With the dust settling on all the Christmas racing the 2025 Cheltenham Festival markets have taken a firmer shape and it saw Arkle hero Gaelic Warrior suffer a shock defeat in the Paddy Rewards Club Chase, as Solness propelled into the Queen Mother Champion Chase reckoning. In our latest instalment of the Road To Champion Chase, we take a look at those that have been thriving and those that have been flopping.
Friday, 27th December – Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase @ Leopardstown
One of the highlights of Leopardstown’s superb Christmas Festival is the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, and it’s always one of the premier events for the two-mile chasers, but the result in the 2024 renewal was somewhat of a shock one. The 28/1 Joseph O’Brien-trained Solness produced a gargantuan career best to land the prize.
Relishing the testing conditions in murky weather, he produced a sparkling display from the front to down the likes of Gaelic Warrior and Marine Nationale, who were unable to deal with the O’Brien charge, who went on to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths.
Having not been in the Champion Chase picture prior to victory, Solness was installed as a 25/1 chance for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, while Gaelic Warrior was eased. Drifting throughout the morning of the race, the Willie Mullins-trained Arkle hero failed to play any part in proceedings and is now available at 9/2 – having been around the 3/1, 7/2 mark prior to the off.
Marine Nationale, who has struggled to recapture the form that saw him claim Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory a few seasons ago, ran an encouraging race, but remains around the 20/1 mark for Grade 1 Championship glory come March.
Reigning Champion Chase hero Captain Guinness continues to find it hard at the highest level and was eased from 40/1 to 50/1, but we know Henry De Bromhead’s veteran sparkles in the spring, while the classy mare Dinoblue is also available at 50s as well following the Leopardstown contest.
Elsewhere
Not regarded as a leading trial for the Champion Chase, the King George VI Chase could have thrown up a candidate in the shape of Il Est Francais, who was just denied in the closing stages of the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park over three miles. Unlikely to line up in this event, with the 2m 5f Ryanair Chase likely to be more his target, the French raider is available at 16/1 for the Champion Chase, and he’d be a fascinating contender from the front.
The aforementioned Banbridge reeled in Il Est Francais and he’s 33/1 for the Champion Chase, but Joseph O’Brien’s raider is another likely to be heading to the longer Ryanair Chase.
Sir Gino‘s demolition of Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase was the standout performance over Christmas over fences, but he’s not been priced up for the Champion Chase. The red-hot Arkle favourite could easily play his hand in the Champion Chase, but with Jonbon heading the betting then the Nicky Henderson team don’t need to try their luck and try and land the contest with a novice chaser.
Champion Chase Ante-Post Movers
Solness – Installed 25/1
Il Est Francais – Installed 33/1
Marine Nationale → 20/1
Gaelic Warrior ↓ 9/2 from 7/2
Captain Guinness ↓ 50/1 from 40/1
Dinoblue ↓ 50/1 from 20/1
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