Queen Mother Champion Chase

Queen Mother Champion Chase
Grade 1 race
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated1959
Race typesteeplechase
SponsorBetway
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance1m 7f 199y (3,199 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 10 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse£400,000 (2024)
1st: £225,080
Queen Mother Champion Chase
2024
Beige, royal blue triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves, striped cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, emerald green cap, white star Black, red star, white and red striped sleeves, black cap, red star
Captain Guinness Gentleman De Mee Funambule Sivola
Previous years
2023
Royal blue, white seams, white and royal blue hooped cap Beige, royal blue triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves, striped cap Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves
Energumene Captain Guinness Greaneteen
2022
Royal blue, white seams, white and royal blue hooped cap Black, red star, white and red striped sleeves, black cap, red star Red, white sash, royal blue cap
Energumene Funambule Sivola Envoi Allen
2021
Orange and black (quartered), orange sleeves, black stars, orange cap, black star White, red stripe Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap
Put The Kettle On Nube Negra Chacun Pour Soi
2020-2011
2020
Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Royal blue, yellow chevrons, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, royal blue cap, yellow star Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap
Politologue Dynamite Dollars Bun Doran
2019
Black, dark green and grey striped sleeves Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Altior Politologue Sceau Royal
2018
Black, dark green and grey striped sleeves Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves, light green cap Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap
Altior Min God's Own
2017
Royal blue, white stars, red and white striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Black, light blue hoop and sleeves, white cap
Special Tiara Fox Norton Sir Valentino
2016
Red, royal blue chevrons, armlets and star on cap Light blue, orange star, light blue sleeves, orange stars, light blue cap, orange star Royal blue, white stars, red and white striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars
Sprinter Sacre Un De Sceaux Special Tiara
2015
Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap Royal blue, white stars, red and white striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars
Dodging Bullets Somersby Special Tiara
2014
Red, royal blue stripe, red sleeves, white stars, red cap, white star Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap Dark green and beige (quartered), hooped sleeves, check cap
Sire De Grugy Somersby Module
2013
Red, royal blue chevrons, armlets and star on cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
Sprinter Sacre Sizing Europe Wishfull Thinking
2012
White, black cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Purple, yellow spots, purple sleeves, yellow spots on cap
Finian's Rainbow Sizing Europe Big Zeb
2011
Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Purple, yellow spots, purple sleeves, yellow spots on cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Sizing Europe Big Zeb Captain Cee Bee
2010–2001
2010
Purple, yellow spots, purple sleeves, yellow spots on cap Red and white stripes, hooped sleeves, striped cap Red and white (quartered), red sleeves
Big Zeb Forpadydeplasterer Kalahari King
2009
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Black and yellow diamonds, checked sleeves, yellow cap
Master Minded Well Chief Petit Robin
2008
Emerald Green, Yellow spots, Yellow and Emerald Green halved sleeves, Purple cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Black and Light Blue (quartered), Black sleeves, White cap
Master Minded Voy Por Ustedes Fair Along
2007
Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap dark blue, pink sash, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap with pink spots Royal blue, white stars, red and white striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars
Voy Por Ustedes Dempsey River City
2006
Yellow and white diabolo, yellow sleeves, emerald green cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Black, yellow disc, halved sleeves, black and yellow quartered cap
Newmill Fota Island Mister McGoldrick
2005
Black, white chevrons, white sleeves, striped cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star
Moscow Flyer Well Chief Azertyuiop
2004
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Red, yellow stripes, halved sleeves, yellow cap
Azertyuiop Flagship Uberalles Tiutchev
2003
Black, white chevrons, white sleeves, striped cap Dark blue Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap
Moscow Flyer Native Upmanship Cenkos
2002
Red and white stipes, dark blue sleeves, white stars, dark blue cap, white stars Dark blue Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap
Flagship Uberalles Native Upmanship Cenkos
2000–1991
2000
Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Orange, black stars, orange cap, black star Red and white stipes, dark blue sleeves, white stars, dark blue cap, white stars
Edredon Bleu Direct Route Flagship Uberalles
1999
Purple and yellow diamonds, purple sleeves, yellow cap Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Yellow, red stars, red and yellow halved sleeves, yellow cap
Call Equiname Edredon Bleu Direct Route
1998
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Royal blue, grey and royal blue halved sleeves, grey cap
One Man Or Royal Lord Dorcet
1997
Turquoise, white chevrons and armlets, white cap Royal Blue, Pink epaulets, Pink cap Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
Martha's Son Ask Tom Viking Flagship
1996
MAROON and WHITE STRIPES, maroon cap, white hoop Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Royal blue, red sleeves, light blue cap
Klairon Davis Viking Flagship Sound Man
1995
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves, black seams Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap
Viking Flagship Deep Sensation Nakir
1994
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Yellow and blue diamonds, white sleeves, yellow cap, white star Yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves, black seams
Viking Flagship Travado Deep Sensation
1993
Yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves, black seams Green, pink diamonds, green sleeves, pink cap Maroon and Red check, Red sleeves and cap
Deep Sensation Cyphrate Katabatic
1992
Black, gold sleeves, red cap Maroon and Red check, Red sleeves and cap Maroon, white sleeves, orange and white quartered cap
Remittance Man Katabatic Waterloo Boy
1991
Maroon and Red check, Red sleeves and cap Maroon, white sleeves, orange and white quartered cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap
Katabatic Waterloo Boy Nos Na Gaoithe
1990–1981
1990
Black, yellow cross-belts and armlets Maroon, white sleeves, orange and white quartered cap Orange, green sleeves and spots on cap
Barnbrook Again Waterloo Boy Feroda
1989
Black, yellow cross-belts and armlets Brown, red stars, sleeves and cap White, black stripe, striped sleeves and cap
Barnbrook Again Royal Stag Beau Ranger
1988
Yellow, mcalpine tartan sleeves Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap
Pearlyman Desert Orchid Very Promising
1987
Yellow, McAlpine tartan sleeves Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap
Pearlyman Very Promising Desert Orchid
1986
White, light blue stars on body, red cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Light green, black chevrons, green sleeves, quartered cap
Buck House Very Promising Kathies Lad
1985
Yellow, black cross of lorraine and hoops on sleeves Black and gold stripes, hooped sleeves, quartered cap Red, black stars, black cap
Badsworth Boy Far Bridge Kyoto
1984
Yellow, black cross of lorraine and hoops on sleeves Maroon, grey disc and armlets, quartered cap Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap
Badsworth Boy Little Bay Artifice
1983
Yellow, black cross of lorraine and hoops on sleeves Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap Light blue, dark blue sleeves, white cap, dark blue hoop
Badsworth Boy Artifice News King
1982
Dark blue and yellow diamonds, dark blue sleeves and cap Cream, brown spots, brown sleeves, cream cap with white spots White, blue disc, blue sleeves, blue cap
Rathgorman Chinrullah Drumgora
1981
White, blue disc, blue sleeves and cap Royal blue, white armlets, pink cap Emerald green, gold stars and cap
Drumgora Anaglogs Daughter Stopped
1980–1978
1980
Red, white hooped sleeves, pink cap Beige and brown chevrons, beige sleeves, brown cap Sky blue, navy blue hoops, sky blue cap
Another Dolly King Weasel Hilly Way
1979
Light blue, white sleeves, pink cap Maroon, gold diamond, sleeves and cap Navy blue, primrose collar and cuffs, primrose and white quartered cap
Hilly Way Dramatist Young Arthur
1978
Light blue, white sleeves, pink cap Turquoise, white spots, quartered cap Emerald green, navy blue sleeves and cap
Hilly Way Menehall Kilmakilloge
 

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online betting company Betway, the race is now known as the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards, or 3,199 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It is the leading minimum-distance chase in the National Hunt calendar, and it is the feature race on the second day of the Festival.

History

The event was established in 1959, and it was originally called the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase. It was given its present title in 1980 – the year of the Queen Mother's 80th birthday – in recognition of her support to jump racing. The Queen Mother was a successful owner of National Hunt horses, particularly chasers, and among these was Game Spirit – the runner-up in this race in 1976.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase was not sponsored before 2007, and between 2008 and 2010 it was backed by Seasons Holidays. The sponsor from 2011 until 2013 was online gambling firm Sportingbet. BetVictor held naming rights for the 2014 season before the current sponsor, sports betting company Betway, took over.[1]

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

Leading jockey (5 wins):

  • Pat Taaffe – Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Straight Fort (1970)
  • Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Big Zeb (2010), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

  • Tom Dreaper – Fortria (1960, 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Muir (1969), Straight Fort (1970)
  • Nicky Henderson - Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016), Altior (2018, 2019)
  • Paul Nicholls - Call Equiname (1999), Azertyuiop (2004), Master Minded (2008, 2009), Dodging Bullets (2015), Politologue (2020)

Leading owner (3 wins):

  • George Ansley – Fortria (1960, 1961), Straight Fort (1970)
  • Doug Armitage – Badsworth Boy (1983, 1984, 1985)
  • John Hales - One Man (1998), Azertyuiop (2004), Politologue (2020)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner
1959 Quita Que 10 Bunny Cox Dan Moore Mrs D. R. Brand
1960 Fortria 8 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper George Ansley
1961 Fortria 9 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper George Ansley
1962 Piperton 8 Dave Dick Archie Thomlinson Archie Thomlinson
1963 Sandy Abbot 8 Stan Mellor George Owen Mrs J. D. McKechnie
1964 Ben Stack 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper The Duchess of Westminster
1965 Dunkirk 8 Dave Dick Peter Cazalet Bill Whitbread
1966 Flyingbolt 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper Jean Wilkinson
1967 Drinny's Double 9 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon
1968 Drinny's Double 10 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon
1969 Muir 10 Ben Hannon Tom Dreaper Waring Willis
1970 Straight Fort 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper George Ansley
1971 Crisp 8 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Sir Chester Manifold
1972 Royal Relief 8 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage
1973 Inkslinger 6 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore Mrs M. Jenney
1974 Royal Relief 10 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage
1975 Lough Inagh 8 Sean Barker Jim Dreaper A. Martin
1976 Skymas 11 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk Matt Magee
1977 Skymas 12 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk Matt Magee
1978 Hilly Way 8 Tommy Carmody Peter McCreery J. W. Sweeney
1979 Hilly Way 9 Ted Walsh[a] Peter McCreery J. W. Sweeney
1980 Another Dolly [b] 10 Sam Morshead Fred Rimell Ian Urquhart
1981 Drumgora 9 Frank Berry Arthur Moore D. Monahan
1982 Rathgorman 10 Kevin Whyte Michael Dickinson J. Lilley
1983 Badsworth Boy 8 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage
1984 Badsworth Boy 9 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage
1985 Badsworth Boy 10 Robert Earnshaw Monica Dickinson Doug Armitage
1986 Buck House 8 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris Mrs Phil Purcell
1987 Pearlyman 8 Peter Scudamore John Edwards Valerie Shaw
1988 Pearlyman 9 Tom Morgan John Edwards Valerie Shaw
1989 Barnbrook Again 8 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth Mel Davies
1990 Barnbrook Again 9 Hywel Davies David Elsworth Mel Davies
1991 Katabatic 8 Simon McNeill Andrew Turnell Pell-Mell Partners
1992 Remittance Man 8 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson Tim Collins
1993 Deep Sensation 8 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford Robin Eliot
1994 Viking Flagship 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd
1995 Viking Flagship 8 Charlie Swan David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd
1996 Klairon Davis 7 Francis Woods Arthur Moore Chris Jones
1997 Martha's Son 10 Rodney Farrant Tim Forster Hartigan / Ward-Thomas
1998 One Man 10 Brian Harding Gordon W. Richards John Hales
1999 Call Equiname 9 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls Coburn / Barber / Lewis
2000 Edredon Bleu 8 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight Jim Lewis
2001 no race 2001 [c]
2002 Flagship Uberalles 8 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Gutner / Krysztofiak
2003 Moscow Flyer 9 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington Brian Kearney
2004 Azertyuiop 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls John Hales
2005 Moscow Flyer 11 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington Brian Kearney
2006 Newmill 8 Andrew McNamara John Joseph Murphy Mary Hayes
2007 Voy Por Ustedes 6 Robert Thornton Alan King Sir Robert Ogden
2008 Master Minded 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Clive D. Smith
2009 Master Minded 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Clive D. Smith
2010 Big Zeb 9 Barry Geraghty Colm Murphy Patrick Joseph Redmond
2011 Sizing Europe 9 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead Ann & Alan Potts
2012 Finian's Rainbow 9 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Michael Buckley
2013 Sprinter Sacre 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Caroline Mould
2014 Sire De Grugy 8 Jamie Moore Gary Moore Preston Family & Friends
2015 Dodging Bullets 7 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls Martin Broughton & Friends
2016 Sprinter Sacre 10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Caroline Mould
2017 Special Tiara 10 Noel Fehily Henry de Bromhead Sally Rowley-Williams
2018 Altior 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Patricia Pugh
2019 Altior 9 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Patricia Pugh
2020 Politologue 9 Harry Skelton Paul Nicholls John Hales
2021 Put The Kettle On 7 Aidan Coleman Henry de Bromhead One For Luck Racing Syndicate
2022 Energumene 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Tony Bloom
2023 Energumene 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Tony Bloom
2024 Captain Guinness 9 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead Declan Landy
  1. ^ amateur jockey
  2. ^ Chinrullah finished first in 1980, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance
  3. ^ The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis. A substitute race at Sandown was won by Edredon Bleu

See also

References

  1. ^ http://thebetwaygroup.com/media/press/?pressRelease=1 [dead link‍]
  • bbc.co.uk – "Royalty absent and present" (2003).
  • cheltenham.co.uk – Media information pack (2010).
  • pedigreequery.com – Queen Mother Champion Chase – Cheltenham.
  • sportingchronicle.com – Queen Mother Champion Two Mile Steeple Chase Past Winners.
  • The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. 1993. p. 231. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.