Champion Chase with top line-up

Cheltenham, Wednesday, 16 March: At the Cheltenham Festival, one highlight follows the other. Today`s second day sees the Queen Mother Champion Chase (4th race/16.30/400,000 pounds/3199m) take centre stage.

Last year`s top three finishers, Put The Kettle On (Aidan Coleman), Nuba Negra (Harry Skelton), Chacun Pour Soi (P. Mullins), do the honours. The former disappointed on her last start, following in a distant fifth at Fairyhouse. Prior to that, she finished third in the Shloer Chase (Group 2) behind the winning Nube Negra, currently fourth in the Tingle Creek Chase (Group 1). The Mullins protégé successfully prepared for today`s task in the Dublin Chase (Group 1). The winning decision was to be between Shishkin (Nico de Boinville) and Energumene (Paul Townend). The two eight-year-olds last dueled in the Clarence House Chase (Group 1) at Ascot. Shishkin kept his clean sheet by a length against the Frenchman, whose run of seven wins came to an end.