Tips, odds and predictions for the 2023 Champion Chase
This Grade One is the feature race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival
Edwardstone is our selection at 7/4
Expired
Tom Cannon and Edwardstone clear the last on their way to victory in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase. (Getty)
Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase. This historic Grade One has been won by most of the sport's best two-mile chasers and this year's renewal of the Queen Mother promises to be a thriller.
The Champion Chase betting, which had been looking fairly one-sided for much of the season, has been severely shaken up by recent happenings at Cheltenham and Leopardstown.
Energumene drifted back to 13/8 from an odds-on price following his third-place finish in the Clarence House Chase. Editeur Du Gite, meanwhile, was slashed into third-favouritism, after Gary Moore's front-runner held off Edwardstone to win that Grade One.
Blue Lord had thrust himself into serious consideration after his victory over Christmas, but Willie Mullins' charge was outjumped at the Dublin Racing Festival by Gentleman De Mee, who has now re-entered the Champion Chase picture. Blue Lord remains in the Queen Mother betting, but will now likely go for the Ryanair after Allaho's withdrawal.
Nube Negra missed his chance to win the Champion Chase when second to Put The Kettle On two years ago and I can't see Dan Skelton's charge challenging on this season's form. Greaneteen could play a part if back to his best, but he was trounced by Funambule Sivola - a fortunate runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival 12 months ago - in his prep-run at Newbury.
Henry De Bromhead's duo of Captain Guinness and Coeur Sublime could take up their entries. For me, neither holds any sort of appeal.
There's no doubting Energumene's quality. You can, however, pick holes in his recent performances. In last year's Champion Chase, Paul Townend's task was made easier by the rain and then Shishkin's early departure. Energumene ran out an impressive winner, but he was fully entitled to beat Funambule Sivola, Envoi Allen and Politologue in that sort of manner.
Willie Mullins has cited the white British fences as the reason behind Energumene's flop in the Clarence House Chase. Personally, it seemed like the favourite was always travelling a little quicker than he would have liked, which exposed faults in Energumene's jumping. With both Editeur Du Gite and fellow front-runner Gentleman De Mee in the field, the pace might be even quicker - unless Cheltenham is battered by another biblical downpour on the morning of the race.
If Energumene had drifted out to, say, 5/2, I might be interested. 13/8, however, doesn't seem like good value on the back of that effort at Cheltenham.
Edwardstone (left) loses out narrowly to Editeur Du Gite in the Clarence House. (Getty)
EDWARDSTONE went into the Clarence House on the back of a fairly heavy fall at Kempton. Tom Cannon held his mount up off the pace and Edwardstone's early jumping wasn't entirely convincing. Coming down Cleeve Hill, last year's Arkle winner found his groove, making up plenty of ground and comprehensively outjumping Energumene at the final flight. Just when it seemed like victory was guaranteed, Alan King's charge couldn't see his effort through, allowing Editeur Du Gite to battle back and snatch a narrow victory.
I take nothing away from Editeur Du Gite. The way he fought back after being passed was impressive. You could argue that Tom Cannon was a little too cautious with his tactics, giving Edwardstone too much to do. King also reported Edwardstone to be lame for a few days after the Clarence House, having suffered a bruise during that run at Cheltenham, so that could also have contributed to Edwardstone's failure to get over the line.
With that run under his belt, I'll be expecting Cannon to position Edwardstone a little handier on day two of the Cheltenham Festival - he'll need to too, with a lightning-fast pace all-but guaranteed. Arkle winners boast an excellent record in the Queen Mother and, with improvement likely to come for that run in the Clarence House, Edwardstone would be my idea of the winner.
Verdict
Edwardstone had excuses for his defeat in the Clarence House. Alan King's star won the Arkle last season and looked better than ever when winning the Tingle Creek. He's my Champion Chase selection.
2023 Champion Chase Tips: Edwardstone Straight Win @7/4 at bet365 - 25 Units
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