Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Betting Preview – Champion Chase

This season’s Champion Chase line-up may not be a vintage crop, but many punters are already handing the crown in Jonbon. You will also get a number against the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding, and you can see why.

So, is this Jonbon’s Champion Chase to lose, or is he there to be taken on at his current odds?

Let’s look at the main players of the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase, who may be lurking in the shadows, ready to run the race of their lives.

Champion Chase Betting: Jonbon 9/4, Gaelic Warrior 9/2, Energumene 5/1, El Fabiolo 12/1, Marine Nationale, Banbridge 25/1, Solness 25/1, 33/1 bar.

Champion Chase ante-post betting – The main players

Jonbon

• Trainer: Nicky Henderson
• Owner: John P McManus
• Form: 211-11
• Rating: 170
• Ante-Post Odds: 9/4

As talented as Jonbon is, he doesn’t show his best form around Cheltenham.

He has yet to taste defeat away from Cheltenham, but for whatever reason, he has yet to show his best at Cheltenham.

Jonbon has been beaten three times around Cheltenham by Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, El Fabiolo in the Arkle Novices’ Chase, and Elixir De Nutz in the Clarence House Chase.

That sends alarm bells ringing for me regarding Jonbon being installed at the top of the Champion Chase betting.

We have heard many racing experts state that this is the best version of Jonbon we have ever seen, but if we are considering form, it’s nowhere near the best version of Jonbon.

Beating Boothill by just over a length does not entice me to go near Jonbon for a Champion Chase at Cheltenham, and it only reminds you of how much he is below par at Cheltenham.

Could he win? Of course. But there is enough evidence against him to make it worthwhile to take him on at his current odds and age.

Top class chaser
Unbeaten this season

Three defeats from five runs at Cheltenham
Much better on a flat track

Bet on Jonbon for the Champion Chase at SBK

Gaelic Warrior

• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Owner: Mrs S Ricci
• Form: 1U1-22
• Rating: 165
• Ante-Post Odds: 9/2

Last season’s Arkle Novices’ Chase winner didn’t have the greatest of starts to the season when running into second behind Solness in the Paddy’s Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

But were people shocked that Gaelic Warrior was beaten? No.

And if we are perfectly honest, it wasn’t Patrick Mullins and his colleagues’ finest hour in the saddle that day, giving the winner an easy and clear lead up to the final fence.

Even though Gaelic Warrior didn’t win on the day, it doesn’t take the gloss off his chances for the Champion Chase.

Arkle winners have an excellent record going into the Champion Chase the following season, with Sizing Europe, Put The Kettle On, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Moscow Flyer winning the Champion Chase following their Arkle success.

Gaelic Warrior has a great chance of adding his name to that list this year.

He is an enigma in his own right, but when he is switched on like he was in last season’s Arkle Novices’ Chase, he is capable of top-class performances.

On ratings, he doesn’t have much to find with Jonbon, and with the promise of much more improvement to come, Galic Warrior has a lot going for him to claim the 2025 Queen Mothe Champion Chase.

Last season’s Arkle Novices’ Chase winner winner
Will improve again this season

Was beaten on his comeback run
Can jump out to his right

Bet on Gaelic Warrior for the Champion Chase at talkSPORT BET

Energumene

• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Owner: Tony Bloom
• Form: 1311/1
• Rating: 169
• Ante-Post Odds: 5/1

Energumene comes in here as the two-time Champion Chaser, but we were unfortunately denied the chance to see him become only the second horse to win three Champion Chases in a row due to injury.

There was a lot of anticipation around his comeback in the Hilly Way Chase and how much of the engine was still there.

But we didn’t have to wait long for the answer, as Energumene tanked his way to the front and put in a display suggesting that the fire still burns bright.

He jumped the last in the lead and was about to be joined by Banbridge, the now King George VI Chase winner. It looked like he would have to dig deep to win, but unfortunately, Banbridge made a mistake, and jockey J J Slevin could not keep the partnership intact, leaving Energumene in spending isolation.

In any typical year, you would be hard-pressed to give an 11-year-old a realistic chance in a Champion Chase, but if conditions were to come up on the bad side of soft, then Energumene would become more of a realistic player.

But if the ground is on the soft side of good, it is hard to see him having the speed to lay up with the younger legs.

Two-time Champion Chaser
Looked as good as ever in his comeback

Was off for over a year due to injury
Can jump out to his right

Bet on Energumene for the Champion Chase at Betfred

Champion Chase ante-post betting – The dark horses

In what is not a vintage year, a dark horse could appear from the shadows and pose a stern challenge in this year’s Champion Chase.

Since early entries saw Il Est Francais get an entry for the Champion Chase, all the ‘shroods’ have latched onto the bandwagon and put him up as a contender.

He’s a three-mile chaser who visually looks like the drop-in trip may suit him, but I’m not convinced that the drop to two miles will suit him, especially on a track like Cheltenham.

That brings me to the one everyone has forgotten about: El Fabiolo.

He was sent off a 2/9 favourite for last season’s renewal, but his race came to an end at the fifth with a race-ending mistake.

Yes, we have yet to see him this season, and if we are to see him, it is more than likely that his first run of the season will be here, but let’s not forget, El Fabiolo comfortably beat Jonbon in the Arkle Novices’ Chase.

If he can get here on top of his game and put in a mistake-free round of jumping, he has every right to fight out the finish.

At his current odds of 12/1, El Fabiolo looks like a true dark horse that could shine bright in the Champion Chase.

Champion Chase ante-post betting preview – Early verdict

It has taken me a while to warm to Gaelic Warrior, but even with the amount he can do wrong, there is no escaping from his raw ability.

He may not do much from now up to the Champion Chase, but expect him to turn it on when it counts in March.

As mentioned, El Fabiolo is a lively outsider, considering his past exploits have seen him comfortably beat Jonbon.

About the author

Andrew Halligan

My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.

You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).

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