The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the 2-mile chasing championship, run on Wednesday of the Festival. It’s routinely the fastest, most thrilling race of the week — Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Altior all lit up Prestbury Park in this race.
Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Age | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Marine Nationale | Barry Connell | S W Flanagan | 8 | 5/1 |
| 2024 | Captain Guinness | Henry de Bromhead | R Blackmore | 9 | 19/2 |
| 2023 | Energumene | W P Mullins | P Townend | 9 | 6/5 |
| 2022 | Energumene | W P Mullins | P Townend | 8 | 5/2 |
| 2021 | Put The Kettle On | Henry de Bromhead | A Coleman | 7 | 19/2 |
| 2020 | Politologue | P F Nicholls | H Skelton | 9 | 6/1 |
| 2019 | Altior | N Henderson | N de Boinville | 9 | 4/11 |
| 2018 | Altior | N Henderson | N de Boinville | 8 | Evs |
| 2017 | Special Tiara | Henry de Bromhead | N D Fehily | 10 | 11/1 |
| 2016 | Sprinter Sacre | N Henderson | N de Boinville | 10 | 5/1 |
Key Trends
Age profile: Nine-year-olds have the best record with 8 wins from 23 renewals. Eight-year-olds have won 5 times, seven-year-olds 4 times. Notably, two ten-year-olds have won (Sprinter Sacre in 2016 and Special Tiara in 2017), and Moscow Flyer won aged 11 in 2005. These seasoned two-milers can keep going.
Favourite record: The favourite has won 8 of 23 (35%). The average favourite SP is barely above evens at around 11/10, reflecting how often there’s a very short-priced horse in the field. They’ve placed 13 times from 23 — so even when beaten, the favourite usually runs its race.
Trainers: Nicholls leads with 5 wins from 31 runners, Henderson also has 5 from 16 (a much better strike rate). De Bromhead has 4 wins from 20 runners, with Mullins on 2 from 21. Mrs Harrington’s 2 wins were both Moscow Flyer.
Going: Good ground has produced 10 winners, the most of any ground type. The race has been run on Good to Soft 7 times, Soft 5 times, and Heavy just once (Energumene in the 2023 edition, actually the 2022/23 season).
What the Data Says
The Champion Chase is a race where proven class and experience count. The average winner is 8 years old and rated 169 — these are battle-hardened, top-class two-mile chasers. The age spread is wider than the hurdle equivalent, with winners ranging from 5 (Master Minded in 2008) to 11 (Moscow Flyer in 2005).
Henderson’s record deserves highlighting: 5 wins and 7 placings from just 16 runners gives a 31% win strike rate and 44% place rate. By contrast, Mullins has had 21 runners for only 2 wins, though 6 placed. Nicholls matches Henderson on wins but from nearly double the runners (31).
De Bromhead’s recent form is notable — 4 wins in this race (Sizing Europe 2011, Special Tiara 2017, Captain Guinness 2024, and Put The Kettle On 2021). He’s the most successful active trainer in the race.
The average winning SP of about 9/2 sits between the very short-priced affairs (Altior at 4/11) and the occasional upset. Newmill at 16/1 in 2006 is the biggest-priced winner of our sample period.
All Cheltenham Festival races are run at Cheltenham racecourse. See our Cheltenham course guide for trainer and jockey statistics, going analysis, and betting angles.