Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the premier two-mile chase and the highlight of Day Two at the Festival. Run at a furious pace, flawless jumping is essential — one error can end any chance of victory. The race was renamed in 1980 to honour the Queen Mother’s support of jumps racing.
Legends of the sport, including Badsworth Boy, Pearlyman, Viking Flagship, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Altior, have all made their names here. Flyingbolt arguably stands tallest, winning in 1966 at 1/5 — the shortest price in the race’s history.
The race has also earned a reputation as a graveyard for odds-on favourites: six of the last seven have failed, including Un De Sceaux (2016), Douvan (2017), Defi Du Seuil (2020), Chacun Pour Soi (2021), Shishkin (2022) and El Fabiolo (2024).
Previous Festival form is a key guide, and the Arkle Novices’ Chase is often a starting point. Horses to complete that double include Flagship Uberalles, Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, Voy Por Ustedes, Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Put The Kettle On.
Wednesday 16:00 | 5yo+ | Grade 1
2 miles | 13 fences | Old Course
Weight: 11st 10lb | Allowance: 7lb for mares
2025 Prize money: £400,000
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | WINNER | SP |
| 2025 | Marine Nationale | 5/1 |
| 2024 | Captain Guinness | 17/2 |
| 2023 | Energumene | 6/5f |
| 2022 | Energumene | 5/2 |
| 2021 | Put The Kettle On | 17/2 |
| 2020 | Politologue | 6/1 |
| 2019 | Altior | 4/11f |
| 2018 | Altior | Evsf |
| 2017 | Special Tiara | 11/1 |
| 2016 | Sprinter Sacre | 5/1 |
| 2015 | Dodging Bullets | 9/2 |
| 2014 | Sire De Grugy | 11/4f |
| 2013 | Sprinter Sacre | 1/4f |
| 2012 | Finian’s Rainbow | 4/1 |
| 2011 | Sizing Europe | 10/1 |
| 2010 | Big Zeb | 10/1 |
| 2009 | Master Minded | 4/11 |
| 2008 | Master Minded | 3/1 |
| 2007 | Voy Por Ustedes | 5/1 |
| 2006 | Newmill | 16/1 |
| 2005 | Moscow Flyer | 6/4f |
| 2004 | Azertyuiop | 15/8 |
| 2003 | Moscow Flyer | 7/4f |
| 2002 | Flagship Uberalles | 7/4f |
| 2001 | FESTIVAL CANCELLED | N/A |
| 2000 | Edredon Bleu | 7/2 |
