Below you'll find our betting tips for the Champion Chase which takes place at 16:00 on Wednesday 11th March at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Our tips are provided by our expert horse racing analysts David Young and Will Smith who has featured on Racing TV and William Hill Racing.
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct
at
the time of publishing (08:00 11/03/2026) but may have changed since. Please check
the
latest price before placing your bet.
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Queen Mother Champion Chase - Cheltenham Festival 2026
David Young’s Champion Chase Tips
IL ETAIT TEMPS seems to be the forgotten horse in this market. He’s only */1 when I’m stating that but he was favourite for this after his tingle creek demolition of Jonbon and that was his 4th 170+ RPR from his last 6 starts which is two more than Marine who is a year his senior with just one fewer chase start.
He’s 7 wins from 10 chase starts and bar Ascot last time out he’s jumped really well of late. I know he was bad in the Arkle here with his jumping, but he blundered many and still finished third that day. He’s allowed to throw in mistakes, I’m glad he’s done it at Ascot before coming here, but with every runner needing to be without errors, I think he’s more reliable in the jumping from than Majborough is when considering compensation in their prices.
He made mistakes in his Arkle behind Gaelic Warrior which was much talked about when looking at his races since then because he put in a 170 as a Novice in Aintree after, beat Gaelic Warrior in Punchestown the same spring which shows his appetite for racing and then when he beat Jonbon in the Celebration chase that was off a near year layoff so he can do it fresh or not. That was his first foray into Open company too when taking on Jonbon in his own back yard and since his Aintree Grade 1 his lowest RPR has been the 160 he received for last time out which shows just how much raw ability he has, to achieve that kind of figure when performing at his worst. The 175, 173 and 176 before that in his three runs outside of Novice company see’s him as a clear second best to Majborough who posted a 179 in the DRF, but he’s got to prove that he can back that up whereas we know Il Etait Temps can do that, and he can comeback from a poor round to good effect too.
IL ETAIT TEMPS – 2 STAR WIN @ 4/1
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The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 race. It’s run on the Old Course over a distance of 2 miles and features 12 fences to be jumped. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is open to horses aged five years or older and is one of the most prestigious two-mile chases in the National Hunt calendar. Sprinter Sacre, Moscow Flyer and Master Minded are just a few of the notable winners that the race has produced.
Champion Chase Betting Tips
Looking for top Champion Chase tips ahead of Cheltenham 2026? You’re in the right place. The Champion Chase is one of the headline races of the entire Festival and always attracts huge betting interest. Champion Chase betting tips from our top racing experts Will Smith and Dave Young will highlight the leading contenders, any value angles in the market, and the horses that look primed to deliver over the minimum trip.
Because this division tends to take shape throughout the season, you may occasionally find Champion Chase ante post tips available on WhichBookie if an early standout emerges or the market leaves a top performer at an appealing price. These early views can help you secure a stronger position before the Festival week begins. You can view all of Will & Dave’s early selections on our ante-post racing tips page.
When we get closer to raceday, we’ll publish updated Champion Chase tips with a clear look at the confirmed field. These will be published here on this page and also on our main horse racing tips page.
Plenty of WhichBookie followers also keep an eye on our daily EW Lucky 15 tip from Will Smith during Cheltenham, as this championship race has produced some memorable winners that often feature in his daily selections.
Along with a host of tips on the Champion Chase, be sure to also check out our daily Placepot tips throughout Cheltenham for a chance to win a share of the enhanced pots that are available.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase Tips
The Champion Chase has been dominated by proven Festival performers. Nine of the last ten winners had already won or placed in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham, and only three winners this century had failed to win at least once earlier in the season. The race has also favoured runners who stay active, with nineteen of the last twenty-one having raced two or three times that season.
Irish-trained horses have taken the last five races, while short-priced favourites have not always delivered, with only three of twelve odds-on favourites winning this century. Winners rarely come at big prices, with only one returning bigger than 11/1 since 1993.
What distance is The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase?
The race is run over 1 mile and 7 furlongs on the Old Course at Cheltenham.
What level is The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase?
It is a Grade 1 race and is the championship contest for two-mile chasers.
How many fences are jumped in The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase?
Runners jump 13 fences in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Is The Queen Mother Champion Chase the feature race on Day 2?
Yes, it is the highlight of Ladies Day and one of the most prestigious two-mile chases in the National Hunt calendar.
Do Arkle winners often target The Queen Mother Champion Chase?
Yes, many Arkle winners return the following season to compete in the Champion Chase at the highest level.
Will Smith has been providing horse racing tips for WhichBookie since 2020. He has an extensive background in horse racing and has worked as co-commentator and analyst for William Hill TV , At The Races and Racing TV amongst others. You'll find Will's racing tips and articles available daily on WhichBookie.co.uk.
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Below you'll find our betting tips for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle taking place at 17:20 on Friday 13th March at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
All of our 2026 Cheltenham betting tips are provided by WhichBookie racing analysts David Young and Will Smith. You may have seen Will featured on horse racing media channels such as Racing TV and William Hill Racing.
Find hot tips for the 2026 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle below.
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