Cheltenham Tips: Champion Chase Betting Odds, Preview And Predictions
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Champion Chase Tip:
For a large chunk of the 2022-23 National Hunt season, Energumene was trading a very short price to follow up his comprehensive success in last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
However, that all changed when the Willie Mullins-trained gelding suffered a surprise defeat in the re-arranged Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham in January.
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The upshot is that Edwardstone, who was also beaten in that Grade 1, is now marginal favourite in most betting lists.
The Champion Chase is now a race again because for a long time the 2023 renewal looked a bit of a one-horse race.
Reigning Champ No Good Thing To Follow Up
Energumene was an imperious eight and a half-length winner of the 2022 Queen Mother Champion Chase but it’s worth remembering that Shishkin, sent off an odds-on shot on the day, bombed out badly and the race ultimately didn’t take the sort of winning it should have done.
Energumene is clearly a top-class chaser - he has won eight of his 10 chase starts, four of which have been in Grade 1 company and if he runs to the same level as he did 12 months ago then he is sure to go close.
However, the Clarence House Chase defeat was an eye-opener for his supporters because the only real excuse his trainer could find afterwards was the colour of the fences.
Energumene looked in trouble even before he clouted the last fence and was clearly not at his best on the day.
It's likely that we will see a better version of the champion chaser come the big day, while he remains comfortably the best horse in the race on official figures.
But the form of last year’s win looks weak for a championship race and there is an air of vulnerability about him now so he now looks worth taking on.
Arkle Hero A Solid Alternative
Edwardstone looks solid at the top of the market at 6/4 with horse racing betting sites. An impressive winner of last season’s Arkle Chase, he made an instant impact in open company by absolutely sluicing up in the Tingle Creek.
The form of that race has worked out nicely with Shishkin, Gentleman De Mee and Funambule Sivola all winning big races since.
The key aspect of that form is surely the nine-length demolition of reigning Tingle Creek champ Greaneteen in his own back yard.
Edwardstone might have been beaten in the Clarence House but he emerged with more credit than probably any horse in the race, including winner Editeur Du Gite, because he was asked to come from a long way back while the leader wasn’t stopping.
Edwardstone used up so much energy making up the ground that when he got to the front the tank started to empty and he was chinned.
The Champion Chase should set up perfectly for this strong traveller and he’s the most likely winner – but the market knows that, too.
Can Editeur Strike For ‘Lucky’ Owners?
Of course you recognise the red, blue and white colours of Editeur Du Gite – they were carried to success on this very stage by Sire De Grugy in 2014.
Can lightning strike twice for Gary Moore and the owners? It’s not impossible. Editeur Du Gite is, in some ways, the dark horse of the Champion Chase because only now are we seeing what he is capable of, and he might not have reached his ceiling.
Official ratings suggested he had no chance of winning the Clarence House but that only serves to highlight the progress this horse is finally making.
He has a high cruising speed, jumps well and is tough – what’s not to like? He should not be underestimated and is available at 6/1 on betting apps.
Best Of The Rest?
For anyone wanting to side with something at big odds, the best option is probably Nube Negra who went mighty close to winning this race in 2021 and he is available at 20/1 in the Cheltenham odds.
He couldn’t get close to Editeur Du Gite at Kempton in December but he lost ground throughout by being taken wide in search of better ground and it was clear a long way out that he wasn’t going to trouble the leader.
We know he’s better than that, he’ll travel well off the likely strong gallop and he loves a sound surface so don’t be surprised if he runs into a place up the hill.
2023 Queen Mother Champion Chase Verdict
A fascinating renewal with several chances despite what is likely to be a single-figure field come the day.
Edwardstone is very tempting but there is no juice in his price now and it might just pay to stick with the horse that beat him in the Clarence House.
Editeur Du Gite at 6/1 with betting sites is three times the price of Edwardstone and that swings the vote in his favour, especially as he could easily still have a bigger effort in him.
The selection clearly loves Cheltenham because he’s now won around there three times and he could prove very tough to pass on ground he will bounce off.
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