2026 Champion Chase

[Eggs]

Current betting;

Marine National 4-1
Sir Gino 4-1
Majborough 8-1
Il Etait Temps 8-1
Jonbon 12-1
Constitution Hill 16-1
Kalif du Berlais 16-1
25-1 bar.

 

[Big Zeb]

If Willie can sort Majborough's jumping out he must have a good chance in this race. Marine National is the rightful favorite but I think he won an average renewal last year. Good chance we just wont see Sir Gino on a race course again. IET is just not as effective at Cheltenham and Jonbon has had his chance and blew it.

 

[Eggs]

…looks like Nicholls has this in mind for KDB;

‘He jumped beautifully at home before his race at Carlisle and I was mortified when he fell. However, he no signs of any ill effects for that fall and jumped as we expected him to when winning a novices’ handicap chase at Newbury. He then went to Cheltenham for anontther novices’ handicap and the way he won there left me with no doubt he was a graded chaser. The next step would have been the Kingmaker at Warwick, but the owners had L’Eau du Sud running there so we opted for the Scilly Isles at Sandown and for some reason ran poorly. Some of ours weren’t running very well at that stage and it was bottomless ground, and I think he wants decent ground. We wanted to give him time to get over that experience, so we skipped Cheltenham, and we went to Aintree for his first attempt at a Grade 1. He never saw another rival and simply jumped superbly. Now we only hope he can reach the next level, and the idea is to run in the Haldon Gold Cup in early-November, and I hope he will be lining up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham come March. I don’t want to over-hype the horse, but I have never hidden the high regard in which I hold him and he could have the chasing world at his feet.’

 

[Runragged]

…looks like Nicholls has this in mind for KDB;

‘He jumped beautifully at home before his race at Carlisle and I was mortified when he fell. However, he no signs of any ill effects for that fall and jumped as we expected him to when winning a novices’ handicap chase at Newbury. He then went to Cheltenham for anontther novices’ handicap and the way he won there left me with no doubt he was a graded chaser. The next step would have been the Kingmaker at Warwick, but the owners had L’Eau du Sud running there so we opted for the Scilly Isles at Sandown and for some reason ran poorly. Some of ours weren’t running very well at that stage and it was bottomless ground, and I think he wants decent ground. We wanted to give him time to get over that experience, so we skipped Cheltenham, and we went to Aintree for his first attempt at a Grade 1. He never saw another rival and simply jumped superbly. Now we only hope he can reach the next level, and the idea is to run in the Haldon Gold Cup in early-November, and I hope he will be lining up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham come March. I don’t want to over-hype the horse, but I have never hidden the high regard in which I hold him and he could have the chasing world at his feet.’

Yeah, is an interesting one in that division and certainly a strong case for being a much shorter price come March. I can see them going Haldon, possibly Siviniaco Conti at Kempton and then Game Spirit to get the experience, unless they go for the big guns in the Tingle Creek or Clarence House. Couple of concerns for me. First is the coming out of novice company and into graded which is never an easy step especially as two of his wins came in handicaps where he was thrown in. We can also use Brookie as a form line having run 2nd to KDB at Aintree beat 3 1/2 lengths but then went to Punchestown and was beaten 15 lengths by Majborough getting very similar RPR's for the two runs. The other is age. Will only be a 6yo next year and you have to go back to 2009 for the last 6yo winner, though that was Master Minded, also for Paul Nicholls, albeit he was winning it for the 2nd time! Voy Por Ustedes (2007) and Inkslinger (1973) are the only other 6yo winners in the history of the race (First run 1959).

 

[BigL]

Majborough easily best horse in race but can't jump....if he scratches up his jumping then he wins

 

[Lobos]

Majborough easily best horse in race but can't jump....if he scratches up his jumping then he wins

Completely agree. Monster if he gets his jumping right. Have to remember he is still only 5. Potentially massive improvement to come.

 

[Craigy14]

Majborough easily best horse in race but can't jump....if he scratches up his jumping then he wins

Agree with this, if his back end hadn’t gave way on landing 2 out he’d be the Arkle winner and short priced fav imo.

8/1 is the value in the race imo. Could possibly compare him with El Fabiolo in not being the best jumper but has some engine. Likely end up out in trip as he gets older.

 

[opatcho]

I’ve backed Majborough, purely on the fact that he jumped pretty well in the main, iirc missed third last, and made a mess of the last two

He’ll have more experience, but my main angle is the going, if it comes up softer then they’ll be going a tad slow and this lad will just power through the race. Comes up heavy, and he’ll do a Gaelic Warrior in the arkle and energumene in his QMCC wins