Champion Chase Guide 2022

Former winner of this race but sadly looks as though he's on the decline. He's looked really hard to train, and he's an 11yo now.

Even a revival of his peak form would come up short in context of this race. It will be a massive ask to see him win off the back of an absence too. Completely up against it.

Last year's unsuccessful favourite, Chacun Pour Soi is a 10yo now and the stats will tell you he's up against it on the basis of his age.

He was impressive last time out in Leopardstown when bolting up by 12L, proving he'd gotten over the terrible Tingle Creek performance.

There's a lingering doubt that he's not as his best in England, but, Willie Mullins has given him a vote of confidence and has tweaked his training preparation.

As classy as anything here, younger legs in Shishkin and Energumene might get the better of him though. 

Goes well fresh. Nube Negra has been off the track since early December, which will have been by design. He's a free going horse who performs best when fresh and aiming at a strong pace.

He's likely to get a strong pace with lots of front runners here, he will look to pick up the pieces at the end and he certainly has the ability.

Star horse, unbeaten over fences until matching Shiskin in the memorable Clarence House Chase at Ascot, which saw Shishkin narrowly getting the better of him.

This horse has a high cruising speed and pinpoint jumping, though, due to the nature of the tracks, I feel that if there was ever a time Energumene could beat Shishkin it was at Ascot.

He could have improved in the interim, Townend rides which is a plus, but difficult to see how he can reverse the form on an alien track.

It's hard to assess Envoi Allen now, he had the world at his feet but he's simply gone backwards since the Marsh Chase last year.

He has had his issues, granted, but he's not looked at all his former self. It's worth exploring he was so impressive, over and over - in novice company against average enough horses.

But, either way he needs to improve massively to come back to any sort of form and take this. He did win a G1 last time out but it was a three runner affair with G3 horses and he made hard work of it.

Watching brief. 

Unbeaten over fences, Shishkin just looks better and better. He beat Energumene last time out in the Clarence House despite making a few errors. He is proven at Cheltenham (2 festival wins) and Arkle winners have a fantastic record in this.

Sure to relish the hill, he can follow in the footsteps of Altior, and Sprinter Sacre, and take this.

Stable form perhaps a small negative but the good ones usually go out and do the business, backers keep a close eye on Henderson's Supreme runners.

Last year's winner, beating Chacun Pour Soi and Nube Negra. Put The Kettle on is a hardy mare, who loves Cheltenham.

She has been a little underwhelming this year, but there's a suspicion that she saves her best for this place.

Dangerous to discount but hasn't totally been showing her true ability this season.

An improving horse, who won a G2 last time out beating Sceau Royal. He's just kept on winning this season and he ran a 3L second to Shishkin at last year's Aintree Festival when well clear of the third.

He's hard to asses in the context of this race but you'd be brave to rule him out entirely. He'll need to improve to fill the places.