The Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown in February only highlighted Sizing Europe’s Queen Mother credentials even further at the main expense of Big Zeb, his main market rival. Between them, the pair have won this race for the last two seasons, but Sizing Europe’s fifteen-length success over Big Zeb last time reflects his positions at the head of the market. This renewal looks to be between the pair again and on recent evidence Sizing Europe would get the vote. Finian’s Rainbow and Somerbsy are not to be dismissed. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
The Queen Mother Champion chase is always a fantastic event and a well deserving feature of the Cheltenham Festival. Despite fewer entrants, the race does not lack in quality and the limited field never disappoint putting a show on. Two miles is the trip, the leading minimum distance in the National Hunt calendar, and horses five years plus can be readied for this Grade 1 showdown. They must bypass twelve fences en route to the finish and the winner in 2010 received a very healthy £320,000 purse. Some punters will focus all their efforts on the Queen Mother Champion Chase and millions are expected to gambled on those runners who are waved on by the starters’ orders. The relatively small field is one reason the racing neutrals enjoy this feature, believing they can pick out the winner from a limited number. And in 2009 Master Minded could have won with just one leg after backed in all the way to 4/11.
Queen Mother Chase odds
Winners at larger prices are uncommon and the market usually speaks volumes of the chances of each runner in the Queen Mother. But there a few reoccurring trends over the recent times that haven’t gone unnoticed. Arkle winners have faired well, Voy Por Ustedes won under the stewardship of Robert Thornton in 2007 after scooping victory in the Arkle Challenge Trophy twelve months earlier. And that is why Sizing Europe is being mooted as a possible entrant after last years Arkle win. But will he be able to make the significant step up in class? He recently was four lengths inferior to Gold Cup winner Kauto Star at Down Royal but is not without chance if putting his best foot forward.
Classy two mile chasers are hard to come by and it is even harder to find those horses that can cruise and jump at speed. So every Queen Mother entrant must be granted respect but those who have performed at the highest level previously are worth concentrating on. Master Minded can take inspiration from the exploits of Jessica Harrington’s Moscow Flyer who after winning the race in 2003, he flopped a year later before taking the 2005 renewal. It will be interesting to see how Paul Nicholls’ double Queen Mother winner fairs in his trial runs ahead of the race, but he for one is one you want to keep on your side.
One of the most exciting races of the festival, that certainly makes up in excitement for it’s lack of runners. Will it be another for Master Minded or will Big Zeb prove last year’s victory was no fluke? Could there even be a new winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase? Only time will tell!
Victor Chandler
Bet 365
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