I seldom get involved in this race until the day unless something posts a rating during the season that's comparable with the ratings of previous race principals. But there's usually one or two allowed to sit at much bigger odds than their form suggests they should be. So far nothing has caught my eye.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Fox Norton at 33's e/w looks tremendous value for this with the non runner no bet concession with sky bet. Rarely runs a bad race.
tiggers1972 (3rd January 2019)
Entries for QMCC
Altior stars as 22 entered for Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
Thursday, January 10, 2019 - Superstar chaser Altior headlines 22 entries for the £400,000 G1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, the highlight on day two of The Festival™ presented by Magners, Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13 at Cheltenham.
Trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by Patricia Pugh, Altior is undefeated in three starts at The Festival™ presented by Magners and is going for back-to-back victories over the Old Course at Cheltenham in the two-mile Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, following an impressive seven-length victory over Min (Willie Mullins IRE) in 2018.
He won the 2017 G1 Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase emphatically and the 2016 G1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle in tremendous style, also by seven lengths from Min.
Altior is the 1/2 favourite with Betway on the back of a very easy success in the G2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on December 27, the nine-year-old's 16th consecutive victory over obstacles, further consolidating his unbeaten record over fences (11 starts) and previously hurdles (five starts).
If successful, he would bring Henderson's sixth Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase victory, equalling the record for a trainer in the race held by the late Tom Dreaper.
Willie Mullins accounts for four of the 10 Irish-trained entries, with Min accompanied by last year's impressive G1 Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase winner Footpad (8/1), nine-time G1 scorer Un De Sceaux (10/1)and Great Field (10/1).
The Irish challenge also includes 12-year-old Special Tiara (Henry de Bromhead IRE), winner of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2017, and G2 Hilly Way Chase victor Castlegrace Paddy (Pat Fahy IRE, 50/1).
Sceau Royal (Alan King) is the shortest-priced British-trained contender behind Altior at 16/1. He defeated Simply Ned (Nicky Richards, 25/1) by two and a quarter lengths in the G2 Shloer Chase at The November Meeting but was no match for Altior when fourth in the G1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park in December.
Popular 12-year-old Simply Ned, whose stables are in Cumbria, humbled several of the Irish contenders, including runner-up Footpad, on their own turf when landing the G1 Paddy's Rewards Club "Sugar Paddy" Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Fellow Northern-trained Lady Buttons (Phil Kirby, 40/1) is the only mare among the entries. The nine-year-old is three from three so far this season, taking in a Listed hurdle at Wetherby, a competitive handicap chase at Newbury and most recently a two and a half-mile Listed chase at Doncaster on December 29.
Her record over fences stands at four wins from five starts. A mare has yet to win the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, with the last one to be placed being the great Anaglogs Daughter - runner-up to Drumgora in 1981.
North Yorkshire-based Phil Kirby said: "Lady Buttons has come out of Doncaster in good form.
"We were delighted with her performance and this season, she has just kept on improving.
"She has always been a horse we have held in high regard. She had a couple of niggles earlier on in her career, but the last couple of seasons have been excellent and she has progressed with every run.
"We have entered her in the Champion Chase. We are still to make a decision as to where she runs next as there are not a whole load of options at two miles for mares.
"It was pleasing at Doncaster that she demonstrated she stays further."
Paul Nicholls, who has won the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on five occasions, has G1 Melling Chase victor and last year's fourth Politologue (25/1) among his two contenders, while Colin Tizzard's sole entry is the 2017 runner-up Fox Norton (25/1).
Other notables include God's Own (Tom George, 40/1), who came home third in the 2018 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Saint Calvados (Harry Whittington, 25/1).
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase - Betway prices: 1/2 Altior; 8/1 Footpad; 10/1 Min; Great Field, Sceau Royal, Un De Sceaux; 25/1 Fox Norton, Politologue, Saint Calvados, Simply Ned; 33/1 Diego Du Charmil, Petit Mouchoir; 40/1 God's Own, Lady Buttons; 50/1 Castlegrace Paddy, Doctor Phoenix, Ordinary World; 66/1 A Toi Phil, Forest Bihan, Hell's Kitchen, Ozzie The Oscar
Grade 1, £400,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.30pm Cheltenham, Old Course, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Two miles (1m 7f 199y). For 5yo+ who are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including the day prior to confirmation - horses who are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day prior to confirmation would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 8, entries revealed January 10 (22 entries), scratchings' deadline February 12, £20,000 supplementary entry & six-day confirmation stage March 7. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10am, March 11.G 1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
Horse Age Owner Trainer A TOI PHIL (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE ALTIOR (IRE) 9 Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson CASTLEGRACE PADDY (IRE) 8 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy IRE DIEGO DU CHARMIL (FR) 7 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls DOCTOR PHOENIX (IRE) 11 Nick Bradley Racing Club Gordon Elliott IRE FOOTPAD (FR) 7 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE FOREST BIHAN (FR) 8 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison FOX NORTON (FR) 9 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Colin Tizzard GOD'S OWN (IRE) 11 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George GREAT FIELD (FR) 8 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE HELL'S KITCHEN 8 J P McManus Harry Fry LADY BUTTONS 9 Jayne Sivills Philip Kirby MIN (FR) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE ORDINARY WORLD (IRE) 9 Chris Jones Henry de Bromhead IRE OZZIE THE OSCAR (IRE) 8 Bradley Partnership Philip Hobbs PETIT MOUCHOIR (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE POLITOLOGUE (FR) 8 John Hales Paul Nicholls SAINT CALVADOS (FR) 6 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington SCEAU ROYAL (FR) 7 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Alan King SIMPLY NED (IRE) 12 David & Nicky Robinson Nicky Richards SPECIAL TIARA 12 Sally Rowley-Williams Henry de Bromhead IRE UN DE SCEAUX (FR) 11 Edward O'Connell Willie Mullins IRE
22 entries
10 Irish-trained
4 entriesBreakdown of Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase Entries by Trainer
Willie Mullins IRE - Footpad, Great Field, Min, Un De Sceaux
3 entries
Henry de Bromhead IRE - Ordinary World, Petit Mouchoir, Special Tiara
2 entries
Gordon Elliott IRE - A Toi Phil, Doctor Phoenix
Paul Nicholls - Diego Du Charmil, Politologue
1 entry
Brian Ellison - Forest Bihan
Pat Fahy IRE - Castlegrace Paddy
Harry Fry - Hell's Kitchen
Tom George - God's Own
Nicky Henderson - Altior
Philip Hobbs - Ozzie The Oscar
Alan King - Sceau Royal
Philip Kirby - Lady Buttons
Nicky Richards - Simply Ned
Colin Tizzard - Fox Norton
Harry Whittington - Saint Calvados
Last edited by Diamond Geezer; 10th January 2019 at 12:20 PM.
Wonder could Min become the number 1 Mullins horse for this now
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
Hells Kitchen an interesting entry and could see him loving a fast run 2 miles around there
Can anyone get Altior beat? The only argument is he hasn't looked to be travelling great last year or in the Arkle, that's until he sods off up hill like a prime Usain Bolt.
I was all over Footpad at the start of the season, had him in multiples (one of which is still alive) and my take was based partly on Altior's trip last year, that flat spot. I felt that a top class two miler could exploit that. However now I'm not sure. Let's face it he wasn't hard fit for the race last year on the back of just the one run and the ground wouldn't have helped him. This year though chances are he's gonna get better ground and more runs under his belt. Very tough to beat.
Now, I'm not normally a stats guy but Arkle winners have a magnificent record in the following year's QM and my default possie is to favour the younger horse - remember when Sizing Europe was well into double figures in 2011 when he faced Big Zeb and Master Minded. That's the angle I'm hanging my hat on at this point.
Last edited by Euronymous; 10th January 2019 at 4:08 PM.
edgt (10th January 2019)
2 angles to take with Footpad
1. He wasn't right fto, last day he hadn't recovered and was short of work. Will be hard trained fro March now
2. French horse on the go since being a 3 year old, won a small field Arkle and jumped exceptionally well in Ireland in slower run chases, won a small field Arkle of which the form looks very questionable now
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
The Arkle Chase angle is by far the most profitable angle to follow with only Douvan letting the side down when injured over nearly 20 years
Willie and Ruby know that Min can't beat Altior, so they will avoid him at all costs. Really believe we will see Min in the Ryanair (Unless something happens to Altior of course or if multiple WPM horses meet with setbacks and he is the only one left standing - maybe then they go QMCC with him. But I think that one or more of Footpad, Ballyoisin or Great Field will be who lines up in the 2m at Cheltenham).
Footpad has been a huge disappointment this season and I'm leaning towards a combination of both your points granger - last years Arkle form only average and he hasn't improved any this year. As you were saying being on the go a long time now since a 3YO - I'm not sure we'll see any further improvement.
Put it this way - If Min and Footpad lined up against each other over 2m at the DRF in normal (ish) conditions - Min would win imo. If the betting prices were similar/close there is no doubt in the world where my money would be going.
Spot on DH couldn't agree more.
I think Great Field has been left exposed now and would be surprised to see him race outside Ireland in the future
Hard to envisage Min beating Altior - very hard actually but have a feeling Munir/Souede may try split their horses now
Ruby only has one arse mind so i'd imagine he wont wnat to pick between Min and Footpad for the Ryanair so Min will prob go for the Ryanair
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
A great series all this week on the 2 mile Chase greats in Racing Post.
Sure to come on line soon if not already.
My favourite race of the year so you might call me biased.
Splitter!!
“Exposed” is a strong word. Having got no further than the 2nd in his pipe-opener, this was effectively his starting-point fir the season, and there was enough to like about it, for me to not dismiss him entirely. I liked the way he knuckled down when Footpad came to him, and I don’t think it’s entirely optimistic, to think that fitness may have started to tell, heading down to the last.
He has absolutely no chance of beating Altior in a QMCC though......none of them do.
"Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".
SlimChance, March 2018
I don't know Grass. I think his beauty was in no one knew how good he was, we have a fair idea. He can still be a fine horse but will need to be placed well to land a big pot
It's a bit generous to call it a pipe opener. He would have been in race training for around 6 weeks so no need for cobwebs. waiting patientlys form is well advertised. If he was good enough, he'd have won
Last edited by granger; 11th January 2019 at 8:57 PM.
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done