The 2-mile chase championship is contested on the Wednesday of the festival on the old course and there are 12 fences to be jumped. The race was named after the Queen Mother in 1980 (the year of her 80th birthday) in recognition of her support of jumps racing down the years.
The most successful horse in the history of the race is Badsworth Boy, who won 3 titles from 1983-85. There have been numerous dual winners, including Master Minded, Moscow Flyer, Viking Flagship, Barnbrook Again, Pearlyman and Fortria. The most successful jockeys in the race have been Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty (5 wins apiece) and the most successful trainer Tom Dreaper with 6 wins.
The latest prices for the 2015 renewal can be found here courtesy of oddschecker.
The market is dominated by 2 horses who have both spent the winter so far on the "sick list".
Sprinter Sacre (11/4), the "Black Aeroplane", was the brilliant winner of the race in 2013 and unbeaten over fences until that fateful day at Kempton on December 27th 2013 when he was pulled up by Barry Geraghty. Subsequently found to have an irregular heartbeat, he did not race during 2014 but did manage to set foot on a racecourse just prior to year-end for a racecourse gallop at Newbury. He is set to reappear at Ascot for the Clarence House Chase on January 17th and the whole of the horse racing world will be watching to see whether this magnificent chaser has retained the swaggering talent which so often took our breath away in the past.
Sire De Grugy (5/1) is the reigning champ and unbeaten in his last 5 starts, but has suffered a hip injury at home and is being carefully nursed back to health by trainer Gary Moore. The trainer reported him to have cantered just prior to Christmas and is optimistic that he will make Cheltenham in March to defend his crown. A prep run is possible, but no target has currently been given.
Based on the health concerns around the top 2 in the market, there has been plenty of speculation and value seeking over the last couple of months, with horses such as Champagne Fever and Al Ferof introduced into the market by bookmakers looking to give the race a different angle. Whilst this may all come to an end with an emphatic voctory for Sprinter Sacre at Ascot on January 17th, a different result will throw the market wide open. Racing fans will be hoping that both Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy make it to Cheltenham in rude health to make the race a true spectacle.
Al Ferof (9/1) won the Amlin Chase over 2m3f before finishing a credible 3rd in the King George and, whilst his trainer would love to have a crack at this race, owner John Hales remains convinced he is a Gold Cup horse. You pays your money and takes your chance.
Champagne Fever (12/1), just touched off in the 2014 Arkle but nevertheless a dual festival winner, ran too freely in the King George and failed to get home. He will likely come back in trip and may well be aimed at this race or the Ryanair - again it will depend who else turns up where.
Dodging Bullets, Uxizandre, Dynaste and Balder Succes head a list of "second tier" chasers who would surely only be of interest if the top 2 didn't show whilst it is anyone's guess as to whether Simonsig will see a racecourse again this season.
You must log in or register to see images
The most successful horse in the history of the race is Badsworth Boy, who won 3 titles from 1983-85. There have been numerous dual winners, including Master Minded, Moscow Flyer, Viking Flagship, Barnbrook Again, Pearlyman and Fortria. The most successful jockeys in the race have been Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty (5 wins apiece) and the most successful trainer Tom Dreaper with 6 wins.
The latest prices for the 2015 renewal can be found here courtesy of oddschecker.
The market is dominated by 2 horses who have both spent the winter so far on the "sick list".
Sprinter Sacre (11/4), the "Black Aeroplane", was the brilliant winner of the race in 2013 and unbeaten over fences until that fateful day at Kempton on December 27th 2013 when he was pulled up by Barry Geraghty. Subsequently found to have an irregular heartbeat, he did not race during 2014 but did manage to set foot on a racecourse just prior to year-end for a racecourse gallop at Newbury. He is set to reappear at Ascot for the Clarence House Chase on January 17th and the whole of the horse racing world will be watching to see whether this magnificent chaser has retained the swaggering talent which so often took our breath away in the past.
Sire De Grugy (5/1) is the reigning champ and unbeaten in his last 5 starts, but has suffered a hip injury at home and is being carefully nursed back to health by trainer Gary Moore. The trainer reported him to have cantered just prior to Christmas and is optimistic that he will make Cheltenham in March to defend his crown. A prep run is possible, but no target has currently been given.
Based on the health concerns around the top 2 in the market, there has been plenty of speculation and value seeking over the last couple of months, with horses such as Champagne Fever and Al Ferof introduced into the market by bookmakers looking to give the race a different angle. Whilst this may all come to an end with an emphatic voctory for Sprinter Sacre at Ascot on January 17th, a different result will throw the market wide open. Racing fans will be hoping that both Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy make it to Cheltenham in rude health to make the race a true spectacle.
Al Ferof (9/1) won the Amlin Chase over 2m3f before finishing a credible 3rd in the King George and, whilst his trainer would love to have a crack at this race, owner John Hales remains convinced he is a Gold Cup horse. You pays your money and takes your chance.
Champagne Fever (12/1), just touched off in the 2014 Arkle but nevertheless a dual festival winner, ran too freely in the King George and failed to get home. He will likely come back in trip and may well be aimed at this race or the Ryanair - again it will depend who else turns up where.
Dodging Bullets, Uxizandre, Dynaste and Balder Succes head a list of "second tier" chasers who would surely only be of interest if the top 2 didn't show whilst it is anyone's guess as to whether Simonsig will see a racecourse again this season.
