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 will be posted on Tuesday, 10th March in the afternoon.
Check back then to see who our tipsters have selected and why!
The Champion Chase has been a graveyard for favourites in recent years, with Jonbon and El Fabiolo both turned over at heavy odds-on prices in the last two editions.
Therefore, despite looking reinvigorated in first-time cheekpieces when winning the Dublin Chase by 19 lengths, Majborough must be careful.
Marine Nationale was well-beaten at Leopardstown on his final start by Majborough, but Barry Connell has been bullish about the defending champion’s chances of retaining his Champion Chase crown throughout the season. However, the nine-year-old is only a three-time winner over fences.
Quilixios is an interesting intended runner from the Henry De Bromhead yard, and has been flagged up by many as the each-way play. The nine-year-old ran well for a long way before falling at the last in the race 12 months ago.
British hopes are likely to hang on Thistle Ask, last seen finishing second in the Clarence House, and L’Eau du Sud. The latter for Dan Skelton is a five-time winner over fences, including a 15-length demolition of Jonbon in the Schloer Chase on seasonal return, but was most recently seen being well beaten by Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek.
The latest Champion Chase odds from bet365 are:
Odds latest updated and correct as of 3pm, 6th 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.
