2025 Champion Chase News - Key quotes from connections
Ahead of the 2025 Champion Chase, top trainers provide insights on their contenders. Nicky Henderson expresses confidence in Jonbon's abilities, despite past challenges. Willie Mullins hopes for softer conditions for Energumene. Gordon Elliott identifies Found A Fifty as a promising outsider. Barry Connell, preparing Marine Nationale, sees potential on a favored track. Joseph O'Brien praises Solness' competitive spirit. Henry de Bromhead, with Captain Guinness and Quilixios, aims for a strong comeback, while Evan Williams sees potential in Libberty Hunter as a wildcard entry.
- Key quotes from connections ahead of the 2025 Champion Chase
- Jonbon is favourite to win at Cheltenham on Wednesday 12th March
- Read quotes from Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins and more on our website
- Nicky Henderson (Jonbon)
- Willie Mullins (Energumene)
- Gordon Elliott (Found A Fifty)
- Barry Connell (Marine Nationale)
- Joseph O'Brien (Solness)
- Henry de Bromhead (Captain Guinness)
- Henry de Bromhead (Quilixios)
- Evan Williams (Libberty Hunter)
Champion Chase Quotes
Ahead of Wednesday's Champion Chase, we've gathered quotes from the connections of this year's runners.
Here are the key quotes ahead of the 2025 Champion Chase.
Nicky Henderson (Jonbon)
He was very good at Ascot the other day and he has now won eight Grade 1s. He is an entertaining character too and he can’t stand still for two minutes where Constitution Hill could stand still for two days. He did nothing wrong last year but for making one mistake in the Clarence House when it was run at Cheltenham, and he couldn’t go to the Champion Chase which turned out to be a bit flat as El Fabiolo was intent on putting holes in fences and it turned into a bit of a flop really.
If he had been there you would have to say it wouldn’t have been the hardest race he ever had, but he wasn’t there. You have to win the Champion Chase to be a champion, and he deserves to.
Willie Mullins (Energumene)
It's simple enough with him – he only has one race which is the Champion Chase. The ground at Ascot last time was goodish whereas he might want much softer ground.
Gordon Elliott (Found A Fifty)
He won two Grade 1s last season as a novice and was second in the Arkle. You can put a line through his run at Leopardstown as he wasn't himself at all that day over Christmas.
Found A Fifty actually worked well the other day and will run in the Champion Chase. At a massive price, he could have an each-way chance.
Barry Connell (Marine Nationale)
He has a couple of lengths to find on (Solness) by going to Cheltenham, we are a course and distance winner on the Old course, we know we act on it.
Having comprehensively beaten the other Irish horses, I know Energumene wasn't there but all the others were, I would be confident that we'll be going there with the best Irish Challenger to take on Jonbon.
I think we've every right to come forward again experience-wise and maybe we'll get a bit of drier spring ground too.
Joseph O'Brien (Solness)
He’ll jump and go and they’ll have to come and get to him to beat him. That’s the way he likes to run.
Aggressive tactics worked, he jumped brilliantly and I thought what he did from the last to the line showed real tenacity because he was there to be shot at the whole way.
He has a will to win, and Danny got a breather into him between the third-last and the second-last and that was probably the winning of the race in the end.
Henry de Bromhead (Captain Guinness)
It's been a disappointing season so far with him but I saw a glimmer of hope at Leopardstown. He doesn't like Leopardstown but Navan in November was disappointing. We thought it might be his heart but it wasn't. You're better looking at him at the second-last at Leopardstown rather than the line as that extra furlong doesn't suit him, we thought he was running well until then and he just about gets two miles. He'll be back to defend his title and we'll have him as best as we can, I definitely thought the spark was coming back into him. Last year's win was incredible and he deserved it, he loves Cheltenham and when you get into that scenario when they're jumping at speed, it suits him.
Henry de Bromhead (Quilixios)
He ran well to a point at Leopardstown and his form prior to the race was rock solid. He ran well to the second-last and faded after it.
Evan Williams (Libberty Hunter)
He's in grand form and everything is good with him, so we're going to take a punt at the Champion Chase.
It was a tough decision in the end and was six of one and half a dozen of the other, but that's the way we've fallen and we're going to take our chance.
It's drying weather through the week. We know he goes well at the track and, with the weather the way it is, it's helped us think we might as well have a crack at the big one.
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
28 May 2026
- 2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
- Horse Racing
30 May 2026
- 2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
- Horse Racing
05 June 2026
- 2026 Epsom Oaks -
- Horse Racing
Load More
