2024 Champion Chase News - Key quotes from connections

Willie Mullins talks about El Fabiolo

He didn't impress me in the Hilly Way and then we were heading for the Clarence House which was switched so it suited us better to go for the Dublin Racing Festival and he put in a fantastic performance there. 

Looking at his pedigree - by Spanish Moon out of a Saints des Saints mare - you'd think he should want three miles, so it just shows how fast he's able to get through the air. His jumping ability means he's able to come back in trip and he's a very exciting ride for anyone sitting on him. He's a natural so fingers crossed he jumps well on the day.

Jonbon's trainer Nicky Henderson discusses his chances

I was really looking forward to Ascot and the clash with El Fabiolo, we were in absolute tip-top shape and I was very confident for that, we were very prepared for it.

Jonbon is the one horse, when you’ve wound up the clock, a week was a long time for him, I couldn’t wind him up anymore and it gave us a headache of a week.

They’ll go some gallop in the Champion Chase and I think that suits him. It looks as if Edwardstone has come into pacemaking duties and he looked very good at Newbury, but in some ways I don’t think that is a bad thing for us.

Alan King talks up Edwardstone's chances

We’ve had a good preparation, but it’s up to him now. It’s nice to be part of it, but I’m not going there with any great expectations that we are going to win it.

We’ll worry about tactics on the day, but there will be plenty of pace on and the Tizzard horse (Elixir De Nutz) will go forward. We’re certainly not going to drop him in, but we’ll see what happens.

Elixir De Nutz runs for Joe Tizzard

He’s in top nick and Fred had a sit on him last Monday. He’s ready to go. He’s probably had his Gold Cup this season but if there are any flaws in the others, then he will be bang there.

Henry De Bromhead talks about Captain Guinness

He was just a bit unfortunate at Christmas, but other than that he’s been brilliant. It would be amazing if he could go one better than last year, fingers crossed.

Harry Fry talks to the press about Boothill

He’s fine and come out of the race at Newbury well and we’re still working towards Cheltenham, albeit it’s not an ideal prep coming down the last twice. Fundamentally he jumps well, he has just made two mistakes and fallen on the two occasions he has made a mistake. He’s fine in himself and it’s got to be onwards and upwards.

At Newbury we knew the ground had gone against him, but having fallen at Kempton, we knew it was our last opportunity to run and we just thought we would use it to get a clear round under his belt.

Unfortunately the heavy ground just finds his wind out and that was exactly what Johnny (Burke, jockey) said – going to the second last his wind just gave out on him and he just made a tired lunge at the fence rather than a genuine mistake. He’s normally very surefooted.