Cheltenham 2014 : Module the selection in tricky Queen Mother Champion Chase

The absence of Sprinter Sacre will deny racing fans a chance to see one of the special horses though it is does mean the feature race of Wednesday, the Queen Mother Champion Chase looks a lot more open. Here then is our guide to the main contenders to the crown.

Sire De Grugy is the favourite for the race with just three career defeats coming over fences. The Gary Moore trained runner has won three straight including last time out at Ascot in January defeating Hidden Cyclone by 11 lengths. One of these victories was in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown which has been a great pointer with nine of the last 13 winners having also landed this race. The price though maybe a little short (around 9/4 at time of writing) on a horse that has two runs at the course and no victories and he has to be worth taking on in this wide open looking race.

Captain Conan is the second favourite for the race and comes from the Nicky Henderson yard that has won this race on the two previous occasions. The seven-year-old finished third to Sire De Grugy in the Tinkle Creek last time out though does have a course victory over the favourite here in November 2012. Nicky Henderson is a big fan of the horse though it is not a price that screams out to me must bet.

Next in the betting is Arvika Ligeonniere who looks to be the leading hope for Ireland who have a good record in this race winning on 21 occasions since it was first run in 1959. The Willie Mullins runner has had health problems in the past but is hopefully behind them. The nine-year-old has three wins from four runs this year though a big question mark must be asked over left handed form over right handed form. When going left handed Arvika has just one win from four starts and as such it might be best to continue our search.

Benefficient would be a contender if running though it is expected to go in the Ryanair Chase and the same applies to Hinterland who is more likely to go off in the Arkle.

Baily Green was excellent in coming second to Simonsig last season though since then the form has been little off with a disappointing eighth place finish last time out at Leopardstown. The horse can be anything from excellent to awful and it is a big risk to get involved with. Another horse who can be anything is Kid Cassidy who was some 60 lenghts behind Benefficient in coming seventh at Leopardstown last time out while in the race before managed to win at this course seeing off amongst others Sire De Grugy.

Sizing Europé is a legendary horse who will be a very popular winner if he can turn back the clock and come out on top here. The 12-year-old is a course expert having come second in this race in the last two years and winning this race in 2011 and the Arkle in 2010. The horse has looked tired in recent seasons though it is hard to ignore the claims of the specialist.

The recommend selection is Module each-way at odds of around 16/1 at the time of writing. The Tom George runner came fourth in the Jewisons last year while was a winner at the course on only previous run here. The seven-year-old won at Newbury last time out and looked in good form and in such a wide-open race the bigger price appeals.

RECOMMENDATION: Module, each-way in the Queen Mother Champion Chase

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08/03/2014     © Frixo 2026