The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase Tips (3:30pm)

[StevieDay1983]

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase open to horses five years or older. It is run over two miles and the participants are invited to jump thirteen fences. The on course support for Shishkin was palpable and he ran absolutely no race at all leaving Energumene to pick up the pieces once Chacun Pour Soi unseated Paddy Mullins at the ninth fence.

When it comes to the statistics, Nicky Henderson is the trainer you want to follow into this race usually. He has won an four of the last ten renewals of this race including twice with Altior (2019 & 2018) and Sprinter Sacre (2016 & 2013).

Three of the last six renewals have gone to an Irish raideupping their game at this discipline. Older horses between the ages of eight and ten tend to do well in this. All previous winners had experienced a previous run at Cheltenham and each of the last ten winners had won at least five previous chases.

Energumene

A winner of eight of his ten starts over fences, however he was bitterly disappointing when only third to Editeur Du Gite over the course and distance in the Clarence House Chase. He is prone to the odd error and this year looks to have his work cut out to reverse the form with both Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone. He has raced outside of his native Ireland three times andtwice it has ended in defeat. Some Mullins runners just don't seem to take to the travelling. If this race was run in Ireland, I would have a lot more confidence in him turning the tables but alas it is not. Although he won this last year he needs to take another step forward.

Edwardstone

He won the Arkle last season and then made a winning seasonal reappearance at Sandown in the Tingle Creek. The form of that win gets stronger by the day as all other rivals bar Greanateen and Dunvegan have subsequently come out to win a graded race. They include Shishkin, Gentleman De Mee and Funambule Sivola. He is no stranger to this track and now back at a Festival, he is likely to have a very big say in the outcome of this race.

Editeur Du Gite

He has found a new lease of life this season and is unbeaten in his last two starts. The most recent of those came when beating off Edwardstone and Energumene in the Clarence House Chase. There was no fluke about the win and he cemented his claims for a shot at this with a facile victory. He is a multiple course and distance winner in his own right and if fully freshened up for this by Gary Moore, he is once again a leading player given the inconsistancies with those ahead of him in the market.

Blue Lord

Found his stablemate Gentleman De Mee seven lengths too strong in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown just a few weeks ago. He has been beaten fair and square on his two previous visits to Prestbury Park and it seems likley that he will once again fail to live up to expectations. On all known form, he has plenty of improvement to find in order to trouble the main protagonists.

Gentleman De Mee

Showed much improved form to get the better of stablemate Blue Lord at the Dublin Racing Festival just a few weeks ago. This may well be his thime of the year though as when he won in February last year he followed up twice subsequently at Navan and Aintree. He has beaten Edwardstone in the past, but it seems at though he saves all of his better runs for relatively flat tracks. The last time he ran here, he was bitterly disappointing.

Nube Negra

Won the Grade 2 Cheltenham Chase over the course and distance last November but ultimately found Editeur Du Gite too strong in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. He does have a good record at Cheltenham and ran as well as could be expected in 2021 when beaten only a half-length by Put The Kettle On. He has had better opportunities against lesser opposition in the past but it would be complete folly to write him off entirely, but others look to be in much better form.

Greaneteen

Having won on his seasonal reappearance at Exeter in the Haldon Gold Cup, his season has become somewhat disappointing. He was decimated by Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek and then capitulated all too easily in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Cheltenham does not appear to suit him having been well beaten here twice in the past and others have far stronger claims.

Summary

Whilst Energumene ended up being an emphatic winner here last year, he faces the toughest of opposition to date here. He does not travel well and we have seen that in numerous races in the past. For that reason Edwardstone looks sure to give a bold account following his recent fine effort behind Editeur Du Gite. Previous winning festival experience is a useful asset to have and Alan King will have his stable star fit and primed for the occasion.

Punters Lounge Tip: Edwardstone @ 15/8 at >Betfred - Click Here To Bet

by Karl Hedley @Tumbleweed King

[The Brigadier]

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase open to horses five years or older. It is run over two miles and the participants are invited to jump thirteen fences.

Three of the last six renewals have gone to an Irish raider upping their game at this discipline. Older horses between the ages of eight and ten tend to do well in this. All previous winners had experienced a previous run at Cheltenham and each of the last ten winners had won at least five previous chases.

CAPTAIN GUINNESS

Henry De Bromhead’s 8 year old has 16lb to find on official ratings and looks out of his depth here. Ridden by Rachael Blackmore he was a grade 2 winner at Navan last November and chased home Blue Lord at Leopardstown over Christmas. Place chance at best.

EDITEUR DU GITE

Great record at Cheltenham winning three of his five starts and arrives in a rich vein of form having won the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas prior to beating two of today’s rivals in Edwardstone and Energumene over course in distance in the Clarence House Chase in January. He loves to bowl along in front and those tactics will no doubt be employed here by Niall Houlihan for trainer Gary Moore. Will be dangerous if allowed a soft lead.

EDWARDSTONE

Alan King’s big hope of a winner at the meeting. Top novice chaser last season winning the Arkle Chase at last year’s meeting. Impressed on his re-appearance when winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown by 9L from Greaneteen. Was headed in the final strides by Editeur Du Gite last time over course and distance and must be a major player here under his regular pilot Tim Cannon.

ENERGUMENE

A consistent two mile chaser who won this last year and looks the most likely winner to my eyes. Trained at Closutton by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend he’s won 10 of his 13 runs under rules and can surely be forgiven his latest run behind Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone when beaten just under 7L. His trainer stated afterwards that the horse was struggling with the painted white take offs which they don’t have in Ireland! A strange excuse but we can always excuse a horse a poor run and he can bounce back here.

FUNAMBULE SIVOLA

Was a 40/1 runner up to Energumene in this last year beaten 8 1/2L. Venetia Williams’ charge bounced back to form when winning the 4 runner Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month but will need a career best to get amongst the leaders today. Charlie Deutsch rides.

GREANETEEN

Smart two chaser on his day trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Harry Cobden. 9L behind Edwardstone in Tingle Creek and turned over at odds on in Game Spirit behind Funambule Sivola last time. Best on good ground and todays testing ground unlike to suit.

NUBE NEGRA

Useful on his day but was pulled out on the morning of this race last year due to soft ground and conditions look unlikely to suit here. Trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry he was 17L behind Editeur Du Gite at Kempton over Christmas and is hard to fancy on this ground.

Summary:-

Not the best renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase which revolves around the front three. They all met over course and distance in January where Editeur Du Gite came out best. It’s maybe a different story today with the Willie Mullins trained Energumene fancied to bounce back to form and beat his two old advisory’s and follow up last year’s victory under Paul Townend.

1 Energumene

2 Edwardstone

3 Editeur Du Gite