In what is the feature race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is the premier event of the season for the best two-mile chasers. This year is no exception, with a talented field expected to line up on March 15th.
The Willie Mullins-trained Energumeme is the favourite at 8/11 in the Paddy Power Cheltenham betting odds – in large part thanks to the nine-year-old’s three straight wins which came in the same race last year along with triumphs at Punchestown and Cork most recently.
If Energumeme can reign supreme in the esteemed race next month – he will join an elite honour roll of horses to win it on multiple occasions. With that in mind, read on as we dissect the best performers in the long and storied history of the Cheltenham Festival’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Badsworth Bay
The only thoroughbred to have won the race on three occasions, Badsworth Bay became a hattrick hero nearly four decades ago after winning the race consecutively from 1983-1985. Trained at Poplar House Stables in Harewood, West Yorkshire, the British gelding kicked off his winning ways as an eight-year-old. Ridden by Michael Dickson, Badsworth Bay showed all of his exemplary finishing speed to triumph by a convincing 36 lengths from Artifice and stablemate Rathgorman.
He then continued that form the following year with Dickson onboard, beating Little Bay by ten lengths – and in doing so – became just the second horse to win the famed fixture more than once, after Fortria achieved the feat in 1960 and 1961. Fast-forward to 1985, and this time around, there was a new jockey aboard after Dickinson left to ply his trade as a trainer in Wiltshire.
None of that mattered however, as Badsworth Bay established himself as one of the greatest thoroughbreds in British history by winning the Champion Chase for a third straight year with a ten-length victory over Far Bridge.
Moscow Flyer
In what is arguably the golden period of the Queen Mother Champion Chase’s history, Moscow Flyer won the fixture twice in three years from 2003-2005. After securing his maiden victory by seven lengths from Native Upmanship in 03’, the John Harrington-trained thoroughbred once again looked in a strong position the following year to make it two from two.
In touch of the leaders and making solid headway to challenge for second place in the latter stages, Moscow Flyer made an unfortunate blunder four out which saw jockey Barry Geraghty fall off, squandering any chance of him going back-to-back.
Harrington wouldn’t have to wait too long for her gelding to secure a second Champion Chase gong however, with the then ten-year-old staying on strongly up the straight to reign supreme in 2005 by two lengths from Well Chief and reigning champion Azertyuiop.
Master Minded
Another horse to have won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in consecutive years, the Paul Nicholls-trained thoroughbred achieved the difficult feat in 2008 and 2009. Up against a talented field in ‘08 that included the likes of the previous year’s winner and pre-race favourite Voy Por – becoming the first five-year-old to win it was not going to be easy.
The French-bred gelding showed all of his class to upset the applecart however, beating the second-place finisher by 19 lengths. He continued that form at the Cheltenham Festival as a six-year-old, winning the ‘09 renewal by seven lengths from multiple-time Champion Chase bridesmaid Well Chief.
For those interested in Today’s Cheltenham tips for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, as mentioned earlier – Energumeme is the favourite – while Edwardstone and Blue Lord are the second and third favourites at 11/4 and 7/1 respectively.