The Champion Chase is the race for a two mile sprinter to win in their career, and this year's Cheltenham Festival pits previous race legends against the young contenders.
Our Champion Chase tips are below, plus get the latest odds, full runner by runner preview, full race information and the best offers.
Our tip for the Champion Chase is Majborough.
With defending Champion Chaser Marine Nationale missing the Cheltenham Festival this year, Majborough looks to have a great chance to gain compensation for his Arkle defeat last year, looking like the winner before making a mistake and finishing a close 3rd.
He Improved massively for the application of cheekpieces in the Dublin Chase, putting in a career best performance, and a similar performance will see him crowned the Champion Chaser.
He's previously won at this course before (the Triumph Hurdle at the 2024 Festival) and will relish the ground conditions.
Majborough
It's not often a multiple Grade 1 winner can be said to have been disappointing, but it can be said about Majborough. He showed the best form in the race last time out, beating an excellent rival, and his jumping was far better. He's the class horse of the race and the one to beat.
Il Etait Temps
A winner of five races in a row before falling last time out at Ascot. Has underperformed at three Cheltenham Festivals so far and question marks also to answer about his jumping.
L'Eau du Sud
Close fourth in the Arkle last year. Has progressed this year, peaking when beating Jonbon here in the Shloer Chase, but disappointing last time out. Could be the main danger to the favourite.
Quilixios
Not seen since last Cheltenham Festival when a final fence fall cost him a second place at a big price. Difficult to judge fitness off that long a lay off and likely to find at least one too good again this year.
Irish Panther
Comes here on just his third start, having been beaten last time out by the favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase. Form unlikely to be enough here but could pick up some good prize money in a field lacking depth beyond the first few.
Found A Fifty
A contender for a place on handicap ratings, and he beat Majborough as recently as November. However, 19 lengths behind that rival 6 weeks ago, and was a distant last when heavy odds on last time out.
Captain Guinness
An immediately recognisable name, with three top 3 finishes in this race including a victory. Now 11 years old and has struggled in his last three races. Needs to do a lot to prove that his best days aren't behind him.
Saint Segal
Has finished in the top 2 of his last 6 races, including two recent seconds in Grade 2s. However, one of them was a handicap, and he's not shown enough to suggest he can beat horses of the calibre in this event.
Libberty Hunter
Behind Saint Segal last time out, and has had jumping issues the last two races at Cheltenham (unseated and fell). Rated 23 pounds below the favourite and unlikely to improve as a ten year old.
Brookie
The lowest rated horse in the race and pulled up when last seen at Ascot. Well beaten by Majborough at Punchestown last year. Unlikely to feature against these rivals.
The latest Champion Chase odds from bet365 are:
Odds latest updated and correct as of 6.25pm, 10th March 2026
| Full Race Name | BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| Date | Wednesday 11th March 2026 |
| Time | 4:00pm |
| Distance | 1 mile 7 furlongs 199 yards |
| Race Type | Grade 1 National Hunt Chase |
| Course | Old Course |
| Number of Fences | 13 |
| Minimum Age | 5 years old |
| Weights | 11 stone 10lb (7lb mares allowance) |
Stats can be used to help pinpoint the most logical winner of the Champion Chase this year. Key facts to look out for include:
This section will be constantly updated with the very best Champion Chase free bets, enhanced offers and existing customer promotions.
Keep checking back as Cheltenham approaches for more great deals.
Tuesday - Champion Hurdle Tips
Wednesday - Champion Chase Tips
Thursday - Stayers Hurdle Tips & Ryanair Chase Tips
Friday - Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
The 2025 build up focused on Jonbon, who was sent off the 5/6 favourite for Nicky Henderson, ridden by Nico de Boinville.
Disaster struck for favourite backers at the ninth fence. A bad mistake saw Jonbon lose significant distance. He was quickly pushed along but the chance of victory was done.
Two pulled clear of the rest. Marine Nationale (sent off 5/1) came round the final bend travelling by far the best, but found a willing challenger in the 40/1 Quilixios. They jumped the second last together, nothing to separate them.
The last fence has caught out many a horse at Cheltenham, and unfortunately for Quilixios it put paid to his race chances too. He lost his footing on landing and fell, thankfully up quickly and with no lasting effects.
This left Marine Nationale well clear. A quick burst of speed saw him pull 10, 12, 15 lengths clear of the rest of the field, with Jonbon running past tired horses to grab a distance second.
The victory wasn't a huge surprise for owner and trainer Barry Connell: "We were very confident coming today but understated, because I was too confident the last day and didn’t want to do that again. He travels, he jumps - he’s everything you want in a Champion Chaser."
The Champion Chase, as one of the five Championship races, always gets huge press coverage. This gives our tipsters access to extra information compared to typical day to day racing.
Stable tours, preview nights, press quotes, coverage of gallops and more is all tracked and incorporated into their research.
Given the quality of the horses running in this contest, that information is also often available for their other races through the season, allowing our team to build a clear picture of the horse's form, target races, and preference for difference conditions.
Our tipsters track and watch all jumps racing through the season. By the time we arrive at Cheltenham, they have a solid understanding of each horse's strengths, weaknesses, and preferences.
As Cheltenham gets closer, more attention is paid to two key factors - the make up of the race, and the weather. The former impacts elements such as the pace of the race, potential pressure being put on jumping, and so on. The latter is important in every race, but can be more closely tracked at Cheltenham given coverage.
