Champion Chase Betting Tips for the Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham tips for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 12^th March 2014 with a race preview and predictions.

Following the withdrawal from the race of Sprinter Sacre, the betting market for the Queen Mother Champion Chase looks wide open and our long standing ante-post Champion Chase betting tiphas now shorted drastically in the betting.  

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Sprinter Sacre will not run in the Champion Chase after his irregular heartbeat which saw him pulled up in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. This has made Sire De Grugy the clear favourite in the betting at odds of 9/4 (Sportingbet). In the absence of the ‘black aeroplane’ this horse has taken full advantage of his opportunity and claimed the Tingle Creek, Desert Orchid and Clarence House Chases.  The latter of those victories was by far the most impressive as he beat a useful field by 11 lengths on heavy ground that really wouldn’t have suited him.  He holds many of the horses still entered on this season’s form and looks a strong favourite in the Champion Chase betting, but we are looking for some more value in what looks a competitive affair for our Cheltenham tips.

Nevertheless, Sire De Grguy has been beaten this season in the Shloer Chase where he fell foul of the Cheltenham hill and of Kid Cassidy (10/1 Bet Victor).  This JP McManus owned horse was given a fantastic ride by AP McCoy to collar Sire De Grugy on the run-in and move away by 3 lengths.  Despite this, the eventual runner-up had to concede 10lbs to the winner so remained the best horse in the race at the weights.  Kid Cassidy remains an extremely tricky ride and very unpredictable (as evidenced in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown where he was beaten by 60 lengths) so it would be a massive surprise to see him beat Sire De Grugy once again. 

Benefficient (6/1 Coral) won the Jewson Novices’ Chase last year beating the likes of Captain Conan and Dynaste in the process but the Ryanair Chase looks his preferred target depending on the ground.  He looked like a strong stayer when winning at last year’s Festival and I wouldn’t really fancy his chances against speedier types if he were to line up here.

One Irish challenger I am interested in for my Cheltenham tips in the Champion Chase is ARVIKA LIGEONNIERE (11/2 Paddy Power), a horse with plenty of talent but one long thought to struggle when going left-handed.  This Willie Mullins’ runner is unbeaten going right-handed at Punchestown in his career and has racked up three impressive Graded victories so far this season.  The last of which came at his beloved Punchestown on heavy ground over 2m where he dispatched his three rivals with ease. 

He travelled up with the pace and comfortably moved himself into the lead in the final stages, his jumping was big and bold and he looked effortless the entire way round.  In terms of form at Cheltenham he contested last season’s Arkle Trophy Chase but was pulled up after not travelling nor jumping with his customary ease.  Many will refer to that form as a good enough reason to pass over this horses’ chances in the Champion Chase but I would consider that very foolish.  The Champion Chase looks an ideal race for him and with the absence of Sprinter Sacre the odds of 11/2 lend perfectly to an each-way bet. Both Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins are keen to send this horse back to Cheltenham and he is our Champion Chase betting tip.

Sire De Grugy has he has already been beaten at Cheltenham this season, when his stamina reserves seemingly emptied up the Cheltenham hill so I’m happy to look elsewhere for my Cheltenham tips in the hope that ARVIKA LIGEONNIERE handles Cheltenham races better than he has in the past.  This horse has plenty of speed and brings good strong Irish form into the race.  The fact he stays further than 2m and handles all types of ground are two massive positives and he could well take the lead and make sure Sire De Grugy and the rest are truly tested. 

2014 Champion Chase Betting Tip

Arvika Ligeonniere (each-way) – click here to bet at 11/2 with Paddy Power.

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