Posted: 31st January 2007

The Champion Chase is, arguably, the most difficult of the Championship races to assess in the build up to this year's Festival. The race was won in impressive fashion by Irish raider Newmill in 2006, but the race lost many of its main protagonists Well Chief, Azertyuiop and Ashley Brook in the build up to the race, and with favourite Kauto Star an early casualty and Moscow Flyer a shadow of his former self, the race itself probably didn't take too much winning.

That said the time was good and Newmill was even more impressive when trouncing the opposition at Punchestown in April. Once again he jumped well in the lead and could be called the winner a long way from home. He has been restricted to just a single outing so far this term by trainer John Joseph Murphy when beaten a distance in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle back in November when connections blamed the heavy ground. He may go to the Festival without another run if the ground remains heavy in Ireland, and at 3/1 with BetDirect is sure to have his supporters although there remains the doubt that he beat a very poor field last year albeit with his head in his chest.

Last year's Arkle winner Voy Por Ustedes is the 11/4 fav with BetDirect and deserves his position at the head of the market. Although no match for the racefit and brilliant Kauto Star on his reappearance in the Tingle Creek, he easily landed the odds at Kempton over Xmas. Trainer Alan King wants to get another run into him before Cheltenham and he is due to take his chance at Newbury on the 10th of February in the Game Spirit Chase. That event looks like being hot race with Ashley Brook, Sporazene and Well Chief likely to be in the field.

Ashley Brook (10/1) made a mockery of what looked a competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham returning from a long lay off last weekend. Trainer Kevin Bishop has always thought the world of Ashley Brook and it should be noted that he was beaten less than 2l by Kauto Star in the Tingle Creek of 2005 whereas Voy Por Ustedes was beaten 7l by Paul Nicholls star in last year's renewal. He also beat subsequent Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition by 16l at Aintree in a Grade 1 contest in the spring of 2005. Make no mistake he is a top class performer although connections have suggested they may bypass the Champion Chase for a crack at the Ryanair Chase over 2m 5f.

Well Chief (4/1 with BetDirect) is another who is returning from a lengthy absence with connections targeting the Game Spirit before another crack at the Champion Chase, having finshed 2l runner up to Moscow Flyer in 2005. That performance and his Cheltenham handicap win off a mark of 176 are, arguably, the best two pieces of form in the race but will David Pipe be able to coax him back to his very best? It should be noted that he didn't make his chase debut until six weeks before the Arkle of 2004 in which he beat non other than Kicking King a length in an epic battle.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase looks like being a cracking renewal this year. Will the old Pipe magic rub off on David? Will Champion Newmill reatain his crown, or will the Arkle winner Voy Por Ustedes make the transition from leading novice to Champion Chaser?

For all of the latest betting prices, go to BetDirect