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Chacun Pour Soi is the antepost favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, having been forced to miss last year’s renewal due to injury.
The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old has been dominant over fences so far this season, winning his three outings by a combined distance of more than 33 lengths, and is heavily fancied for the flat-out 2m charge around Prestbury Park’s Old Course.
Arguably the most impressive of Chacun Pour Soi’s runs this campaign was last time out when landing a fourth Grade 1 victory at Leopardstown, and owner Rich Ricci will have high hopes his superstar can replicate that form here.
However, Chacun Pour Soi has no prior experience at Cheltenham and only one of the past 12 Champion Chase winners have been in a similar position – so who could beat the highly-fancied favourite?
Remember, Paddy Power are offering non-runner money back on every single race at the Cheltenham Festival so you will not lose out if your selection doesn’t run.
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Altior
ALTIOR is a legend at Cheltenham, having won on each of his four previous runs at the Cheltenham Festival.
Victory in the 2016 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was followed by an Arkle Chase triumph a year later before consecutive Champion Chase wins in 2018 and 2019.
Altior (OR 169)
Chase Runs – 17, Wins – 15, Placings – 111111/111/11111/21-2
But Nicky Henderson’s stable star lost his unbeaten record over fences to Cyrname at Ascot in November 2019 and subsequently missed last year’s Champion Chase renewal, while this season’s runs suggest the 11-year-old has lost a yard of pace.
Altior missed his prep run in the Game Spirit Chase but is reportedly working well at home and will sport first-time cheekpieces to focus him up for the challenge of Chacun Pour Soi.
Nube Negra
Victory over Altior in the Desert Orchid Chase on Boxing Day announced NUBE NEGRA as a genuine challenger for this year’s Champion Chase.
The seven-year-old appeared to have plenty left in reserve despite a healthy winning margin at Kempton, and Harry Skelton was justified in his decision to forgo a ride on Politologue in order to jump on his brother Dan’s horse.
Nube Negra (OR 165)
Chase Runs – 5, Wins – 3, Placings – 1122-1
However, Nube Negra is still a relative unknown in the top chasing division and it remains to be seen if he can replicate his most recent form or if it was just a flash in the pan, especially with no Cheltenham form to back up his credentials.
But good ground on the day will help while he has not featured since that win December win and is excellent coming fresh off a break – winning two of his last three reappearances after lay-offs of 63 days or more.
Politologue
POLITOLOGUE may have got an easy time of it in last year’s renewal with no Altior or Chacun Pour Soi but the popular grey is the defending champion and tougher than many give him credit for.
The 10-year-old showed his class with a dominant win on his seasonal reappearance in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, although he was upset by a shock victory for First Flow in the Clarence House last time out.
Politologue (OR 168)
Chase Runs – 22, Wins – 10, Placings – 11214F/111241/14422/251-12
Politologue is likely to be popular with punters on the day, but it will be a huge performance if Paul Nicholls’ charger manages to reverse the Ascot result and see off both Altior and Chachun Pour Soi.
Harry Cobden should retain the ride for the Cheltenham Festival if Harry Skelton stays on Nube Negra.
Put The Kettle On
PUT THE KETTLE ON was superb in last year’s Arkle Chase, staying on gamely to hold off Fakir D’oudairies, and she looks like she could be comfortable over further than 2m.
The seven-year-old would be disputing antepost favouritism in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase but connections are eyeing a bigger prize and the her Cheltenham form gives them reason to hope for an upset here.
Put The Kettle On (OR 1154)
Chase Runs – 8, Wins – 6, Placings – 111211-13
Put The Kettle On is three from three over course and distance and will also receive a 7lb mares allowance while trainer Henry De Bromhead has had two previous winners in this race.
Chacun Pour Soi and Notebook were both too strong at Leopardstown last time out but Put The Kettle On definitely has each-way claims, even if victory might be a step too far.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES
March 16 – 13.20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 13.55 – Arkle Chase latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.05 – Champion Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.40 – Mares’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 17 – 13.20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 17 – 13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 17 – 15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 14.30 – Ryanair Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 13.20 – Triumph Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 14.30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 19 – 15.05 – Gold Cup latest odds and tips
March 19 – 16.15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase latest odds and tips
*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.
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