Cheltenham 2026 Champion Chase tips

I managed to land an 11/2 winner in the Champion Chase last year when Marine Nationale produced a brilliant performance under Sean Flanagan. I felt there was real value in taking on Jonbon at the prices and thankfully that view paid off.

Sadly last year’s hero won’t be back to defend his crown after being ruled out, which leaves the two-mile division looking very different heading into the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

In his absence Majborough is likely to go off a warm favourite for Willie Mullins and it’s easy to see why. His impressive win in the Dublin Chase last time out confirmed he belongs right at the top of the two-mile chasing division.

With the reigning champion missing and no obvious standout rival emerging, this year’s Champion Chase suddenly looks there for the taking.

My quick picks for the Champion Chase

• Majborough – 49/50 with SBK
• Quilixios – 7/1 with BoyleSports

Cheltenham 4.00 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Key stats and trends

Age

• 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9
• 2 of the last 3 winners were aged 9
• Only 2 winning 7yo in the last 12 renewals

Price

• 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 11 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• 2 of the last 4 winners were favourites and trained by Willie Mullins

Form

• 5 of the last 12 winners won on their previous run before the Champion Chase
• 10 of the last 12 winners had at least 2 previous runs at Cheltenham
• 7 of the last 12 winners had a previous win at Cheltenham

Rating

• 9 of the last 12 winners were rated 162 or higher
• 2 of the last 4 winners were rated 175
• Only 1 winner rated less than 160 in the last 4 renewals

Other pointers

• 6 of the last 12 winners were trained in Ireland
• 14 of the last 17 winners had previously won a Grade 1 Chase
• 11 of the last 14 winners had run at the Dublin Racing Festival or Ascot earlier that season

Champion Chase preview & tips

I have always been a big fan of MAJBOROUGH and it was so impressive the way he pulled away from the field to win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. He had last year’s winner of the race Marine Nationale trailing some 19 lengths back in second.

That rival has come out now but even so I think he would have been up against it trying to reverse the form. His jumping was significantly better and given he is versatile regarding the ground and has Festival form to his name he is difficult to oppose.

Jonbon did well to finish second in this last year given that mistake he made and while he is in his advancing years now he did impress beating Thistle Ask at Ascot and then running down Pic D’orhy last time so he will probably have his supporters again.

He is just 2 from 7 around Cheltenham though and 0/4 at the Festival which again is enough for me to leave him alone.

Each way angle?

There is always an each way perspective to be had in this race and with Henry De Bromhead having done well in this race down the years QUILIXIOS could be worth a saver.

He was in the process of running a big race in this last year before coming down at the last. I know we haven’t seen him since but he is a horse that is proven fresh in the past and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him involved.

My picks:

1. MAJBOROUGH

• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Form: 1-31-1131-231
• Age: 6
• Weight: 11-10

Bet on MAJBOROUGH to win the Champion Chase at 49/50 with SBK

2. QUILIXIOS

• Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
• Form: 1-11117-223-16185-124F
• Age: 9
• Weight: 11-10

Bet on QUILIXIOS to win the Champion Chase at 7/1 with BoyleSports

Last 12 winners of the Cross Country

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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