Betting
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Champion Chase
The feature race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival gets reviewed by the Cheltenham.co.uk team
A cracking renewal of the Champion Chase lies in wait on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, with several top-class contenders featuring in the Grade 1 two-mile contest.
SHISHKIN (8/13) is the deserving favourite, with Nicky Henderson’s star remaining unbeaten over the larger obstacles.
The eight-year-old breezed up in the Arkle last season, finishing 12 lengths in front of his nearest rival before producing a sparkling campaign to date this season.
His closest call came in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, where he just got the better of ENERGUMENE (7/2) in an epic duel back in January.
Willie Mullins’ start looks one of Shishkin’s main threats in the contest, after making light work of his Irish counterparts in his three starts this year.
He looks the better value here and if he can find that length on Shishkin, then he could well end Mullins’ hoodoo in this contest.
Stablemate CHACUN POUR SOI (7/2) joins him, with the multiple Grade 1 winner aiming to put last year’s disappointment behind him.
The gelding was disappointing in the Tingle Creek back in December but he bounced back with a much better performance at the Dublin Racing Festival when scoring by 12 lengths.
The 10-year-old is still yet to strike on British soil and he does have something to prove at Prestbury Park next week.
Last season’s heroine PUT THE KETTLE ON (16/1) could swerve the contest complete and head to the Mares’ Chase for Henry De Bromhead, with stablemates ENVOI ALLEN (20/1) and CAPTAIN GUINNESS (25/1) potentially holding some each-way value if connections opt to head here.
FUNAMBLE SIVOLA (14/1) produced a game performance in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month but will need to find a bit more to be competitive here.
Last year’s runner-up NUBE NEGRA (10/1) returns to Cheltenham with interest after striking in the Shloer Chase back in November for Dan Skelton, while Venetia Williams’ FUNAMBLE SIVOLA (14/1) produced a game performance in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month but will need to find a bit more to be competitive here.
2020 winner POLITOLOGUE (22/1) looks the strongest of Paul Nicholls’ hand with GREANETEEN (25/1) and HITMAN (33/1) holding entries for the Ditcheat trainer.
Gary Moore’s EDITEUR DU GITE (25/1), Kim Bailey’s FIRST FLOW (33/1) and Alan King’s SCEAU ROYAL (40/1) look the best of the remaining entries.
BEST SELECTIONS:
*Odds courtesy of Spreadex and correct at time of writing
