The Queen Mother Champion Chase has long been one of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival, giving an opportunity for the sport’s finest two-mile chasers to race for victory.
Being one of the most anticipated contests in the National Hunt calendar, fans from all over the world will flock to Cheltenham to see this prestigious race unfold, and to potentially participate in some Champion Chase betting.
So, as the 2025 edition approaches, we thought it’d be good to run through our comprehensive guide to all you need to know about this year’s Queen Mother Championship Chase.
Date and time
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, at Cheltenham Racecourse.
This race is the feature event on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, often referred to as Style Wednesday, and has a post time of 4.00 pm (GMT).
Race overview
Established in 1959, the race was originally called the National Hunt Two-Mile Championship Chase – due to the nearly two miles (one mile, seven furlongs and 199 yards) of track the horses run along.
In 1980, it was renamed in honour of the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday, recognising her significant contributions to National Hunt racing.
The race is open to horses aged five years and older, who will need to navigate 13 fences at a swift pace.
Leading contenders and notable entries
At the time of writing (February 12, 2025), the following horses are being marked as ones to watch come race day:
- Jonbon: Trained by Nicky Henderson, Jonbon is a current favourite among the competition and a dominant force in the two-mile division. After missing out on last year’s race contest due to illness, he’ll be looking to claim his first Festival success.
- Il Est Francais: After a bold front-running display, finishing second in the King George VI Chase, Il Est Francais is a notable contender for the Championship Chase.
- Gaelic Warrior: Although finishing third behind Solness in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown, last season’s Arkle winner, Gaelic Warrior, is still in the mix to potentially bounce back with a win on March 12.
Alongside some of the leading contenders, there are many notable entries to this year’s contest. The current 20 horses holding entries for the race – although still to be confirmed – are:
- Banbridge
- Blood Destiny
- Captain Guinness
- Djelo
- Edwardstone
- El Fabiolo
- Energumene
- Found A Fifty
- Gaelic Warrior
- Il Est Francais
- JPR One
- Jonbon
- Jungle Boogie
- Libberty Hunter
- Marine Nationale
- Master Chewy
- Matata
- Quilixios
- Senecia
- Solness
Final declarations soon to come will narrow this list down as the race day approaches.
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The 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase promises to be a thrilling contest, where the top-class horses will compete for glory in the two-mile race. As the event approaches, staying updated with the latest news, entries, and predictions can help ensure you’re well-informed for this marquee race, especially when it comes to placing a bet on horse racing.
And remember, if you decide to bet on the Queen Mother Championship Chase or any sporting event, please do so responsibly.
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