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Detailed race analysis for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
* note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.
RACE SUMMARY
The feature race of day two, Ladies Day, at the Festival.
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First run in 1959 as the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase, the race was renamed in honour of the Queen Mother in 1980.
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It is a Grade 1 championship chase for horses aged five and older, with a 130 minimum BHA rating.
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Run on Cheltenham’s Old Course over 2 miles runners face 13 fences. The race is run at level weights, with a 7lb allowance for mares, and is regarded as the ultimate test of speed, jumping and precision for two-mile chasers.
WINNING PROFILE
AVERAGE AGE
8.6
168
AVERAGE OFFICIAL RATING
AVERAGE CHASE RUNS PRIOR
12
PATH TO CHELTENHAM
The following races have produced the most Queen Mother Champion Chase winners since 2016:
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(5) Clarence House Chase (January, Ascot / Cheltenham)
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(3) Shloer Chase (November, Cheltenham)
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(3) Tingle Creek Chase (December, Sandown)
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(3) Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (December, Leopardstown)
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Number of horses that ran in these races and went on to win at Cheltenham that season in brackets.
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TRAINER WINS
TRAINER S/R
Note: Connell is one win from one entry, hence 100%
WINS BY AGE
PULSE STOPPER
Mullins has had six favourites in the last eleven years all of which were French-bred. Of the six favs he has had only one winner and would return a loss of £3.80 to a £1 level stake.
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41/90 runners were OR 161 or below from which there was only one winner (Marine Nationale) so a 2.43% strike rate – excluding the one mare.
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Current season form and last time out results are at odds with other Championship races. 8 out of the last 10 did not win a Grade 1 Chase prior to Cheltenham and 8 of the last ten did not win last time out.
PULSE INSIGHT
It’s probably unsurprising to most that N J Henderson has had three winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in the last eleven renewals. What is interesting is he has had a total of only five entries in the eleven renewals of the Queen Mother Champion Chase since 2016!
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Four were favourite and one second favourite, and with his three winners he has a 60% strike rate.
Only one mare has run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase since 2016 and in 2021 Put The Kettle on won, becoming the first and only mare to win the race as well as the first since Altior to win the Arkle the year prior and the Champion Chase the following year.
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Favourites have a mixed record in the race and are 3/11. Fancied horses are to the fore though with the 2nd favourites having a strong record of six winners from eleven which would have returned a healthy £24.40 to a £1 level stake & only one double digit winner at 11/1
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PULSE EDGE
PULSE SUMMARY
Experience and age is key for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, with the winner averaging 12 chase runs and the average age nearer nine than eight-years-old.
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Irish trained horses have won the last five renewals though none of them have come into the race on the back of a win.
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Horses rated 162 and above are 9/49, a strike rate of 18.4%.
PULSE VERDICT
Pulse Rate
Last time out defeat & no Grade 1 win in season are both 8/10 | 80% Combined LTO defeat and no G1 win 7/10 winners from 52/80 | 13.5%​
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Pulse Stopper
OR 161 (and lower) 1/41 | 2.43% (Excluding the one Mare)
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Pulse Insight
Henderson 3/5 | 60%
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Pulse Edge
2nd Favourites 6/11 | 54.5% | £24.40 to £1 level stakesÂ
ALL DATA FROM 2016 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED
LAST UPDATED SEPT 2026