History of the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase was established in 1959 and was originally known as the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase before it changed in recognition of the Queen Mother, an avid supporter of jump racing, on her 80th birthday.
Quita Que and jockey Bunny Cox won the first-ever Champion Chase in style. The 10-year-old, trained by Dan Moore, won in convincing fashion to set the stage for what horse racing fans would come to expect from the chase throughout the years.
There have been more than 40 different winners of this illustrious competition with several horses claiming the title multiple times – some in repeat succession to join an even more exclusive club.
The following horses are all back-to-back winners:
- Fortria (1960/61)
- Drinny’s Double (1967/68)
- Skymas (1976/77)
- Hilly Way (1978/79)
- Pearlyman (1987/88)
- Barnbrook Again (1989/90)
- Viking Flagship (1994/95)
- Master Minded (2008/09)
- Altior (2018/19)
- Energumene (2022/23)
While impressive, only one holds the record for the most number of wins. Badsworth Boy is the most successful horse to grace the event having won three Champion Chases in a row from 1983 to 1985.
Several well-known jockeys have triumphed in the Champion Chase – including the likes of Peter Scudamore, AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Nico de Boinville – with Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty each managing a record five wins.
When is the Champion Chase?
The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase takes place on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, otherwise known as ‘Style Wednesday’.
There are seven races planned for the day with the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle kicking off proceedings at 13:20.
The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase is scheduled to take place at 16:00 on Wednesday 12th March. It is the fifth race of the day between the 15:20 Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase and the 16:40 Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
Last year, heavy favourite El Fabiolo pulled up early on as Captain Guinness took the honours with Rachael Blackmore on board for trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Multiple horses will be vying for the silverware come showtime this year, with Jonbon one of the early declarations and in tremendous form following his BetMGM Clarence House Chase win at Ascot in January.
Whoever wins this highly-coveted trophy will rightfully earn their place in Cheltenham history.
Visit the Style Wednesday section of the BetMGM sportsbook for the latest Champion Chase odds. It’s showtime!