Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is a fortnight away and as we get ever closer to proceedings at Prestbury Park, ante-post markets are starting to take shape for the feature events.

With the likes of Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins opening their doors to the media in the traditional pre-festival stable tours, we have decided that now is the time to preview the big races at the Festival.

The second of our preview series looks at the Queen Mother Champion Chase contest on day two, with all pricing coming from our friends at Betway who offer punters a £30 free bet and 100 free spins offer.

The majority of these runners have multiple entries, alongside this Queen Mother Champions Chase but with Jonbon the red-hot favourite to take the victory, can any other runner stop Nicky Henderson's star performer?

Jonbon (8/11) has seventeen victories in twenty starts and over £1 million in prize money. He has won five since losing to Elixir De Nutz in the Clarence House last year, including this year's edition, finishing 6.5 lengths clear of Energumene. Having failed to win in three attempts at the Festival previously and being withdrawn in 2024, Jonbon can finally add his name to the annals of Cheltenham Festival history with victory.

Il Est Francais (9/2) is another also entered into the Ryanair Chase, with the France-based runner impressing in two visits to UK shores, winning the Kauto Star Chase in 2023 and then placing 2nd, 1.75 lengths behind Banbridge in the King George VI Chase last December. Having won over 2m 1f and 2m 3f previously, the shorter trip won't be of concern and on recent form, this George / Zetterholm-trained contender could push the favourite.

Marine Nationale (9/2) has looked a strong performer since stepping up to chasing and finished second and 2 lengths adrift of Solness in the Dublin Chase a few weeks back. Barry Connell's runner can feature but will need to show more to take the win, despite shortening in price.

The Mullins-trained,  Energumene (7/1) won this race last year, beating Captain Guinness by 10 lengths, but after a couple of strong results in Ireland, Jonbon was too good for him in the Clarence House Chase in January, finishing 6.5 lengths adrift. Now 11 years old, time may be catching up on this talented runner.

Solness (7/1) as mentioned looked great in the Dublin Chase, but has plenty to improve upon, having finished 25 lengths adrift of Jonbon in the Tingle Creek, while El Fabiolo (10/1) will hope to improve on last year's run, when pulled up. A faller in the Dublin Chase, Willie Mullins has said he looks fine and ready to go.

The rest are 14/1 bar.