BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase |
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| Grade 1, Cheltenham 16:00 £400,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 1m 7f 199y, Class 1  |
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The race looks set to revolve around one horse after a dramatic late-season shift in the two-mile chasing hierarchy, with Majborough emerging as the new standard-bearer following a devastating display at Leopardstown.
IN A ROMP 💪
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2026
Majborough is in a league of his own as he runs away with the @Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
He's going to take some stopping in the Champion Chase if he jumps like that.#DRF | @LeopardstownRC 🟩🟨⬜️ pic.twitter.com/hCGMnWkCD5
Majborough back to his brilliant best
Once viewed as a horse struggling to fulfil his immense early promise, the six-year-old has emphatically reasserted himself as a top-class chaser with a breathtaking victory in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase on February 1. Already a Grade 1 winner courtesy of his Irish Arkle success 12 months earlier, Majborough had endured a frustrating spell thereafter, with jumping errors – most notably in last season’s Arkle at Cheltenham – and defeats at Cork and Leopardstown earlier this term raising doubts.
Those doubts were swept aside at Leopardstown. The addition of cheekpieces and a return to positive tactics transformed him. Ridden with supreme confidence by Mark Walsh, Majborough was allowed to stride on from the front, attacking his fences with renewed zest and rhythm. Each jump saw him gaining ground on his rivals, and when the pressure was applied in earnest, there was no response forthcoming.
Defending Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale, sent off the 5-4 favourite, briefly attempted to close the gap turning for home, but the testing ground told. While others wilted, Majborough powered relentlessly clear, eventually crossing the line an astonishing 19 lengths ahead.
Walsh was unequivocal afterwards, describing the performance as the “real Majborough” and highlighting that his long stride and enthusiasm are his greatest weapons when allowed to roll. Trainer Willie Mullins echoed that sentiment, calling the display “poetry in motion” and crediting both jockey and horse for a front-running exhibition that finally married ability with execution.
Unsurprisingly, bookmakers reacted swiftly. Majborough is now an 11-8 favourite (from 4-1) in Paddy Power’s non-runner no bet market, a reflection of how decisively he reshaped the Champion Chase picture.
Il Etait Temps: questions to answer
If Majborough arrives at Cheltenham with momentum firmly on his side, the same cannot be said for Il Etait Temps, whose Festival prospects are suddenly clouded by a worrying run in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Once considered one of the leading two-mile chasers after Grade 1 victories at Sandown and in the Tingle Creek, Il Etait Temps was a disappointing odds-on favourite at the weekend, never travelling and eventually falling tiredly when beaten behind Jonbon and Thistle Ask. Former Champion Chase-winning jockey Ruby Walsh was forthright in his assessment, labelling the run a “complete no-show”.
Walsh noted that Il Etait Temps looked unusually quiet in the paddock and failed to ever “rise a gallop” during the race, despite his rider’s efforts to spark him into life. While sympathetic explanations exist – including previous Festival mishaps, differences between English and Irish ditch fences, and the possibility that Ascot simply didn’t suit on the day – Walsh conceded that punters must now approach the horse with caution.
There remains hope that Cheltenham itself is not the root of his issues, but with potential alternative targets being discussed and confidence shaken, Il Etait Temps enters the Festival with far more questions than answers.
Verdict
The 2026 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase is shaping up as a race defined by momentum. Majborough arrives as a rejuvenated force, his Leopardstown demolition marking him down as a worthy favourite if reproducing that front-running, fluent display on the Cheltenham stage. For others, notably Il Etait Temps, the coming weeks will be about reassurance rather than ambition.
If Majborough jumps with the same authority and freedom he showed in Dublin, the rest may find themselves chasing shadows up the famous Cheltenham hill.
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
£400,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 1m 7f 199y, Class 1
18 remaining entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Feb 18)
1 12-43P Brookie 9 11-10 Anthony Honeyball
2 32-114 Calico 10 11-10 Dan Skelton
3 63-2P6 Captain Guinness 11 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
4 -41143 Found A Fifty 9 11-10 Gordon Elliott
5 11-11F Il Etait Temps 8 11-10 W P Mullins
6 0-3112 Irish Panther 9 11-10 Eddie & Patrick Harty
7 2-2211 Jonbon 10 11-10 Nicky Henderson
8 5-3321 JPR One 9 11-10 Joe Tizzard
9 143-13 L'Eau du Sud 8 11-10 Dan Skelton
10 2F-U43 Libberty Hunter 10 11-10 Evan Williams
11 3-1231 Majborough 6 11-10 W P Mullins
12 21-122 Marine Nationale 9 11-10 Barry Connell
13 /124F- Quilixios 9 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
14 -12122 Saint Segal 8 11-10 Jane Williams
15 502P3P Senecia 9 11-10 Vincent Laurence Halley
16 14-315 Solness 8 11-10 Joseph Patrick O'Brien
17 -11112 Thistle Ask 9 11-10 Dan Skelton
18 12-215 Only By Night 8 11-3 Gavin Cromwell
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2025 Marine Nationale 8 11-10 Sean Flanagan Barry Connell Barry Connell 5/1 8
2024 Captain Guinness 9 11-10 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead Declan Landy 17/2 8
2023 Energumene 9 11-10 Paul Townend W P Mullins Tony Bloom 6/5F 7
2022 Energumene 8 11-10 Paul Townend W P Mullins Tony Bloom 5/2 7
2021 Put The Kettle On 7 11-3 Aidan Coleman Henry De Bromhead One For Luck Racing Syndicate 17/2 9
2020 Politologue 9-11-10 Harry Skelton Paul Nicholls John Hales 6/1 5
2019 Altior 9-11-10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Patricia Pugh 4/11F 9
2018 Altior 8-11-10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Patricia Pugh EvsF 9
2017 Special Tiara10-11-10 Noel Fehily Henry de Bromhead Sally Rowley-Williams 11/1 10
2016 Sprinter Sacre 10-11-10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Caroline Mould 5/1 10
2015 Dodging Bullets 7-11-10 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls Martin Broughton & Friends 9/2 9
2014 Sire De Grugy 8-11-10 Jamie Moore Gary Moore The Preston Family & Friends Ltd 11/4F 11
2013 Sprinter Sacre 7-11-10 Barry Geraghty N J Henderson 1/4 7
2012 Finian's Rainbow 9-11-10 Barry Geraghty N J Henderson 4/1 6
2011 Sizing Europe 9-11-10 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead IRE Ann & Alan Potts 10/1 11
2010 Big Zeb 9-11-10 Barry Geraghty Colm Murphy IRE Pat Redmond 10/1 9
2009 Master Minded 6-11-10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Clive Smith 4/11F 12
2008 Master Minded 5-11-10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Clive Smith 3/1 8
2007 Voy Por Ustedes 6-11-10 Robert Thornton Alan King Sir Robert Ogden 5/1 10
2006 Newmill 8-11-10 Andrew McNamara John Murphy IRE Mary Hayes 16/1 12
2005 Moscow Flyer 11-11-10 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington IRE Brian Kearney 6/4F 8
2004 Azertyuiop 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls John Hales 15/8 8
2003 Moscow Flyer 9-12-00 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington IRE Brian Kearney 7/4F 11
2002 Flagship Uberalles 8-12-00 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Elizabeth Gutner/Michael Krysztofiak 7/4F 12
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Edredon Bleu 8-12-00 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight Jim Lewis 7/2 9
1999 Call Equiname 9-12-00 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls Mick Coburn,Paul Barber,Colin Lewis 7/2 13
1998 One Man 10-12-00 Brian Harding Gordon Richards John Hales 7/2 8
1997 Martha’s Son 10-12-00 Rodney Farrant Tim Forster Paddy Hartigan/Michael Ward-Thomas 9/1 6
1996 Klairon Davis 7-12-00 Francis Woods Arthur Moore IRE Chris Jones 9/1 7
1995 Viking Flagship 8-12-00 Charlie Swan David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd 5/2F 10
1994 Viking Flagship 7-12-00 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd 4/1 8
1993 Deep Sensation 8-12-00 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford Robin Eliot 11/1 9
1992 Remittance Man 8-12-00 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson Jim Collins Evs F 6
1991 Katabatic 8-12-00 Simon McNeill Andrew Turnell Pell-Mell Partners 9/1 7
1990 Barnbrook Again 9-12-00 Hywel Davies David Elsworth Mel Davies 11/10F 9
1989 Barnbrook Again 8-12-00 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth Mel Davies 7/4F 8
1988 Pearlyman 9-12-00 Tom Morgan John Edwards Valerie Shaw 15/8F 8
1987 Pearlyman 8-12-00 Peter Scudamore John Edwards Valerie Shaw 13/8F 8
1986 Buck House 8-12-00 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris IRE Mrs Phil Purcell 5/2 11
1985 Badsworth Boy 10-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Monica Dickinson Doug Armitage 11/8 5
1984 Badsworth Boy 9-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage 8/13F 10
1983 Badsworth Boy 8-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage 2/1 6
1982 Rathgorman 10-12-00 Kevin Whyte Michael Dickinson J Lilley 100/30 9
1981 Drumgora 9-12-00 Frank Berry Arthur Moore IRE D Monahan 25/1 9
1980 *Another Dolly 10-12-00 Sam Morshead Fred Rimell Ian Urquhart 33/1 7
1979 Hilly Way 9-12-00 Mr Ted Walsh Peter McCreery IRE J W Sweeney 7/1 9
1978 Hilly Way 8-12-00 Tommy Carmody Peter McCreery IRE J W Sweeney 7/1 10
1977 Skymas 12-12-00 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk IRE Mathew Magee 7/2 8
1976 Skymas 11-12-00 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk IRE Mathew Magee 8/1 7
1975 Lough Inagh 8-12-00 Sean Barker Jim Dreaper IRE A Martin 100/30 8
1974 Royal Relief 10-12-00 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage 6/1 6
1973 Inkslinger 6-12-00 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Mrs M Jenney 6/1 6
1972 Royal Relief 8-12-00 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage 15/8 5
1971 Crisp 8-12-00 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Sir Chester Manifold 3/1 8
1970 Straight Fort 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 7/4F 6
1969 Muir 10-12-00 Ben Hannon Tom Dreaper IRE Waring Willis 15/2 11
1968 Drinny’s Double 10-12-00 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon 6/1 5
1967 Drinny’s Double 9-12-00 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon 7/2 8
1966 Flyingbolt 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Mrs Jean Wilkinson 1/5F 6
1965 Dunkirk 8-12-00 Dave Dick Peter Cazalet Bill Whitbread 8/1 6
1964 Ben Stack 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 2/1 5
1963 Sandy Abbot 8-12-00 Stan Mellor George Owen Mrs J D McKechnie 5/1 5
1962 Piperton 8-12-00 Dave Dick Archie Thomlinson Archie Thomlinson 100/6 7
1961 Fortria 9-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 2/5F 5
1960 Fortria 8-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 15/8F 7
1959 Quita Que 10-12-00 Bunny Cox Dan Moore IRE Mrs D R Brand 4/9F 9
*Another Dolly finished second to Chinrullah, who was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race urine test
