Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 10.03s

Bun Doran³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 160| CD

33/1

Useful handicapper; runner-up to Croco Bay in the Grand Annual at last year's Festival; most determined when scaling new heights in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton (2m, soft) - Sceau Royal third; a likely outsider.

Form: 22-521F

Defi Du Seuil⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 170| CD

2/5

Twice successful previously at the Festival (2017 Triumph Hurdle, 2019 JLT Novices' Chase); arrives seeking a notable four-timer following wins in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase (here) and in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek (Sandown) & Clarence House (Ascot).

Form: 11-2111

Dynamite Dollars³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 160| D

7/1

Developed into a smart novice during the 2018/19 season with 2m Graded wins at Sandown (Henry VII), Kempton (Wayward Lad) & Doncaster (Lightning); was returning from a 13-month absence when beaten 3½L by Altior/Sceau Royal in Newbury's Game Spirit.

Form: 12111-3

Politologue^t⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 165| D

6/1

Grade 1 winning chaser at 2m (Tingle Creek, Sandown) & 2m4f (Melling Chase, Aintree); runner-up to Altior in this race last year (also fourth in 2018); already twice beaten by Defi Du Seuil (Shloer Chase & Tingle Creek) so far this season.

Form: 4422-25

Sceau Royal³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 163| CD

10/1

Bang-in-contention at the final fence in this race last year before giving way to Altior & Politologue; often has found Nicky Henderson's sidelined hero to be his nemesis - same scenario in Newbury's Game Spirit (Dynamite Dollars third) last month.

Form: 232-632

Non-Runners

Altior³²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: N J Henderson J: Non Runner

Chacun Pour Soi³⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Paul Townend

Forecasts

Defi Du Seuil (2/5), Chacun Pour Soi (11/8), Altior (5/2), Politologue (6/1), Dynamite Dollars (7/1), Sceau Royal (10/1), Bun Doran (33/1)

Injury (soreness on a splint) has cruelly denied the brilliant defending champion Altior the opportunity to seek a hat-trick of wins in the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase, which opens the door for the ultra-progressive Dublin Chase winner Chacun Pour Soi and the notoriously hardy DEFI DU SEUIL. The former was flawless when taking the scalp of his illustrious Ryanair Chase bound stablemate Min at Leopardstown, but the JP McManus-owned runner adores Cheltenham (6-8) and that serves to tip the scales narrowly in his favour.