Cheltenham 2025 Day 2 Tips - March 12

This preview has expired.

See all our latest betting tips or suggested betting sites

Wednesday 26
Thursday 27
Friday 28
Saturday 29
Sunday 30
Monday 31
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 2
Thursday 3
Friday 4
Saturday 5

Champion Chase 2025 - Jonbon to finally claim Festival glory?

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: 12 Mar 2025

Jon Vine 12 Mar 2025

Share this article

Free guide to the 2025 Champion Chase
This race will take place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 12th March
We're eyeing up Quilixios against hot-favourite Jonbon

Expired

Nico de Boinville riding Jonbon on their way to winning The Shloer Chase at Cheltenham. (Getty)

The Queen Mother Champion Chase headlines Ladies' Day at the Cheltenham Festival. Many of the sport's most famous names have claimed victory in this historic Grade One and it's Britain's highest-rated chaser who heads the betting for this year's renewal.

Here's our free guide to the 2025 Champion Chase, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.

*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*

2025 Champion Chase Odds

Name	Odds
Jonbon	5/6
Gaelic Warrior	5/1
Energumene	6/1
Il Est Francais	7/1
El Fabiolo	9/1
Bar	10/1

2025 Champion Chase Tips - The Favourite

Jonbon is a sensational two-mile chaser and you'd be hard-pushed to find anyone who didn't agree that his career deserves a Cheltenham Festival victory.

Nicky Henderson's star has never finished worse than second in his entire career, winning 16 of his 19 starts under rules. Jonbon's Grade One haul includes the Top Novices' Hurdle, the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, the Maghull, the Melling Chase, two Tingle Creeks and two Celebration Chases. Nico De Boinville's mount added a first Clarence House to his CV in January, thrashing Energumene in what was - according to RPRs anyway - a career-best performance.

The only negative for Jonbon is his record around Cheltenham. Henderson's nine-year-old has won the Shloer Chase twice, but all three of his defeats have come at Prestbury Park. Constitution Hill and El Fabiolo proved too good on his two previous Cheltenham Festival appearances, and it's hard to forget the abysmal round of jumping the favourite produced when beaten by Elixir De Nutz in the 2023 Clarence House. Some won't agree, but for me, there's enough evidence to say that Jonbon has never produced his best at Cheltenham.

2025 Champion Chase Tips - The Chasing Pack

Willie Mullins still has three of his best chasers entered in the Champion Chase. El Fabiolo fell early on his only start of the season so far and he's being trained for the Ryanair. Gaelic Warrior has looked very one-paced on his two appearances this term, both around Leopardstown. After the Dublin Racing Festival, Mullins intimated that he too could end up in the Ryanair, but I wouldn't be surprised to see last year's Arkle winner run here and Gaelic Warrior would have to be respected if the ground came up soft.

As would Energumene, who romped to back-to-back victories in the Queen Mother before missing last season through injury. Mullins' star has six-and-a-half lengths to find with Jonbon from their clash in the Clarence House. Around Cheltenham, I'd expect that gap to narrow significantly, especially if the ground was soft or worse. Energumene is, however, 11-years-old now and it would be a huge ask for him to repeat the performances we saw in 2022 and '23.

Il Est Francais is entered here and in the Ryanair Chase. Noel George spoke to Racing TV this week and seemed to be leaning towards the Ryanair - citing that there are already several possible front-runners in the Champion Chase and Il Est Francais is at his best when allowed to dominate from the get-go.

Solness has made all to win two Grade Ones around Leopardstown this season. Matata is another free-going front-runner who has run up to a high level this term. Both have had exceptionally busy campaigns and neither has any Cheltenham form to enhance their claims.

Marine National does, but I'm yet to be convinced that the 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner is a Grade One contender over fences. Found A Fifty hates going left-handed. Master Chewy and JPR One have plenty to find. The defending champion, Captain Guinness has been completely out of sorts this season, and I can't see Blood Destiny, Edwardstone of Senecia pulling up any trees.

quilixios — Rachael Blackmore winning the 2021 Triumph Hurdle aboard Quilixios. (Getty)

2025 Champion Chase Tips - Best Bet

There are two who capture my imagination at lengthy prices, the first being Libberty Hunter. Evan Williams' star failed to win the Grand Annual off a mark of 139 last year and was beaten 11-lengths on his only previous start at Grade One level.

Libberty Hunter might be a nine-year-old, but he's only run seven times over fences and his two performances this year suggest that he's still improving. Adam Wedge's mount goes well here at Cheltenham and likes to come from off the pace. If the ground did come up soft, then he could be an each-way player at 40/1.

QUILIXIOS (40/1) can also be backed at similar prices. Henry De Bromhead's star came in for significant support ahead of last year's Arkle Challenge Trophy, but the race couldn't have gone any worse. Rachael Blackmore was caught out by the false start and handed the field an early lead. Quilixios was then badly hampered by a faller at the second flight and, although he managed to work his way into contention down the back straight, the tank emptied rapidly in the closing stages.

De Bromhead's eight-year-old kicked this season off with an eight-length demolition of Marine Nationale in the Barberstown Castle Chase, before finishing second to Jonbon in the Tingle Creek. Quilixios then finished a distant fourth on his prep-run for the Festival in the Dublin Chase, which came at a time when Henry's horses were woefully out of form and he was found to be lame afterwards.

Quilixios is a former Cheltenham Festival winner, having struck in the 2021 Triumph Hurdle. His chasing form from earlier in the season is solid and Henry usually gets his horses peaking in time for March. Of those sitting at lengthy prices, he's the one who interests me most.

Verdict

Champion Chase 2025

I think Jonbon is a fantastic horse, but given his record around Cheltenham, I'm in no rush to back him at odds-on.

Quilixios is the biggest eye-catcher of those further down the market.

Quilixios E/W

2025 Champion Chase NRNB

@40/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365