The Champion Chase is one of the Cheltenham Festival’s biggest events. Make sure you don’t miss out on the action with our guide to the race’s schedule.
The Champion Chase is one of the biggest races at the Cheltenham Festival. It has one of the biggest prize pools at the event, and some of its past winners have gone on to find huge success in other races at Prestbury Park.
With some of the best chasers in British and Irish racing taking part, you won’t want to miss the action. But when can you watch the Champion Chase at Cheltenham? We’ll go through everything you need to know to make sure you catch the race and place your bets in time.
What is the Champion Chase?
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the leading minimum-distance steeplechase in the National Hunt calendar. The race is open to horses aged five years or older, with 13 fences to clear over around 2 miles.
What day is the Champion Chase at Cheltenham?
Traditionally, the Champion Chase is the feature race on Day 2 (a.k.a. Ladies Day) at the Cheltenham Festival. This means you can typically watch it as the third-to-last race on Wednesday at the event. With that in mind, this year, the Champion Chase will be held on Wednesday, 11th March 2026.
What time is the Champion Chase at Cheltenham?
The Champion Chase is usually the third-to-last race on Day 2 at Cheltenham, meaning you can watch it at 4 pm GMT.
Where does the Champion Chase take place?
Each year, the Champion Chase is held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Prestbury Park, just outside the town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.
The race is part of the annual Cheltenham Festival, where four days of National Hunt races are held. It is often regarded as one of the biggest events in the British horse racing calendar, along with the Grand National at Aintree.
How can you watch the Champion Chase at Cheltenham?
Looking to keep up with the Champion Chase from home? You can watch all the Cheltenham action for free on ITV Racing in the UK, or through a subscription service such as Racing TV.
For audio listeners, BBC Radio 5 Live also offers highlights and news throughout the course of the festival. If you want to watch the action along with other racing fans, look for any venues near you that might be showing the race, or pick up a ticket and head down to Prestbury Park yourself!
An introduction to the 2026 Champion Chase horses
Currently, the bookies’ favourite to win the 2026 Champion Chase is Marine Nationale, the reigning champion who claimed a first-place finish in the 2025 edition of the event. He will be looking to retain his crown against a new field of racers.
Majborough is the second-favourite to win, with 2025 Gold Cup winner Mark Walsh expected to take the saddle. He’s followed by Il Etait Temps, who has placed in 9 of his 10 career chases to date.
You can find the full list of Champion Chase betting odds at Betway, with frequently updated rates on all the top competitors.
Champion Chase expert tips
We’ll bring you some of our top tips for Champion Chase betting in the weeks leading up to the event, so if you’re looking for advice on picking your ideal horse, make sure to check in before the race. In the meantime, discover all the latest Champion Chase trends from over the years.
How to bet on the Champion Chase at Cheltenham
To bet on the Champion Chase, you can register a Betway account, or log in if you already have one. Once you’ve chosen which horse to place your wager on, enter your stake, and our betslip will show you the potential winnings from a correct bet. Then, click ‘Place bet’, and keep an eye out for the result!
