paul Townend prefers the chances of Il Etait Temps; probably vulnerable to younger legs dropped back in trip. |
16/1 |
|
1st 1 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
High class operator in his pomp; has won eleven chases, including six at the top table; however, it seems like time is catching up with the 12yo and he was well held by Found A Fifty at Cork in December; tailed off at Leopardstown on latest in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); last ran at this trip in 2020; others preferred. |
9/2 |
|
4th 1 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Top-class chaser won the Champion Chase in 2022-23 while he previously won a Grade 1 novice over C&D; returned after a long absence last season and wasn't at his best, but still capable of smart form; was third to Found A Fifty in a Cork Grade 2 on return but will have to improve a fair bit on that; does handle testing ground well; cheekpieces added. |
8/1 |
33/1
Form: 123-12 C
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 151
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
In touch and still going okay when falling three out in this race last year but it's difficult to ascertain where he'd have finished with a clear round; overall record at Cheltenham is 121FU, both wins in handicaps on the New course; ran creditably, one place behind Saint Segal, in the Game Spirit most recently; at the age of ten he's unlikely to find the major improvement that's needed on ratings. |
66/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 92y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Acts on heavy ground; continued his progress with a good second to Master Chewy in this contest 12 months ago and he meets the winner on better terms in this rematch; subsequent form comprises two non-completions at Cheltenham and a remote fourth, albeit facing stiff assignment, in the Tingle Creek; return to this scenario puts him in calculations. |
7/1 |
|
5 |
12th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has form figures of 112312 in completed chase starts and 121 (three handicaps) at Cheltenham; good second in the Grand Annual on this card 12 months ago and filled the same position in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; progressive but has the lowest rating of the field. |
33/1 |
25/1
Form: 85-124 C
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 9 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Landed the Triumph at this meeting in 2021 and was in the process of producing a career-best performance, albeit seeming likely to come off second best in the argument, when final-fence faller in this contest 12 months ago (good to soft); absent since but has a good reappearance record, allied with his proven ability to act very well at the Cheltenham Festival; another big run may be on the cards. |
9/1 |
|
7 |
12th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Landed the Triumph Hurdle here in 2021; still seeking a first Grade 1 success over fences and form dipped in the Dublin Chase most recently, failing by a long way to confirm Naas November placings with Marine Nationale; ran well but was no match for Jonbon in the Tingle Creek in between; not the percentage call. |
25/1 |
|
4th 6 |
2nd Feb 2025 Yielding 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Former Triumph Hurdle winner made a bright start to his 2024-25 campaign with decisive front-running success over Marine Nationale in Grade 3 at Naas in November; similar tactics employed when second to ready winner Jonbon in Tingle Creek at Sandown following month and Rachael Blackmore prefers him to the more highly-rated Captain Guinness. |
14/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £9.40 |
| Straight Forecast | £9.48 |
| Tricast | £83.85 |
| Trifecta | £181.10 |