Queen Mother Champion Chase Day 2 Preview
The next big race at the Cheltenham Festival is today at 15:30. The Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase takes place on Wednesday, March 13, and it’s a race you don’t want to miss. However, early this morning trainer Nicky Henderson announced that Jonbon is a non-runner. That means only seven horses will compete if no other horse drops out before the race.
The past two years have seen the winning combination of jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins take the crown. Energumene is a back-to-back winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase but is not competing in 2024. That opens the door wide open to the rest of the field.
The National Hunt steeplechase has a humongous prize pot of £400,000, with over half going to the winner. The race is just under two miles long across the Old Course and horses must be at least five years old to compete. This year, we have seven horses running for their chance of glory, hoping to follow in the hoof prints of Energumene. However, who is going to win the race this Wednesday? Find out who we are rooting for in our Queen Mother Champion Chase betting guide.
3:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase Betting Odds 2024
While the festival began on Tuesday, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is at 15:30 on Wednesday. The race distance is just under two miles, and there are 12 fences for the field to navigate. seven horses are scheduled to take part in the event, but a lot can change between now and race day. Check back here next week if any runners have dropped out.
To help you make a winning wager, we have a list of the Queen Mother Champion Chase odds and the runners in this year’s event. The odds will fluctuate between now and moments before the races. If you see a horse you like, it could be worth securing your bet early. Here is the list of Champion Chase Runners in 2024.
- El Fabiolo @ 2/7 (was 1/2)
- Edwardstone @ 6/1 (was 13/2)
- Captain Guinness @ 13/2 (was 12/1)
- Elixir De Nutz @ 22/1 (was 25/1)
- Gentleman De Mee @ 28/1 (was 33/1)
- Boothill @ 66/1 (was 40/1)
- Funambule Sivola @ 100/1 (no change)
The odds above are exactly as they appear on the Novibet sports betting platform. Each bookmaker will have different odds for the entire field. We recommend shopping around before you decide where to bet. Some betting sites will cover your wager for a non-starter. Make sure you read the fine print before you make a bet, as there is nothing worse than losing money before the start of the race.
The Champion Chase odds above will change several times before the start of the race, so it pays to follow the markets. If you miss the chance to bet on this horse race, the Cheltenham Festival has two further days of action. Don’t forget to check our Gold Cup betting guide for tips and tricks when betting on the last major race at Cheltenham.
Champion Chase Predictions 2024
Prediction: El Fabiolo Champion Chase Winner 2024
Horse races never go exactly to plan, but there is a clear favourite this year. El Fabiolo has odds of 2/7 for good reason. Looking at the race record, the horse has competed in six chase events and has won all six. Plus, when you consider the trainer is W P Mullins and the jockey is Paul Townend, it feels like there is only one outcome for this race. El Fabiolo will win the Queen Mother Champion Chase by at least two lengths.
However, if you are looking at Champion Chase betting this year and want to avoid the favourite, there is a ray of hope. Looking at the previous winners, the last time a jockey won this event in three consecutive years was in the early 80s. The closest anyone has got in recent history is Nico de Boinville, with three wins in four years on Sprinter Sacre and Altior. Maybe somebody in the field will interrupt the Townend and Mullins winning streak, but who could it be?
Perhaps El Fabiolo’s closest rival is Ferny Hollow. However, there has been yet another injury setback, ruling the horse out of this race. Ferny Hollow picked up an injury in 2021 and missed 791 days before returning at the end of February. The return may have come too soon, as the horse will miss the entire Cheltenham Festival in 2024.
Jonbon was the closest rival to Willie Mullins. However, trainer Nicky Henderson revealed this morning that Jonbon is a non-runner alongside First Street and Kingston Pride. He cited the disappointing first-day performances as the reason he pulled all his horses out of today’s race. Plus, he alluded to non-runners on Thursday and Friday at Cheltenham. Henderson has won the Champion Chase five times since 2012, but will not compete in 2024. Jonbon has a record of nine runs, seven victories and two second-place finishes in chase events. The French horse has the best chance to cause an upset in this race.
Jonbon is a non-runner in the Champion Chase! ❌ pic.twitter.com/fpIUewfz5r
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 13, 2024
The Great British horse, Edwardstone, has the experience to also be in contention. Edwardstone has considerably more lifetime races than the other horses in the fight for the win. But trainer Alan King has found some form. Edwardstone picked up a 40-length victory at the Game Spirit Chase in Newbury a month ago. You can’t easily compare Newbury to Cheltenham, but Edwardstone at 6/1 has a chance at the Champion Chase this year.
Horse racing wagers are never straightforward, but those three horses feel the most likely to win the chase. Outside of them, Captain Guinness currently has odds of 15/2 and could be in and amongst the action. We like the look of Captain Guinness and Elixir De Nutz for betting each way, but a race-winning wager could be a stretch too far. Betting on the Queen Mother Champion Chase feels too close to a procession this year. However, seasoned racing fans will know that when an event is this one-sided, it makes an upset even more appealing.
Queen Mother Champion Chase Betting Tips
Betting on horse racing events is always exciting, even when there is a clear favourite at the online betting sites. While it would shock us if El Fabiolo did not win this race by two lengths or more, Cheltenham always offers unexpected moments. If you are trying to bet on the race taking place on March 13, check out the following Queen Mother Champion Chase betting tips.
- Promotions Aplenty: The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, March 12, and there will be promotions at every online betting site. If this is the first event you intend to bet on, you could use your welcome offer to bet on some outside chances. These promotions can include free bets, boosted odds for certain jockeys, or betting each way on the top seven finishers.
- Risk vs Reward: This year in the Champion Chase, one horse looks nailed on for the win. If you want a shot at betting on an upset, you need to take a risk. However, there is a sweet spot in horse racing where the amount of risk is worth it, given the rewards. We don’t mean take a punt on a horse that is 100/1. Instead, weigh up the top five competitors and choose one or two to back for a win.
- Shop Around: Every year, the best online sports betting site will have better-paying odds than the competition. It’s worth your time to look around for more profit at one bookmaker. Nobody complains about a winning wager, but if the odds are better at one site, you should go where the returns are best.
- Read the Fine Print: Some online betting platforms this year will offer bettors each way bets covering the first five places. A rare few horse betting sites will give you even more cover, paying out for the top six or seven places. While it sounds too good to be true, there are often minute details about the odds or returns for these promotions. So, if a deal sounds incredible, read the fine print before you proceed.
- Bet Each Way: At the Cheltenham Festival, horses suffer unexpected losses or unbelievable wins every year. Betting each way on horses not likely to win the race will give you some returns if they cross the line inside the top five places. Plus, if something happens to the leader, you stand to capitalise on the surprise outcome rather than losing out.
Previous Champion Chase Winners
When betting on the Queen Mother Champion Chase, it can pay to look back and check out the previous winners. Looking at the odds available today, you can use the results from the past few years to land a winning bet on Wednesday, March 13. The most sensible bettors will look at the Champion Chase winners before placing a bet. Make sure you check out the history before trying to predict the future.
Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Horse Age | Owner | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energumene | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 9 | Tony Bloom | 2023 |
Energumene | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 8 | Tony Bloom | 2022 |
Put The Kettle On | Aidan Coleman | Henry de Bromhead | 7 | One For Luck Racing Syndicate | 2021 |
Politologue | Harry Skelton | Paul Nicholls | 9 | John Hales | 2020 |
Altior | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 9 | Patricia Pugh | 2019 |
Altior | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 8 | Patricia Pugh | 2018 |
Special Tiara | Noel Fehily | Henry de Bromhead | 10 | Sally Rowley-Williams | 2017 |
Sprinter Sacre | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 10 | Caroline Mould | 2016 |
Dodging Bullets | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls | 7 | Martin Broughton & Friends | 2015 |
Sire De Grugy | Jamie Moore | Gary Moore | 8 | Preston Family & Friends | 2014 |
Sprinter Sacre | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 7 | Caroline Mould | 2013 |
Finian's Rainbow | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 9 | Michael Buckley | 2012 |
Sizing Europe | Andrew Lynch | Henry de Bromhead | 9 | Ann & Alan Potts | 2011 |
Big Zeb | Barry Geraghty | Colm Murphy | 9 | Patrick Joseph Redmond | 2010 |
Master Minded | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 6 | Clive D. Smith | 2009 |
As well as looking at the previous Champion Chase winners, we also recommend diving into the race records. Finding out how each runner fares at the chase events and whether they have picked up any injuries in the last 12 months will help avoid bad wagers. Plus betting on any sport without research is a surefire way to lose money. Ensure you take the time now to avoid any bet regret.
Queen Mother Champion Chase Odds and Runners
Anyone looking to bet on the Cheltenham Festival needs to pay close attention to the odds. Even if you secure your wager today, monitor the odd fluctuations before the race begins. If one horse jumps from 50 to 1 to 20/1, you should know about it.
When betting on horse racing events, it’s perfectly normal for the odds to tighten up in the buildup before a race. Securing your bet early can yield larger profits, but only if you have luck. Horses can drop out of events, get stressed out on the way to the start, or pick up injuries even before the race begins. Paying attention to the Cheltenham Festival is one way to avoid nasty surprises. However, any serious horse racing bettor will take the time to follow proceedings. Doing your due diligence is the least you should do when you have money on the line.
Odds for the Top Five Runners
- El Fabiolo @ 2/7
- Edwardstone @ 6/1
- Captain Guinness @ 15/2
- Elixir De Nutz @ 25/1
- Gentleman De Mee @ 22/1
Who has Dropped Out of the Race?
On the day of the big race, trainer Nicky Henderson pulled Jonbon. Henderson revealed on social media that Jonbon is a non-runner. The Tweet, which we have linked below, explains his decision came after poor performances from his horses on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Henderson also alluded that his horses on Thursday and Friday will be non-runners, proving why it’s dangerous to bet in advance for the festival.
- Jonbon @ 10/3
- Editeur Du Gite @ 40/1
- Gentleman’s Dream @ 40/1
- Appreciate It @ 40/1
- Maskada @ 66/1
- Visionarian @ 66/1
So far, six horses have dropped out of the Champion Chase. We will update this guide with any further changes to the field ahead of race day. The Cheltenham Festival has already begun, so read our Gold Cup betting guide before making a wager on the big race this Friday. Anything can happen between now and the race, so good luck and try to avoid any panic betting.
Statement from Nicky Henderson pic.twitter.com/CuOMSFzCPN
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) March 13, 2024
Cheltenham Festival Race Schedule
The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase is on day two at 15:30. Horse racing starts are punctual, but false starts can cause delays. Plus, many events have been held up for various reasons, so it makes sense to tune in at 3pm to catch any last-minute changes. Plus, with seven runners in this race, it can pay to get a look at the competition as they make their way to the start line.
How to Bet on Horse Racing Events
If this is your first time tuning into Cheltenham or sampling some Champion Chase bets, here is some advice to help you get started. The first step is to look online for a sports betting platform. Every service is unique, and they have different odds and bets for this event. Once you decide where to register, complete the process and make your first deposit. Here, you might receive a bonus for whichever race you choose.
Once you have created your account, you can add the horses to your bet slip. There are two main options to consider, an outright bet on the winner of the race or betting each way. For each way wagers, you must stake double your investment. In return, you win 1/5 of the odds if your horse finishes anywhere in the top five. Unfortunately, you don’t win more if the horse comes second or fifth.