Champion Chase Tips: 4:00pm Wednesday Predictions from Free Bets Team
The Champion Chase is the headline race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and our experts have put their thoughts together for the race. We've got Champion Chase tips all here for you, so you can see the Free Bets verdict.
10 go to post, and the market is led by Majborough, a horse that many people see as one of the big Irish bankers of the week.
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Champion Chase Tips
Below are the Champion Chase tips from our team, and below a look at the race card for the race so you can see the runners.
All our race cards include the latest odds from a variety of betting sites so you can also see the betting market.
Charlie McCann - L'eau Du Sud (W/O Majborough)
MAJBOROUGH is odds on market leader for the Champion Chase and is the most talented horse in the race. He was hugely impressive on soft ground in first-time cheekpieces at the Dublin Racing Festival and will win if he puts in a clear round on this quicker ground.
He did make significant mistakes when beaten in the Arkle last year, however, and I have backed L’EAU DU SUD in the market without the favourite. Trainer Dan Skelton has kept him fresh since disappointing in the Tingle Creek behind Il Etait Temps, and he has only had two starts so far this term. He is coming into the race from a three-month break and that could be crucial.
The grey thrashed Jonbon over C&D on soft ground in the autumn, but he goes on all ground. The trainer is of the opinion he didn’t have him quite at his absolute best when beaten in the Arkle last year although he jumped and travelled like a class act before finishing tamely.
Skelton has raced him just twice this term as he wants him fresh and well for the big day and I am convinced he is the second most talented horse in the race. I will be disappointed if he doesn’t reverse Sandown running with Il Etait Temps on this ground.
Alan Kelly - Il Etait Temps (NAP)
The Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps has long been my idea of the most likely winner of this Queen Mother Champion Chase, and despite his fall 2 out when looking well held in Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase on his most recent start two months ago, I fancy the grey son of Jukebox Jury to bounce back this afternoon.
While Jonbon ran out a comfortable winner at the Berkshire racecourse, the popular J P McManus-owned gelding was made to look very ordinary by Il Etait Temps in both the Celebration Chase at Sandown last spring, and again at the Esher track when 9 lengths separated the two horses in December’s Tingle Creek, with L’Eau du Sud another 9 lengths back in third place.
For me, that Grade 1 victory for Il Etait Temps sets a clear standard regarding the potential outcome of this championship contest. I never felt that the selection was, for whatever reason, travelling as well as is usually the case at Ascot, and if back to anything like his best, is expected to have too much pace at the end of the race for stablemate Majborough, who will need to jump a lot better than he did in last year’s Arkle if he is to justify favouritism.
Craig Jones - Irish Panther (EW)
Me putting up a novice in this contest isn't a sign that I think Irish Panther is a superstar novice, more that I don't think this is the greatest Champion Chase we've seen, and a race lacking plenty of depth.
Irish Panther has been good on his two starts over fences, he won very well and was just behind Romeo Coolio last time out, in a cracking finish.
It's an ask to come here and win on his third chase start, but I think every runner in this race has a question to answer, and despite 10 runners, I think there's four or five who are just not good enough at this stage of their careers.
I can't have Majborough at odds on, while Il Etait Temps and L'eau Du Sud both have disappointing runs to come back from last time.
The value for me, is Irish Panther each way.
Champion Chase Racecard
We've got daily racecards on Free Bets throughout the week, here's our card for the Champion Chase.
Alongside the runners and riders, you'll also see the latest betting odds, pulled and updated all the time from a variety of bookmakers, so you can see how the market stands.
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