Queen Mother Champion Chase 2021

[Big Chac]

Just wondering what peoples thought are on Nube Negra, he jumped super today as he did when he was a novice but seemed to finish his race off today. Not sure I would back him at his current price but he looked mighty impressive.

[FinalFurlong91]

Just wondering what peoples thought are on Nube Negra, he jumped super today as he did when he was a novice but seemed to finish his race off today. Not sure I would back him at his current price but he looked mighty impressive.

Tbh that he won like he did is what has convinced me altior has gone

Hes a renowned soft finisher and altior made up no ground at all

Hes a flat track horse id be surprised if he even ran here

[FinalFurlong91]

There was no battle today, it was a shake of the reins and off he went with two great jumps at the last two. If they can be with him between the last two in Cheltenham when the whips are drawn then we have a race.

I cant see Chacun getting a run up the rail like he did in Leop, team Mullins ride the rest of them asleep, David keeping PTKO out wide by keeping 2 off the rail and leaving Chacun with a nice clear view of all his fences while crossing in front of Notebook, interfered with PTKO when dropping back to and forced her to switch inside. Chacun proceded with a clear run on the rail. Surely in Chelt Nicholls and HDB will ensure he has to go wide around the home bend with Polit and PTKO. If not they are in trouble

Ptko isn't fast enough to keep up

And id be surprised if Politologue is either

[Brooksie]

I know tying in form can be dangerous, but if you use Duc Des Genievres and Put the Kettle Ons form at Cheltenham as a marker (and it looked like both ran their races today). You'd have to say Nube Negra at the prices is the bet. So much to like about that performance and probably completely over shadowed by the thoughts and opinions of Altior. Jumped brilliant bar fiddling through the last, has a brilliant cruising speed, clearly wasn't stopping too. Question marks are the track but that can be said for Chacun as well. Biggest question mark though.. has there ever been a Spanish winner of the Queen Mother or any festival race for that matter? haha

[Ray]

Chacun should win this now..but business out the window for me in this race now...its all emotion and im backing the old boy..sprinter sacre part 2!

[Skysthelimit]

I know tying in form can be dangerous, but if you use Duc Des Genievres and Put the Kettle Ons form at Cheltenham as a marker (and it looked like both ran their races). You'd have to say Nube Negra at the prices is the bet. So much to like about that performance and probably completely over shadowed by the thoughts and opinions of Altior. Jumped brilliant bar fiddling through the last, has a brilliant cruising speed, clearly wasn't stopping too. Question marks are the track but that can be said for Chacun as well. Biggest question mark though.. has there ever been a Spanish winner of the Queen Mother or any festival race for that matter? haha

Completely agree that he hasn't got the credit he deserves for his performance. Stable have hit a purple patch but looks like they expected a big run with a bit of money for him before the off. Bar the last he jumped brilliantly and travelled like a dream. I thought he wouldn't like the ground and they would be managing his mark for a tilt at the Grand Annual. Like you I'm not sure whether he will come up the hill (he was third in the Fred Winter) and has looked a soft finisher. I was also concerned whether they would aim him at the race given he missed the Festival this year. Skelton confirmed he's best fresh and will go straight there. Only a 6yo who looks like a big improver and would prefer better ground. I took 16/1 after the race and think he will be a lot shorter on the day.

[robith]

Compare Shishkin and Chacun at the finish.

One was head in chest pulling away and the other was very tired.

Shishkin has everything. He settles, he jumps, he stays and has shown he can battle when needed.

I see no chinks in the armour.

I've backed Chacun and clearly hes top level but I truly believe Shishkin is a monster.

One was racing last years arkle fav and arkle winner, the other was racing Gumball.

CPS's race also missed the final flight so it was a huge slog to the line. For a brief moment I actually thought shiskin was going to unseat nico at the last with a scruffy landing.

Im on shiskin and I rate him, but Apples and oranges are not being compared here.

[Kautothegreat8]

One was racing last years arkle fav and arkle winner, the other was racing Gumball.

CPS's race also missed the final flight so it was a huge slog to the line. For a brief moment I actually thought shiskin was going to unseat nico at the last with a scruffy landing.

Im on shiskin and I rate him, but Apples and oranges are not being compared here.

Time will tell I suppose.

Shishkin is the most impressive horse I've seen since Douvan.

Let's just hope injury doesnt get in the way.

[Dessie the great]

Ptko isn't fast enough to keep up

And id be surprised if Politologue is either

Last years champion novice over 2 miles and last years champion chase winner, both winning from the front, are not fast enough to keep up in the 2 mile championship race . Can you explain that one to me?

[jono]

Chacun Pour Soi stepped up markedly from his seasonal debut as I expected him to do so.
He put in the performance that the figures suggested. However I would have a very slight concerns about how he'll finish up the hill.
If Altior were a year or so younger I could see him being reeled in. That won't happen and i'm not sure anyone will be close enough at the finish to do so such as his apparent superiority but it is the one small concern I would have if I were being picky. No doubt he'll be travelling like an absolute dream through the race though 2 out.
It's an unknown that we won't be able to find out until March. I expect we'll see an even better Chacun at the DRF once again.

I see no reason why Put The Kettle On would change plans after today. I'm sure they'd fancy their chances against Notebook at Cheltenham. The owner has come out since and has said the Mares Chase is no easy option. I still fully expect them to keep to plan A right now, though another defeat could of course alter that. But for me she still looks a more than fair place chance given her course form.

I had been against Altior for March and thought he really was vulnerable this year, as i mentioned plenty of times prior. I wasn't sure todays race could expose that but everything I thought (saying he needed further than 2 miles for 2 years now) came to fruition today. He actually did extremely well to finish as close as he did. It would take a wild price to get me to back him in the race after today. I could well be proved wrong given Skeltons record with his grade 1 chasers this season. I may need to alter that over the next few seasons but i'd still be surprised if Nube Negra had what it takes to win this race. And I'd much rather take the 7/1 EW with Politilogue than 12/1 Nube Negra of the pair.

All in all I think CPS is miles ahead of anyone else in the market, he just now needs to prove he can get there and act on the course.
He's now putting in the performances (today, DRF, Punchestown novice chase) that lives up to his reputation.
Politilogue is the right second favourite.
And then the rest i'm sure could argue a way of filling the places one way or another...
Nube Negra coulsn't have done anymore today. Still young and improving
Notebook if no crowd and he goes there fresh
Rouge Vif is the ground comes up genuinely good and beat todays winner
PTKO back at Cheltenham
Altior coudn't be dismissed from running a gallant finish up the hill if he can stay within reach.

[FinalFurlong91]

Last years champion novice over 2 miles and last years champion chase winner, both winning from the front, are not fast enough to keep up in the 2 mile championship race . Can you explain that one to me?

Ptko was not even close to being quick enough to keep up with chacun today and was barely quick enough to keep up with duc des genievres. She won a rubbish arkle and would have a much better chance in the mares chase.

and from what iv seen today when townend says go I'd be surprised if politologue is either

they are both staying 2 milers, chacun is quicker but does t seem to have the stamina for further.

The only thing standing in his way now is injury and whether he likes the track, ratings will show he has a good few Lbs in hand when they are updated.

[Lobos]

Ptko was not even close to being quick enough to keep up with chacun today and was barely quick enough to keep up with duc des genievres. She won a rubbish arkle and would have a much better chance in the mares chase.

and from what iv seen today when townend says go I'd be surprised if politologue is either

they are both staying 2 milers, chacun is quicker but does t seem to have the stamina for further.

The only thing standing in his way now is injury and whether he likes the track, ratings will show he has a good few Lbs in hand when they are updated.

Acting around Cheltenham seems to be the only slight doubt if there is one re Chacun. Is it correct that no horse has ever won the Champion Chase having not ran at least once already at the course or am I dreaming that stat ?

[Dessie the great]

Ptko was not even close to being quick enough to keep up with chacun today and was barely quick enough to keep up with duc des genievres. She won a rubbish arkle and would have a much better chance in the mares chase.

and from what iv seen today when townend says go I'd be surprised if politologue is either

they are both staying 2 milers, chacun is quicker but does t seem to have the stamina for further.

The only thing standing in his way now is injury and whether he likes the track, ratings will show he has a good few Lbs in hand when they are updated.

Flanagan made no effort to lead yesterday which i thought very strange, you couldnt say she wasnt quick enough as she seemed to be where he wanted her to be, she didnt jump as well as other times either and came under pressure when chacun picked up after the 2nd last with a fantastic jump. LikecI said she wont be beaten any more than that by Chacun around Cheltenham, how much closer she will get I dont know. I think the opposition only re chacun is that polit and PTKO lead to the home turn, force Chacun to come around (not like the path Annamix opened for him yesterday)and hope that he doesnt find much off the bridle up the hill

[DenmanSacre]

Acting around Cheltenham seems to be the only slight doubt if there is one re Chacun. Is it correct that no horse has ever won the Champion Chase having not ran at least once already at the course or am I dreaming that stat ?

Masterminded did it.

[archie]

Masterminded did it.

So did Newmill. We went through this a few weeks ago.

Those who thought that CPS was struggling to get home yesterday are ignoring the report from the course that he was just dossing and had plenty left.