DAY two of The Cheltenham Festival 2025 features the Queen Mother Champion Chase and as highlighted below Jonbon has been performing at his best, which gives him a very strong chance of securing this Grade 1 victory for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, with Nico de Boinville in the plate.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is one of my favourite races of the Festival and the change in conditions of the race gives Mister Coffey the opportunity to secure his first chase victory, having shown that he performs well on the cross-country course at Cheltenham on his two previous starts.
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2.40 – Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)
Ballyadam is a Festival regular, having finished fifth in the 2023 County Hurdle (under 11-7) and then second to the rejuvenated Langer Dan in this under the welter burden of twelve stone last year when coming from well off the pace despite some less than impressive jumps. He often mixes it at level weights with the best of them, but can clearly operate when asked to give weight away to inferior horses and despite age catching up with him, he’s lightly raced for a 10-year-old, and this talented individual looks sure to give another good account of himself.
Colonel Mustard featured in my Five Handicappers for The Cheltenham Festival at Unibet 33/1 each way based on running in this race rather than in the County Hurdle (had an entry) over 2m 1f, in which he finished third to State Man in 2022. Although, it is definitely worth noting that last year he was fifth behind the same winner in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
This 2m 5f trip is just what this ten-year-old needs at this stage of his career, given he has looked outpaced late on over the minimum distance, which looked the case on his most recent start at Punchestown when second to the smart Kitzbuhel (easily won next time out) on his last appearance in December. He had in his penultimate race finished a close third to Lucky Place at Ascot in November over 2m 3½f in a Grade 2, with Blueking d’Oroux in second, noted at the time as a good run for Colonel Mustard.
Surprisingly, he has only won once over hurdles, however he has finished in the top three in fifteen of his eighteen career starts over hurdles and this race is certainly positive for older horses in the last ten renewals, with three winners aged eight and one nine-year-old taking the prize.
Colonel Mustard has that touch of class, coupled with Cheltenham experience and given the forecast will be effective on the ground too.
3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (3m 5½f)
Mister Coffey, trained by Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, can finally secure his first victory over fences on his sixteenth attempt, having finished runner-up on eight occasions and with three thirds to add to his chasing CV.
Yes, there is Galvin to take on, who finished second in the 2022/23 renewal and was fourth in the Grand National to I Am Maximus last season, whilst Stumptown, the youngster amongst the protagonists at eight years of age, notched up a hat-trick of victories on his latest appearance at the December meeting, when beating a late challenging Mister Coffey by a length.
This year the Glenfarclas Cross Country is A Limited Handicap for the first time and Mister Coffey finds himself 5lbs better off with Stumptown than at the Christmas meeting and on his previous appearance at the cross-country course in November he was also runner-up when again coming from well off the pace.
Mister Coffey has taken well to the cross-country course, clearly retains all his enthusiasm, is not going dependent, and has tactically been ridden less prominently this campaign by Unibet Ambassador Nico de Boinville, which can come to fruition at the Cheltenham Festival.
4.00 Queen Mother Champion Chase Grade 1 (2m)
Jonbon has not received the plaudits he deserves throughout his career and his record reads fourteen chase appearances, with twelve victories and twice finishing runner-up. It is quite beyond me that this isn’t duly recognised and if anything after his seasonal debut at Cheltenham’s November meeting he has looked his potent on his last two starts after taking in the Tingle Creek and then easily beating Energumeme in the Clarence House at Ascot.
Solness will be out there from the get-go, making this Grade 1 a true test, yet Jonbon will come from this pace and move clear to show why he is such a powerful performer at this level and be a worthy winner of the Queen Mother.
4.40 Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (2m)
Unexpected Party (nap) was marked up in my Five Handicappers for the Cheltenham Festival piece, though the 2024 winner finds himself 6lb higher this time around this is all within in his compass, as he has clearly been campaigned with one target in mind.
Unexpected Party’s season so far has seen him take in the Old Roan, where he found the trip too far, a Graduation Chase at Carlisle and then try his luck against Jonbon in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham at the November meeting.
Given a break after that, he came back to run Matata to ten lengths at Windsor in January, which signified a return to form (not that he’s been disgraced at any time this season) when showing his usual enthusiasm and willing attitude. Also, Unexpected Party doesn’t have to worry about the 2024 runner-up Libberty Hunter, who runs in the Champion Chase earlier in the afternoon. Unexpected Party is a good jumper whose running style is suited to Cheltenham and this ten-year-old can win the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual for a second time.
Nells Son looks overlooked having beaten Unexpected Party (Grand Annual has been the target) in a Graduation Chase at Carlisle in November, with the third Path d’Oroux adding to the value of this victory having won at the Cheltenham October meeting.
Nells Son was then successful at Kelso, with Matata in second, giving the form a strong look and he was then third to Petit Tonnerre at Doncaster on his latest start in late January. There are six places being paid by Unibet and Nells Son has each way claims.
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