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15:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 March 2019

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 3m 58.54s

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Selected odds by:

Altior⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 175| CD

4/11

Bang up there with the very best 2m chasers of all time; a quite staggering 12-12 over fences; already a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner (2016 Supreme Novices', 2017 Arkle, 2018 Champion Chase); rates as nigh impossible to oppose.

Form: 111-111

Castlegrace Paddy³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 156| D

25/1

Lightly-raced chaser who posted a best career effort when winning the 2m Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase by 16L at Cork (soft) in December; twice held in Grade 1 company since, including when let down by his jumping at Leopardstown (fell early).

Form: 115-14F

God's Own⁹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 159| D

16/1

A flag-bearer for Tom George, his record in this race reads 4,5,3 (competed in both Sprinter Sacre & Altior eras); solid as usual so far this season winning the Haldon Gold Cup (Exeter) and finishing second to Charbel in the 2m4f Peterborough Chase.

Form: 6333-12

Hell's Kitchen^h,t⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 155

25/1

Yet to win over the minimum trip and hasn't raced over 2m since December 2017; evidently has had issues but was suited by front-running tactics when plundering a 2m3f Class 2 handicap at Ascot in December; faces a stiff task at these weights.

Form: 2U1P-71

Min³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 167| D

7/2

Has twice finished runner-up to Altior at the Cheltenham Festival, including when beaten 7L in this race in 2018; a Grade 1 winner on both starts so far this season, most latterly over 2m1f at Leopardstown (good); the forecast option.

Form: 1224-11

Ordinary World³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 154| D

33/1

Sole success over fences (1-14) came in a 2m Beginners' Chase at Fairyhouse in October 2016; fifth of nine to Altior in this race in 2018 (beaten 35L) he's shown definite improvement of late, albeit looks safely held by all of the main protagonists.

Form: 57-4232

Politologue^h,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 166| D

11/1

On the up and considered as a realistic contender in this race 12-months ago, but could only finish a distant fourth to Altior (beaten 23L); beat Min by a neck in the 2m4f Melling Chase at Aintree a few weeks later and that's more his ideal trip.

Form: 241-144

Saint Calvados^p1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 156| D

25/1

Regarded as the new kid on the block in this division following an impressive Grade 3 win at Naas in November. However, is yet to deliver at the top table and it'll be a surprise if he reverses form with Altior & Min; cheekpieces on.

Form: 114-133

Sceau Royal²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 159| BF| CD

16/1

A five-time winner over fences, the highlight of which came when beating Simply Ned by just over 2L in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase (good); well beaten by Altior and Saint Calvados in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December (on soft).

Form: 111-142

Forecasts

Altior (4/11), Min (7/2), Politologue (11/1), Sceau Royal (16/1), God's Own (16/1), Hell's Kitchen (25/1), Castlegrace Paddy (25/1), Saint Calvados (25/1), Ordinary World (33/1)

ALTIOR is quite simply one of the best two-mile chasers of all time. He doesn’t just defend his Champion Chase crown (the last dual winner of this race was Master Minded) but his unbeaten record over fences (12-12) and also his unblemished course form figures of 4 from 4. Only the bravest of the brave will be prepared to take him on at very short-odds, with the 2018 runner-up Min and Politologue thought likeliest of the remainder to be scrapping for the minor honours.