Cheltenham Festival: Champion Chase preview

When Cheltenham's four-day extravaganza draws to a close on Friday evening, it would be no surprise if the consensus is that this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase was the race of the week.

Favourite Shiskin is unbeaten under Rules when he’s completed the course, with his only loss coming on his hurdling debut at Newbury in 2019.

Energumene boasted a perfect record in seven outings over the last two years until losing little in defeat against Nicky Henderson’s star chaser in the race of the season thus far in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January.

Throw in Chacun Por Soi, who has disappointed on two sorties to England having never tasted defeat on Irish soil, and we’ve got all the ingredients for a thriller in Wednesday’s Festival feature.

Shiskin’s win in last year’s Arkle came in a remarkably fast time and, after skipping his intended comeback in the Tingle Creek, he’s also lit up the clock in his wins at Kempton in the Desert Orchid Chase and at Ascot in that win over Energumene.

All heart from Shishkin!