Queen Mother Champion Chase Betting Tips

Time and time again we have witnessed the 'bounce' factor in horseracing. This expression describes a horse that performs with distinction in its first run back following a lengthy absence, but then fails to reproduce a similar level of form on its next outing. This is the concern that surrounds the David Pipe-trained Well Chief ahead of Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase, which is to be run under the banner of a sponsor for the first time this season, Seasons Holidays, and is shaping up to be one of the best races of the four-day Cheltenham Festival. Well Chief, who is generally available at 7/4 but as short as 6/4 in places for this prestigious two-mile event, produced a power-packed display when slamming his rivals in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in what was his first public racecourse appearance for 658 days. It was a truly devastating display from the eight-year-old and while many will approach backing him with a degree of trepidation, I have no hesitation whatsoever in nominating the David Johnson-owned gelding as one of the banker bets of this year's Festival. The way Well Chief travelled throughout the race at Newbury was so impressive. He jumped for fun and Timmy Murphy barely had to move a muscle above his mount as he powered clear in the home straight to beat Ashley Brook by 11 lengths with the rest strung out like washing. The selection was mixing it with two of the best two-mile chasers in living memory before his injury - Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer - and chased home the latter in the 2005 renewal of this event before going onto beat the former in the inaugural running of the Betfred Celebration Chase at Sandown. Decisive though Newmill was when landing this last year, and while the prospect of testing conditions will aid the cause of fellow Irish raider Nickname, neither have proven themselves to be up to the standard of Well Chief, who demonstrated at Newbury that plenty give underfoot holds no terrors for him. Voy Por Ustedes was a significant drifter in the betting for the Game Spirit and, somewhat surprisingly given that he is such a sure-footed jumper of fences, Alan King's chaser unseated Chocolate Thornton at the fifth fence. He seemingly faced a stiff task that day anyway given that he was conceding 10lb to Well Chief. However, the fact the he will be on level terms on Wednesday doesn't do anything to alter my opinion that Well Chief will come out on top. Ultimately Well Chief is much the better horse, so I reckon he would beat Voy Por Ustedes giving him weight, never mind off a level playing field. Newmill warmed up for this in cracking style when beating odds-on favourite Macs Joy over timber at Gowran Park. John Murray's stable star has clearly reached fever pitch at just the right time and he will make a bold bid to retain the crown he too so emphatically last term. However, it looks nigh on certain that he and Ashley Brook will take each other on for the lead and the searching pace that will ensue will see the race play into the hands of Well Chief, who is at his very best when dropped in behind in a strongly-run race. His potent turn of foot will seal the deal. Nickname has gone from strength to strength during the current campaign and completed a four-timer in facile fashion in the Grade 2 Newlands Chase at Naas last month. If the ground dries out appreciably between now and Wednesday, Martin Brassil may even decide to take stock and consider his options, as testing conditions are considered a must-have for this son of Lost World. If the surface is suitable he will be a leading contender, of that there can be no doubt, but he still has a fair bit to prove in the context of this race. He has generally been beating a relatively exposed, albeit classy set of horses in his native land. My feeling is that he will not be good enough. If Monet's Garden takes part he will merit respect. Second to Voy Por Ustedes in last season's Arkle Trophy, the grey bounced back from a below-par effort in the King George on Boxing Day when scoring at Ascot subsequently. Personally, though, I just don't think he's got the requisite pace to deal with the likes of Well Chief. Verdict - 2pts Well Chief @ 7/4 (Betfred)