Cheltenham Champion Chase runners 2026

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Find out who’s running in the Cheltenham Champion Chase for 2026, which contenders are going in as favourites, and how can you choose a good horse to bet on?

Being the feature race of Day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival, the Champion Chase is extremely popular, attracting much attention from spectators and bettors alike. It’s a stage where horses can truly shine and has hosted many great names like Flying Bolt, Badsworth Boy, Moscow Flyer, and Altior.

But which horses could begin to follow in their footsteps? Let’s delve into the lineup that the 2026 Champion Chase has in store for us and see who’s looking like the favourites this time out! Or, if you’re ready to place a bet on your favourite, discover the latest Cheltenham betting markets.

What is the lineup for the Cheltenham Champion Chase 2026?

The Champion Chase has definitely got a few well-known horses featuring, setting up an interesting battle. Here’s the list of potential Champion Chase runners for the upcoming event: 

• Marine Nationale

• Majborough

• Il Etait Temps

• L’Eau du Sud

• Jonbon

• Quilixios

• Solness

• Found A Fifty

• Irish Panther

• JPR One

• Only By Night

• Energumene

• Inthepocket

• Calico

• Captain Guinness

• Gidleigh Park

• Libberty Hunter

• Saint Segal

• Brookie

• Touch Me Not

• Senecia

Who are the favourites among the Champion Chase runners?

Now we’ve gone through all the runners, it’s clear there’s lots of quality throughout the field. That said, let’s discuss who’s currently looking most likely to come out on top here:

Marine Nationale

As the winner of the last Champion Chase, Marine Nationale will be a tough competitor to beat. With him also winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2023, his record at the festival is most definitely an impressive one. Can he win at Cheltenham for a third time and make it back-to-back victories in the Champion Chase?

Majborough

After winning in the 2024 JCB Triumph hurdle, Majborough has a proven ability to win at Cheltenham. Though failing to win in the 2025 Arkle Challenge Novices’ Chase, Willie Mullins will surely have him prepped and ready to win again next time around.

Il Etait Temps

Though yet to be a Cheltenham Festival winner, Il Etait Temps will be unlikely to let that get in his way at the Champion Chase. He’s already beaten rival Jonbon in the Tingle Creek Chase in December 2025, where he was able to cruise past the finish line nine lengths clear. Should he put in another performance like that, then he will no doubt be up there as one of the best.

L’Eau du Sud

Despite being another contender without a win at the Cheltenham Festival, his record at the racecourse is still a good one. Though losing in his two previous outings at the festival itself, he has still managed to achieve wins in both the 2024 and 2025 November meetings. Winning by 15 lengths against Jonbon in the Shloer Chase at the Cheltenham racecourse, he’s evidently got top-tier performances in his locker.

Jonbon

Coming second in the 2025 Champion Chase is more than enough motivation for Jonbon to push for the victory in 2026. With plenty of stamina to call upon, he’s proven in his last run at Ascot that he’s never beaten – even when he’s behind at the last three fences. And as one of Nicky Henderson’s star prospects, he’s always got a chance of pulling through.

Quilixios

Though Quilixios’ last Cheltenham Festival win was in the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2021, he’s certainly still in with a shout for 2026. After having a tremendous run in the last Champion Chase at 40/1 odds, he unfortunately fell on the last fence whilst beside the eventual winner Marine Nationale. Should Quilixios be able to produce a similar performance, he could prove to be incredibly competitive.

Solness

Solness has already demonstrated an ability to beat many opponents he’ll face in the upcoming Champion Chase. Not only did he outperform one of the current favourites, Marine Nationale, but his victory in the Paddy Power Rewards Club Chase in December 2025 saw Solness pip another top competitor in Majborough – alongside others too. No doubt, the aim will be to have a repeat performance in March when the Cheltenham Festival rolls around.

How to identify a contender for the Champion Chase 2026

Choosing which horses to back in a race can be a tough ask, but by looking into previous editions you might be able to learn a thing or two that’ll help you pick a runner. For instance, Champion Chase’s trends and stats can help highlight important patterns and improve your betting strategies.

Although they might not guarantee which horses will end up being successful, they can provide you with more direction – such as considering a horse’s racing record, and the win-rates of favourites.

How to bet on the Cheltenham Champion Chase

Since we’ve discussed who’ll be lining up and who’s looking like the favourites, you may be thinking about placing a Champion Chase bet. If that’s the case, Betway offers everything you’ll need to have the best experience betting. Following our guide on how to bet on the Cheltenham Festival can help you learn the ins and outs of betting on the Champion Chase, too!

Champion Chase FAQs

When is the Cheltenham Champion Chase?

The Champion Chase takes place on Day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival – this year it falls on Wednesday 11th March. As the main race of the day, it sits in the 16:00 slot and headlines Ladies Day.

What is the prize money for the Champion Chase?

The Champion Chase’s prize pot is a significant one, standing at £400,000 and getting split between the best-placed competitors. As the biggest amount of prize money on offer for Day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival, it’s one many will be keen to claim a large share of.

Who has won the Champion Chase?

There are certainly a selection of recognisable names on the list of previous Champion Chase winners, with some incredibly successful horses in the mix. This is clearly demonstrated by the likes of Altior winning back-to-back races in 2018 and 2019 and Badsworth Boy taking home three in a row between 1983 and 1985.