Cheltenham 2014 : Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview

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 5/2 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 downside for the backers of the favourite is course form with two runs at the course and no victories.

Captain Conan is the second favourite for the race and 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 and it is for that reason that the Nicky Henderson runner might appeal to some at 9/2.

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 this could be the reason bet365 are offering 7/1.

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 8/1 might tempt some people.

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. 10/1 might appeal to some if they can forgive that awful showing last time out. Hinterland is an 11/1 shot and the Paul Nicholls runner comes here on the back of two wins and a third from five previous chase starts. Two straight victories at Sandown down have marked the six-year-old as one to watch.

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 always finds something for Cheltenham.

Special Tiara has not really repeated the form from Aintree back in April when coming out on top of race featuring Overturn and Sire De Grugy. If finding that form then 14/1 looks big.

Module has course and distance form and was impressive in beating the highly-rated Dodging Bullets in February in November and is another who might make each-way sense.

VERDICT: In the absence of Sprinter Sacre this looks a wide-open affair and I like the look of HINTERLAND from the Paul Nicholls yard. The horse has won the last two and although has never reached at the festival has a good record at the course with a win, a second and a thrid from three previous runs at the coourse. Be sure to get on at bet365 who offer a best price guarantee on all live Channel 4 races on bets placed after 10am.

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11/03/2014     © Frixo 2026