{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}

‘It’s incredible’: Rachael Blackmore takes first Queen Mother Champion Chase victory


  • Horse & Hound is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Learn more
  • Captain Guinness provided Rachael Blackmore with her first Queen Mother Champion Chase victory at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon (13 March).

    The nine-year-old, trained by Henry De Bromhead and owned by Declan Landy capitalised on a bad mistake from the Willie Mullins-trained red-hot favourite El Fabiolo, who was swiftly pulled up when he guessed at the fence away from the stands early on.

    Rachael said of the gelding’s first Grade One victory: “He travelled incredibly and he jumped really well, but it felt like a long hill today. I’m so pleased for his owner as he’s been knocking on the door in these big races, but this is the biggest of his division.

    “It’s incredible, just incredible and I’m so happy to do it on this horse. He always runs his race and he is a really enjoyable horse to ride – it’s magic.”

    Mr De Bromhead was saddling his fourth Champion Chase winner following wins for Sizing Europe, Special Tiara and Put The Kettle On.

    “He’s had a tricky season – at Christmas he had his atrial fibrillation. Anyway, all that was fine, he passed all his tests, and it’s great to see him back. We’ve always said he deserved to win a Grade One so much, and to win this is incredible,” said Mr De Bromhead.

    Gentleman De Mee, who threatened to become the 100th festival winner for Mr Mullins, finished half a length second under Mark Walsh after serving up a battle to Captain Guinness.

    Rank outsider Funambule Sivola, who went off at 100/1, finished third and was the only other finisher under Charlie Deutsch for trainer Venetia Williams.

    The Alan King-trained Edwardstone, who was best of the British hopes, blazed a trail throughout the race until falling at the penultimate under Tom Cannon. Both horse and jockey walked away.


    The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase race, run over two miles with 13 fences to jump and it gets underway at 4pm this afternoon (13 March) at day two of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big race, from this year’s runners and riders, and how to watch, to what prize money the winner will be taking home.

    When was the 2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase?

    The race got underway at 4pm on Wednesday 13 March.

    Who were the runners in the 2024 race?

    Horse: El Fabiolo | Jockey: Paul Townend | Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
    Trainer: Willie Mullins

    Edwardstone | Tom Cannon | Owner: Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle
    Alan King

    Captain Guinness | Rachael Blackmore | Owner: Declan Landy
    Henry de Bromhead

    Elixir De Nutz | Freddie Gingell | Owner: Terry Warner
    Joe Tizzard

    Gentleman De Mee | Mark Walsh | Owner: JP McManus
    Willie Mullins

    Boothill | Jonathan Burke | Owner: Brian & Sandy Lambert
    Harry Fry

    Funamble Sivola | Charlie Deutsch| Owner: My Racing Manager Freinds
    Venetia Williams

    What were the odds for this year’s runners?

    The following odds were correct at the time of publishing and may vary between bookmakers.

    Runners for the 2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase were as follows:

    El Fabiolo: 3/10
    Edwardstone: 13/2
    Captain Guinness: 11/1
    Elixir De Nutz: 25/1
    Gentleman De Mee: 25/1
    Boothill: 80/1
    Funamble Sivola: 125/1

    Get £10 in FREE bets
    Want to place a bet on the current favourite in this race? Sign up to Betway and receive a £10 welcome bet.

    View Deal

    What was the prize money?

    The winner of the 2024 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase took home £225,080.

    Recent winners

    2023: Energumene – read race report
    2022: Energumene – read race report
    2021: Put The Kettle On – read the race report
    2020: Politologue – read the race report
    2019: Altior – read the race report
    2018: Altior – read the race report
    2017: Special Tiara – read the race report
    2016: Sprinter Sacre – read the race report
    2015: Dodging Bullets – read the race report
    2014: Sire de Grugy– read the race report
    2013: Sprinter Sacre – read the race report
    2012: Finian’s Rainbow – read the race report
    2011: Sizing Europe – read the race report

    Winning-most trainer, horse, jockey and owner

    There are three all-time leading Queen Mother Champion Chase trainers; Nicky Henderson, Tom Dreaper and Paul Nicholls who each have six wins between them. The winning-most horse in the race is Badworth Boy, who won it three times (1983-85). Two jockeys have won the race five times, which is the current record — these are Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty. And there are three leading owners in this race; George Ansley, Doug Armitage and John Hales — they have each won three runnings of the race.

    The history of the Queen Mother Champion Chase

    This race was established in 1959, and it was originally called the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase. It was given its present title in 1980 — the year of the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday — in recognition of her support to jump racing. The Queen Mother was a successful owner of National Hunt horses, particularly chasers, and among these was Game Spirit — the runner-up in this race in 1976.


    You might also be interested in:

    Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

    You may like...