The Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham is approaching, but questions surround Majborough’s form. Doubts linger because of Majborough’s poor Cheltenham display 12 months ago. This leaves Dan Skelton’s grey a live contender.
Majborough’s Form Under Scrutiny
The key question is which version of Majborough will turn up. If it is the Majborough that powered 19 lengths clear of Marine Nationale at Leopardstown in February, his likely price of around 5-6 will look like one of the bets of the meeting.
Majborough’s failure to justify short odds in the Arkle here 12 months ago is still painfully raw for his backers. Willie Mullins’s chaser could be a favourite to take on, given the unforgiving nature of a race in which a single mistake can end a runner’s chance.
L’Eau Du Sud Emerges as a Contender
The proven course form of L’Eau Du Sud could tip the scales in his favour. Dan Skelton’s grey was an impressive winner of the Shloer Chase over track and trip in November. He was disappointing behind Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek at Sandown next time, but that race came just three weeks later.
L’Eau Du Sud arrives back at Cheltenham after a 95‑day break and on ground that suits. He is a live contender for championship honours at around 9-2.
Other Cheltenham Races
The four British-trained runners filled the first four places in the Supreme Novice Hurdle on Tuesday. That increases confidence that Paul Nicholls’ No Drama This End will have the measure of the Irish challenge.
The biggest field for this race since the mighty Denman beat 16 rivals in 2007, and Kaid D’Authie could be the pick of Mullins’ six runners. The six-year-old arrives with a similar profile to Fact To File, the winner three years ago, having beaten a better‑fancied stable companion in the Grade One novice over 2m5f at the Dublin Racing Festival, and looks sure to be suited by the step up in distance.
Henry de Bromhead’s Forty Coats ran a decent race at huge odds behind The New Lion in the Turners Novice Hurdle 12 months ago. He will sport cheek pieces for the first time on only his third start since.
Looking Ahead to the Champion Chase
Il Etait Temps was the favourite for the race on Wednesday before his run in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. He was already soundly beaten before taking a crashing fall two out and it remains to be seen if that has left a mark.