Champion Chase 2026 Tips - Pre-season guide and selections

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Tue 25 Nov 2025 13:51

Jon Vine 25 Nov 2025

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Pre-season guide and tips for the 2026 Champion Chase
Sir Gino is the ante-post favourite
We've got our eye on Kalif Du Berlais at 14/1

Jockey Sean Flanagan riding his horse Marine Nationale competes to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase. (Getty)

Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Champion Chase, named in honour of the Queen Mother, who gave a lot to racing during Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Here's our ante-post guide to the 2026 Champion Chase. In this guide, we’ll take an early look at the Champion Chase picture - reviewing the latest odds, assessing the leading two-mile chasers, and sharing our expert ante-post betting insight for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

2026 Champion Chase Odds

Name	Odds
Sir Gino	3/1
Marine Nationale	4/1
Majborough	7/1
Il Etait Temps	10/1
Jonbon	14/1
Kalif Du Berlais	14/1
Bar	16/1

👑 The Defending Champion 👑

Barry Connell's plan to have Marine Nationale spot on for Cheltenham unfolded perfectly in March. Sean Flanagan's mount, who had been beaten on his three previous starts last season, tanked through the Champion Chase like a completely different animal, and a final flight fall from the challenging Quilixios allowed the former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner to claim an 18-length victory.

Marine Nationale was just as impressive when beating Captain Guinness by seven lengths on his final outing of the season at Punchestown. At both Festival, the supposed big guns in the races failed to fire, but take nothing away from Connell's stable star, who'll be the horse to beat when the 2026 Cheltenham Festival rolls around.

⭐ Young Pretenders ⭐

Plenty of firms list Sir Gino as the ante-post Queen Mother favourite, despite his injury problems. Nicky Henderson's star suffered a niggling injury soon after his demolition of Ballyburn at Kempton's Christmas Festival, and the team might only be able to get one run into this hugely talented five-year-old before a tilt at the big one.

In Sir Gino's absence, Majborough was expected to win the Arkle quite comfortably. Yet, Mark Walsh's mount produced a catastrophic round of jumping, and was beaten into third. Majborough righted that wrong with a power-packed 14-length triumph at Punchestown, and he's got the ability to dominate the two-mile division leading up to the Festival.

Kalif Du Berlais has also earned his spot in this group. Paul Nicholls' youngster ran out an impressive winner of the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in the spring, and jumped well when winning a handicap on the New Course back in January.

🏆 Other Challengers 🏆

Nicky Henderson would love to see Jonbon finally land the Champion Chase. Imperious at all other venues, Henderson's star simply cannot make it around Cheltenham without throwing in a clanger or two, and might be stepped up in trip come the spring if early-season results don't go his way.

Jonbon's blemish-free record around Sandown was ended by Il Etait Temps, who flattened the favourite when the two met in the Celebration Chase. Like Jonbon, Willie Mullins' star has also failed to produce his best around Cheltenham in three appearances at the Festival, but that win at Sandown proved that this talented grey was a top-notch over fences.

Fact To File and Banbridge will likely remain over longer trips, and Henderson is looking forward to stepping Arkle winner, Jango Baie up in distance. Solness has struggled on his previous appearances at Cheltenham, and two-time winner Energumene seems to be past his best.

Quilixios and Captain Guinness will likely represent Henry De Bromhead again, and it would be dangerous to completely ignore either. L'Eau Du Sud is a likely runner for Dan Skelton, if he's taken another step forward over the summer. Il Est Francais and The Jukebox Man have both won over three miles, but it's possible that both could be Champion Chase contenders come the middle week of March.

kalif du berlais — Harry Cobden riding Kalif Du Berlais (red) clear the last to win The Sonic The Hedgehog 3 In Cinemas Now Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. (Getty)

💵 Verdict 💵

Marine Nationale was super impressive when landing this race 12 months ago, again proving his love for the track at Cheltenham. Barry Connell will tailor his entire season around the Queen Mother, but I think I'd rather take the defending champion on with one of his younger rivals.

KALIF DU BERLAIS might not have the sexy profile of a Sir Gino or a Majborough, but Paul Nicholls is convinced that this horse is of Champion Chase quality, and I'm expecting to see much more from this classy five-year-old over the coming months.

Nicholls' star suffered a couple of set-backs last term. Harry Cobden's mount fell heavily on his chasing debut at Carlisle, and finished last of four in a heavy-ground Scilly Isles. Yet, Kalif Du Berlais bounced back from that fall by picking up two comfortable victories, and showed some decent rivals a clean set of heels when landing the Maghull at Aintree.

Cobden managed to poach an easy lead from the front, but Kalif Du Berlais jumped superbly and never looked like relinquishing the lead. Good, spring ground is clearly key to his chances and Nicholls is a master at preparing top chasers for the Champion Chase.

The only slight drawback is Kalif Du Berlais' price. He'll likely meet Jonbon and Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek, before a potential clash with Sir Gino in either the Desert Orchid or the Game Spirit Chase. Kalif Du Berlais could run well in defeat in both races and still drift in the Queen Mother betting. I'll probably wait until after the Tingle Creek before deciding whether to back him or not, but he's a talented horse who remains firmly on my Cheltenham Festival radar.

Verdict

Kalif Du Berlais is our ante-post tip for the 2026 Champion Chase.

Kalif Du Berlais

Champion Chase 2026 Early Tip

@14/1 - 5 Units

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