Cheltenham Racecourse News - Altior, Politologue & Chacun Pour Soi among 31 entries for Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase is the championship contest for two-mile chasers and has attracted 31 entries, including previous winners Altior (Nicky Henderson), successful in 2018 and 2019, plus 2020 scorer Politologue (Paul Nicholls).
Politologue began his season with the fourth G1 success of his career in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park in December while Altior endured just his second defeat in 17 chase starts when runner-up to Nube Negra (Dan Skelton) in the G2 Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on 27 December.
Trainer Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson are jointly the most successful trainers of all time in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, alongside the late Tom Dreaper, with six winners each. Henderson has also made an entry for G2 scorer Janika, while Nicholls’ other potential starters include Duc des Genievres, Greaneteen and Magic Saint.
Politologue on his way to victory in 2020
Heading the market at 5/4 with sponsor Betway is Chacun Pour Soi (Willie Mullins), one of 14 Irish-trained entries. Nine-year-old Chacun Pour Soi has yet to start at Cheltenham, having missed this contest last season due to a last-minute injury. He has however looked imperious on his two starts so far this season, most recently cruising to victory in the G1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown on 27 December.
Third behind Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown was Put The Kettle On (Henry de Bromhead).The seven-year-old mare boasts a formidable record at Cheltenham, having won all three of her starts at the Home of Jump Racing. At The Festival™ in 2020, she landed the G1 Arkle Novices’ Chase and began the 2020/21 campaign with success in the G2 Shloer Chase at The November Meeting.
Another Irish entry to have already tasted success at Cheltenham this season is Chatham Street Lad (Michael Winters), who was most impressive when taking the G3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup by 15 lengths on December 12.
First Flow (Kim Bailey) has won six of his 10 starts over fences, including his last five starts. Most recently, he defied a big weight to capture the Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby on 27 December.
Gloucestershire-based Bailey is considering options for the nine-year-old and remarked:
“First Flow is a horse that needs heavy ground, and he was very brave when winning at Wetherby over the Festive period.
“The Champion Chase is something we would think about, but the ground is going to be an important factor for him.
“He could run in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot later this month."
BETWAY QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE (Grade 1)
Altior (IRE) 11 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Bun Doran (IRE) 10 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
Cash Back (FR) 9 Watch This Space Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 9 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 9 Mr V. Healy Michael Winters IRE
Cilaos Emery (FR) 9 Luke McMahon W. P. Mullins IRE Defi du Seuil (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs
Duc des Genievres (FR) 8 Sullivan Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls
Esprit du Large (FR) 7 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 6 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Fanion d'Estruval (FR) 6 Mr David Wilson Venetia Williams
First Flow (IRE) 9 Mr A. N. Solomons Kim Bailey
Greaneteen (FR) 7 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
Ibleo (FR) 8 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
Impact Factor (IRE) 9 Robcour Mrs J. Harrington IRE Janika (FR) 8 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Le Richebourg (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Magic Saint (FR) 7 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Paul Nicholls
Min (FR) 10 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Notebook (GER) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Nube Negra (SPA) 7 Mr T. Spraggett Dan Skelton
Politologue (FR) 10 Mr J. Hales Paul Nicholls
Put The Kettle On (IRE) 7 One For Luck Racing Syndicate Henry de Bromhead IRE
Rouge Vif (FR) 7 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington
Samcro (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Sceau Royal (FR) 9 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Alan King
Simply The Betts (IRE) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 7 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington IRE
Tornado Flyer (IRE) 8 T. F. P. W. P. Mullins IRE
Waiting Patiently (IRE) 10 Mr Richard Collins Ruth Jefferson
31 entries
14 Irish-trained
Betway PR Manager Chad Yeomans said: “It’s fantastic to see lots of entries for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and as it stands, Chacun Pour Soi is the one they have to beat and is the 5/4 favourite with us. His jumping is one of his main assets and you couldn’t help but be impressed with him at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“Reigning Champion Politologue is going to be a tough nut to crack, though. He goes to Ascot to face Defi Du Seuil in a few weeks’ time, so the betting may change complexion again before too long. Throw in Altior and the new kid on the block Nube Negra, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase could be the most exciting of the Championship races at Cheltenham!”
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Betway odds:
5/4 Chacun Pour Soi
11/2 Politologue
9/1 Nube Negra
10/1 Altior
14/1 Defi Du Seuil, Put The Kettle On
16/1 Duc Des Genievres, Notebook, Waiting Patiently
20/1 Greaneteen, Rouge Vif
22/1 Samcro
25/1 Janika, Min
28/1 Sceau Royal
33/1 Battleoverdoyen, Cash Back, Chatham Street Lad, Cilaos Emery, Fakir Doudairies, Le Richebourg, Magic Saint, Simply The Betts, Sizing Pottsie, Tornado Flyer
40/1 Bun Doran, First Flow, Ibleo
50/1 Esprit Du Large, Fanion dEstruval, Impact Factor
Imperial Aura set for trial on Saturday as 50 entered for Ryanair Chase
There are 50 entries, the highest number since 2008, for the Ryanair Chase, which takes place over the intermediate distance of an extended two and a half miles.
In 2020 it was Min (Willie Mullins) who came out in front and he is one of 23 Irish-trained entries in 2021. The 10-year-old recorded the seventh G1 success of his career when making a winning seasonal return in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in December, when he accounted for stablemates Tornado Flyer and Melon, and heads the market with most bookmakers. If successful again in 2021, Min would become just the second dual winner of the Ryanair Chase after Albertas Run, successful in 2010 and 2011.
Also engaged again this year are last year’s neck runner-up Saint Calvados (Harry Whittington), fourth to Frodon on his return to action in the G1 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, and the third home from 2020 A Plus Tard (Henry de Bromhead), who landed the G1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the Festive period.
Min leads the way home in 2020
Vying with Min for favouritism at this stage is Imperial Aura (Kim Bailey). The eight-year-old is already a winner at The Festival™, having landed the Listed Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase over two and a half miles in 2020. He has picked up where he left off so far this season, beginning his campaign with victory in the Listed Colin Parker Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on 1 November and following up with a five-length victory in the G2 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot 20 days’ later.
Bailey commented: “Imperial Aura is in good form and he runs on Saturday in the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.
“That race is essentially his prep run for the Cheltenham Festival where he will hopefully line up in the Ryanair Chase.
“He won at the Festival last year and I have been delighted with his performances so far this year.
“I am very happy with him and Saturday should hopefully tell us more, but Cheltenham is definitely a target for him.”
The Ryanair Chase has also been left open for leading Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase contenders Altior (Nicky Henderson) and Chacun Pour Soi (Willie Mullins) while recent Ladbrokes King George VI Chase runner-up Waiting Patiently (Ruth Jefferson) has the option of the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase as well as the Ryanair Chase.
RYANAIR CHASE (Grade 1)
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
Al Dancer (FR) 8 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nigel Twiston-Davies
Allaho (FR) 7 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins IRE
Altior (IRE) 11 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson Annamix (FR) 8 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
A Plus Tard (FR) 7 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Aso (FR) 11 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams Balko des Flos (FR) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Benatar (IRE) 9 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore
Caribean Boy (FR) 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Castlebawn West (IRE) 8 Mrs Boyd,Mrs Armstrong,Exors JB Anderson W. P. Mullins IRE
Cepage (FR) 9 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 9 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 9 Mr V. Healy Michael Winters IRE
Chris's Dream (IRE) 9 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
Cilaos Emery (FR) 9 Luke McMahon W. P. Mullins IRE
Cyrname (FR) 9 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls
Daly Tiger (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
Dashel Drasher (GB) 8 Mrs B Tully and Mr R Lock Jeremy Scott
Defi du Seuil (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs
Delta Work (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Easy Game (FR) 7 Mr Nick Peacock W. P. Mullins IRE
Esprit du Large (FR) 7 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 6 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Fanion d'Estruval (FR) 6 Mr David Wilson Venetia Williams
Greaneteen (FR) 7 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
Ibleo (FR) 8 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
Imperial Aura (IRE) 8 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Kim Bailey
Itchy Feet (FR) 7 Kate & Andrew Brooks Olly Murphy
Janika (FR) 8 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Kalashnikov (IRE) 8 Mr Paul Murphy Amy Murphy Kemboy (FR) 9
Kemboy/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
Master Tommytucker (GB) 10 Mr A. G. Fear Paul Nicholls
Melon (GB) 9 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE
Midnight Shadow (GB) 8 Mrs Aafke Clarke Sue Smith
Min (FR) 10 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Mister Fisher (IRE) 7 James and Jean Potter Nicky Henderson
Presenting Percy (GB) 10 Philip J. Reynolds Gordon Elliott IRE
Real Steel (FR) 8 Mrs Kathy Stuart&Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd Paul Nicholls
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 8 Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott Nigel Twiston-Davies
Saint Calvados (FR) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington
Samcro (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Shattered Love (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Simply The Betts (IRE) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 7 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington IRE
Terrefort (FR) 8 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Top Notch (FR) 10 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Tornado Flyer (IRE) 8 T. F. P. W. P. Mullins IRE
Waiting Patiently (IRE) 10 Mr Richard Collins Ruth Jefferson
50 entries
23 Irish-trained The Festival™ presented by Magners 2021
Day One – Tuesday 16th March (Old Course)
13:30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) 2m ½f
14:10 Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade1) 2m
14:50 Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
15:30 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) 2m ½f
16:10 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) 2m 4f
16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3) 2m ½f
17:30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 6f
Day Two – Wednesday 17th March (Old Course & Cross Country)
13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) 2m 5f
14:10 Festival Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 3m ½f
14:50 Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Grade 3) 2m 5f
15:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 2m
16:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase 3m 6f
16:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3) 2m
17:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) 2m ½f
Day Three – Thursday 18th March (New Course)
13:30 Marsh Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f
14:10 Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Listed) 3m
14:50 Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 2m 5f
15:30 Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle Race (Grade 1) 3m
16:10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 5f
16:50 Daylesford Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 1f
17:30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145) 3m 2f
Day Four – Friday 19th March (New Course)
13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1f
14:10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3) 2m 1f
14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) 3m
15:30 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 3m 2½f
16:10 St. James’s Place Challenge Cup Hunter Steeple Chase 3m 2½f
16:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares Steeple Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f
17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle Race (0-145) 2m 4½f
Cheltenham Racecourse
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