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2026 Champion Chase

Runragged said:
Great run from both Solness and Marine Nationale, especially after the mistake the latter made to throw him out of position. What to make of Majborough though? Jumped better, had every chance, just seemed a bit one paced at the finish. Suspect softer ground and a stiffer test may suit more though he will have a bit to find still. 25/1 available for Solness seems fair. Probably ground dependent but feel his form tailed off after a long season as opposed to not enjoying Cheltenham for his 20 length 4th place. He got similar ratings for both Cheltenham and then Punchestown which followed. No worries about being over raced this time where I assume it will be DRF then Cheltenham. In an open year where jumping is crucial he could well be in contention.
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Hopefully Solness gets a better start than he did last March!!
Got a fair chance of a run for your money imo.
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
I’d wait if I were you, just in case it looks like Sur Gino might turn up.
Just never know with that one!!
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I reckon that depends on Anzadam. If he impresses, I think that puts Sir Gino into the Champion Chase. He did hurdles then fences last season so it doesn't seem an issue to him
 
I think that marine nationale is the one to beat. I feel have overreacted to majborough performance. Big improvement from season debut and only 5. Against the big boys now. I think 8/1 is great price.
 
On anything better than soft ground, I would say Marine is a certainty given what we’ve seen so far
 
With the ways Willies have been running if Anzadam puts in a big race it'll be very surprising, think BDA is a huge price for tomorrow.

Edit, sorry Monday for BDA, the days are meaningless now.
 
EnvoiAlien said:
With the ways Willies have been running if Anzadam puts in a big race it'll be very surprising, think BDA is a huge price for tomorrow.

Edit, sorry Monday for BDA, the days are meaningless now.
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It’s that time of year. I don’t know what day it is😂😂😂
 
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Trixie could be on.....


A new calibre of opposition will lie in wait when Thistle Ask steps up to Grade 1 company for his next start in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17 – last year's winner Jonbon – but Skelton is not shying away from the challenge.

He said: "He's going to go up against different types of horses now, but we'll welcome all-comers and we'll give it our best shot. It's very tempting to have a go at a Champion Chase, but if you want all ticks in your boxes, then he's got to go right-handed.

"If he wins a Clarence House he'd have to go for it, but if you did all right without winning, then you'd have to keep him super fresh for the Celebration Chase."
 
Lobos said:
Trixie could be on.....


A new calibre of opposition will lie in wait when Thistle Ask steps up to Grade 1 company for his next start in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17 – last year's winner Jonbon – but Skelton is not shying away from the challenge.

He said: "He's going to go up against different types of horses now, but we'll welcome all-comers and we'll give it our best shot. It's very tempting to have a go at a Champion Chase, but if you want all ticks in your boxes, then he's got to go right-handed.

"If he wins a Clarence House he'd have to go for it, but if you did all right without winning, then you'd have to keep him super fresh for the Celebration Chase."
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So basically he’s running at Sandown, super fresh
 
Lobos said:
Trixie could be on.....


A new calibre of opposition will lie in wait when Thistle Ask steps up to Grade 1 company for his next start in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17 – last year's winner Jonbon – but Skelton is not shying away from the challenge.

He said: "He's going to go up against different types of horses now, but we'll welcome all-comers and we'll give it our best shot. It's very tempting to have a go at a Champion Chase, but if you want all ticks in your boxes, then he's got to go right-handed.

"If he wins a Clarence House he'd have to go for it, but if you did all right without winning, then you'd have to keep him super fresh for the Celebration Chase."
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A bit like maggot racing. No chance
 

Thistle Ask 160+ from 149 (Timeform)​

Thistle Ask has been one of the big success stories this season and made it four out of four since joining Dan Skelton when landing the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Handicap Chase by a wide margin.

Thistle Ask had a Timeform rating of 116 prior to his stable debut at Kelso towards the end of October but has increased that figure by more than three stone and is now rated 160+ following a spectacular victory at Kempton.

Admittedly, his task was made easier by main rival Ryan's Rocket departing down the back straight while going well, but it was still impressive how easily Thistle Ask drew clear having been aided by a superb round of jumping. He's made astonishing progress in just a couple of months and will be well worth his place in a Grade 1, for all divisional leader Il Etait Temps' rating of 174 shows that much more is still required.

Last season's Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale is rated 167 but may well have improved on that figure had he not nearly unseated his rider at the second fence on his reappearance in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.

He lost momentum and ended up further back than ideal as a consequence, so deserves credit for proving so competitive and losing out by only half a length to the front-running Solness who was winning a third Grade 1 over a course and distance that clearly suits.
 
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Harry Fry’s latest update on Gidleigh Park

“I’m still off with myself with running him in the 1965 Chase at Ascot. I had the Hurst Park in mind having not been able to run him in the Haldon Gold Cup earlier in the season because of the ground. I didn’t want to run him and Boothill in the same race and the Hurst Park would have been the race for him. A stiff two miles around Ascot suit him and we are going to go back there for the Clarence House all being well. It would be exciting to see him back in Grade 1 company”

IWith that in mind I don’t think 50/1 is the worst e/w shout for this race if the ground went in his favour on the day. The division is threadbare. It’s not too much of a stretch to see him upset Jonbon at Ascot and shorten considerably.

The big caveat is that he may need plenty of cut in the ground to lay up but at 50/1 in a market looking devoid of any depth he’s a little play for me e/w.
 
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SeanRock said:
Harry Fry’s latest update on Gidleigh Park

“I’m still off with myself with running him in the 1965 Chase at Ascot. I had the Hurst Park in mind having not been able to run him in the Haldon Gold Cup earlier in the season because of the ground. I didn’t want to run him and Boothill in the same race and the Hurst Park would have been the race for him. A stiff two miles around Ascot suit him and we are going to go back there for the Clarence House all being well. It would be exciting to see him back in Grade 1 company”

IWith that in mind I don’t think 50/1 is the worst e/w shout for this race if the ground went in his favour on the day. The division is threadbare. It’s not too much of a stretch to see him upset Jonbon at Ascot and shorten considerably.

The big caveat is that he may need plenty of cut in the ground to lay up but at 50/1 in a market looking devoid of any depth he’s a little play for me e/w.
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Kind of hoping this backfires as think he would have a great e/w chance in the Ryanair this year. Don't think his 2nd in the Manifesto nor 2nd to Jango Baie first up this season is bad form considering, especially as the two horses to beat him are unlikely to wind up in the Ryanair.
 
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Do we know anything about the wellbeing of Quilixios? Was supposed to be out at Leopardstown over Christmas I thought, but wasn't.
 
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham, March 11)
Brookie (Anthony Honeyball)
Calico (Dan Skelton)
Captain Guinness (Henry de Bromhead, Ireland)
Energumene (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Found A Fifty (Gordon Elliott, Ireland)
Gidleigh Park (Harry Fry)
Il Etait Temps (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Inthepocket (Henry de Bromhead, Ireland)
Irish Panther (Eddie & Patrick Harty, Ireland)
Jonbon (Nicky Henderson)
JPR One (Joe Tizzard)
Kalif Du Berlais (Paul Nicholls)
L'Eau du Sud (Dan Skelton)
Libberty Hunter (Evan Williams)
Majborough (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Marine Nationale (Barry Connell, Ireland)
Only By Night (Gavin Cromwell, Ireland)
Quilixios (Henry de Bromhead, Ireland)
Saint Segal (Jane Williams)
Senecia (Vincent Halley, Ireland)
Sir Gino (Nicky Henderson)
Solness (Joseph O'Brien, Ireland)
Thistle Ask (Dan Skelton)
Touch Me Not (Gordon Elliott, Ireland)
 
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