The Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase is part of the big Betfair Hurdle day at Newbury and is normally a key trial for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Within the last decade Masterminded and Azertyuiop have doubled up in this race and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
In 2012 Nicky Henderson used this race as the final prep for his stable star Sprinter Sacre before that horse’s success in the 2012 Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase. The then novice chaser set a track record time in the process.
The 2013 renewal again sees Henderson aim his top 2 mile novice chaser at the race with Simonsig amongst the 5 day decs.
Game Spirit Chase Entries 2013
| Form | Horse | Age | Wgt | Trainer | Jockey | OR | |
| F25-214 | Wishfull Thinking 44 | 10 | 11-6 | P J Hobbs | R Johnson | 162 | |
| 2111-11 | Simonsig 44 | 7 | 11-5 | N J Henderson | B J Geraghty | 160 | |
| 51/2F4-4 | French Opera 44 | 10 | 11-0 | N J Henderson | 158 | ||
| 1F32P-P | Tanks For That (IRE) 77 | 10 | 11-4 | N J Henderson | 155 | ||
| 216-223 | Edgardo Sol (FR) 44 | 6 | 11-6 | P F Nicholls | 155 | ||
| 2P32-11 | Majala (FR) 49 | 7 | 11-3 | T R George | 147 | ||
| 1532-36 | Stagecoach Pearl 91 | 9 | 11-4 | Mrs S J Smith | 146 | ||
| 1021-40 | Astracad (FR) 56 | 7 | 11-4 | N A Twiston-Davies | 143 | ||
| 202211 | Shooters Wood (IRE) 56 | 9 | 11-4 | P F Nicholls | 140 | ||
| 4-03123 | Pigeon Island 7 | 10 | 11-0 | N A Twiston-Davies | 129 | ||
| 20FP02 | Kinkeel (IRE) 9 | 14 | 11-0 | A W Carroll | 64 |
Game Spirit Chase Stats 2003-2012
- The favourite has not finished out of the first two during the decade
- Nicky Henderson has trained and Barry Geraghty ridden the last two winners
- Paul Nicholls has trained 5 of the last 9 winners
- Ruby Walsh rode four of Nicholls winners
- The Pipe stable have trained the winner twice since 2003
- Timmy Murphy rode both Pipe winners
- No winner officially rated below 156 since 2003
- No strong age trend
Game Spirit Chase Winners 2003-2012
| Year | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | OR | SP | FoF |
| 2012 | Sprinter Sacre | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 161 | 2-5 | 1 |
| 2011 | French Opera | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 156 | 7-2 | 2 |
| 2010 | Master Minded | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 178 | 8-13 | 1 |
| 2009 | No race | ||||||
| 2008 | Master Minded | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 156 | 7-4 | 2 |
| 2007 | Well Chief | 8 | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe | – | 5-2 | 2 |
| 2006 | Don’t Be Shy | 5 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe | – | 5-4 | 1 |
| 2005 | Azertyuiop | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 178 | 11-10 | 1 |
| 2004 | Azertyuiop | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 172 | 4-11 | 1 |
| 2003 | Kadarann | 6 | Joe Tizzard | Paul Nicholls | 152 | 5-1 | 2 |
