Hot favourite Jonbon and previous winners Captain Guinness and Energumene are among eight runners declared for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Although beaten in two previous Festival appearances, having chased home stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle three years ago and El Fabiolo in the Arkle the following season, Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is a odds-on across the board to make it third time lucky at the showpiece meeting.

The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old did not take part in last year’s Champion Chase, but has since established himself as the leading light in the division by winning his second Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, his second Tingle Creek at Sandown and his first Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Energumene provided Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with back-to-back victories in this race in 2022 and 2023, but was unable to bid for the hat-trick last term due to injury.

The 11-year-old returned from a year and a half off the track with victory in the Hilly Way at Cork in December, but was firmly put in his place by Jonbon at Ascot in January.

Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness struck gold 12 months in a race which saw only three of the six runners complete the course. Following a largely disappointing season thus far, he is among the outsiders this time around.

Solness has shown the best form in Ireland so far this season, dominating two Grade One races from the front at Leopardstown for Joseph O’Brien.

Marine Nationale finished third and second in those races and his owner-trainer Barry Connell will be hoping he can turn the tables at the scene of his brilliant Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victory of two years ago under the late Michael O’Sullivan.

De Bromhead’s Quilixios and Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty complete the Irish challenge, with the Evan Williams-trained Libberty Hunter carrying Welsh hopes.

Current Going (Old Course): Good to Soft

Current Going (Cross Country Course): Good to Soft, Good in places. Soft on the top loop (in front of the stands)

1:20pm Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f

1 Final Demand (IRE) 6 11 7 Bryan Drew/Prof. Caroline Tisdall W. P. Mullins Ireland

2 Forty Coats (IRE) 6 11 7 C. Jones Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe

3 Kaid d'Authie (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

4 Kappa Jy Pyke (FR) 5 11 7 Stennett & Varmen Partnership W. P. Mullins Ireland

5 Kel Histoire (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

6 Kiss Will (FR) 5 11 7 H. O. S. Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

7 Potters Charm (IRE) ts 6 11 7 El Rincon Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies

8 Sixmilebridge (IRE) ts 6 11 7 The Megsons Fergal O'Brien Kielan Woods

9 Supersundae (FR) h 6 11 7 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

10 The New Lion 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

11 The Yellow Clay (IRE) 6 11 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

CURRENT BETTING: 15/8 The New Lion, 2 Final Demand, 6 The Yellow Clay, 14 Potters Charm, 16 Sixmilebridge, 25/1 bar.

2:00pm Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 110y

1 Ballyburn (IRE) 7 11 7 R.A.Bartlett/David Manasseh W. P. Mullins Ireland

2 Better Days Ahead (IRE) ts 7 11 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

3 Dancing City (FR) 8 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland

4 Gorgeous Tom (IRE) 7 11 7 Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe

5 Lecky Watson (IRE) 7 11 7 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

6 Quai de Bourbon (FR) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

7 Stellar Story (IRE) p 8 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Danny Gilligan

CURRENT BETTING: 6/5 Ballyburn, 9/2 Dancing City, 13/2 Better Days Ahead, 12 Gorgeous Tom, Stellar Story, 16 Lecky Watson, 20 Quai De Bourbon.

2:40pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f

1 Maxxum (IRE) 8 12 0 Mr P. Rabbitt Gordon Elliott Ireland Carl Millar (5)

2 Ballyadam (IRE) ts 10 11 12 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore

3 Eagle Fang (IRE) 5 11 8 Mr William Durkan William Durkan Ireland Oakley Brown (5)

4 Sandor Clegane (IRE) bl,ts 8 11 8 Mrs K.Browne & Mrs Anne Coffey Paul Nolan Ireland Sean O'Keeffe

5 Colonel Mustard (FR) 10 11 7 Mrs A.Frost/P.G. Davies/R.H. Fowler Mrs Lorna Fowler Ireland Tiernan Power Roche (5)

6 Jimmy du Seuil (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Edward J. Ware W. P. Mullins Ireland

7 Sa Fureur (IRE) 8 11 6 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

8 Beacon Edge (IRE) bl 11 11 6 Cheeky Pups Syndicate Gordon Elliott Ireland Danny Gilligan

9 Al Gasparo (FR) ts 6 11 5 Swords Bloodstock Ltd & D. Fagan Gavin Cromwell Ireland Keith Donoghue

10 Staffordshire Knot (IRE) bl 7 11 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Sam Ewing

11 Impose Toi (FR) p 7 11 2 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville

12 Beckett Rock (IRE) 6 11 1 Mr M. O'Flynn Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe

13 Bunting (FR) 5 11 0 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland

14 King Alexander (IRE) 7 10 12 Mr John I Neocleous W. P. Mullins Ireland

15 Comfort Zone (IRE) bl 6 10 12 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Mark Walsh

16 Might I (IRE) ts, p 9 10 12 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry Sean Bowen

17 Be Aware (FR) 6 10 12 Mr Andrew L. Cohen Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

18 Samui ts, p 6 10 11 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott Ireland Jordan Gainford

19 Anna Bunina (FR) ts 9 10 11 Ms Caroline Ahearn John McConnell Ireland Harry Cobden

20 Lossiemouth p 10 10 8 Lady Cobham Polly Gundry Stan Sheppard

21 Captain Morgs (IRE) p 9 10 8 The Albatross Club Nicky Henderson Sam Twiston-Davies

22 Minella Missile (IRE) 7 10 8 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams Adam Wedge

23 Vischio (IRE) h,ts 8 10 8 Syndicates.Racing Emmet Mullins Ireland Donagh Meyler

24 Beat The Bat (IRE) 7 10 8 Twelfth Man Partnership 6 Harry Fry Bryan Carver

25 Jipcot (FR) ts 6 10 6 The Megsons Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill Kielan Woods

26 Ike Sport (FR) ts, p 7 10 6 The Chosen Few Neil Mulholland Conor O'Farrell

Reserves

R27 Classic King (IRE) 7 10 6 Mr Will Davies & Dr Tom Davies Emma Lavelle

R28 Saint Anapolino (FR) 6 10 5 Mr David Lockwood Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

CURRENT BETTING: 5 Be Aware, 10 Impose Toi, 12 Comfort Zone, 14 Ballyadam, Jimmy Du Seuil, 16 Al Gasparo, Bunting, 18 Maxxum, 25/1 bar.

3:20pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) 3m 5f 56y

1 Stumptown (IRE) p 8 11 10 Furze Bush Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland Keith Donoghue

2 Galvin (IRE) 11 11 7 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

3 Coko Beach (FR) bl 10 11 3 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Sam Ewing

4 Iwilldoit 12 11 3 Mr Sam Thomas Sam Thomas Dylan Johnston (3)

5 French Dynamite (FR) ts, p 10 11 3 Robcour M. F. Morris Ireland Gavin Brouder (3)

6 Vanillier (FR) bl,ts 10 11 0 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell Ireland Sean Flanagan

7 Minella Crooner (IRE) p 9 10 13 KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Gordon Elliott Ireland Jordan Gainford

8 Roi Mage (FR) 13 10 12 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin Ireland James Reveley

9 Latenightpass 12 10 11 Mrs P. A. Ellis Tom Ellis Miss Gina Andrews

10 Chemical Energy (IRE) p 9 10 10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Danny Gilligan

11 Mister Coffey (FR) 10 10 10 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville

12 Busselton (FR) bl 8 10 5 Friendship Partnership Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland J. J. Slevin

13 Gevrey (FR) p 9 10 5 Denis Gallagher Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland Jake Coen (3)

14 The Goffer (IRE) ts 8 10 5 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott Ireland Sean Bowen

15 Escaria Ten (FR) p 11 10 5 J B Property Investments (Midlands) Ltd Martin Keighley James Best

16 Chambard (FR) p 13 10 5 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams Miss Lucy Turner (5)

Reserves

R17 Slipway (IRE) 10 10 5 Mrs S. N. J. Embiricos Ben Pauling Ben Jones

R18 Iceo Madrik (FR) ts 7 10 5 Prof. Caroline Tisdall D. Cottin France Felix de Giles

CURRENT BETTING: 11/4 Stumptown, 9/2 Galvin, 7 Busselton, Mister Coffey, 8 Vanillier, 12 Iceo Madrik, 14 Latenightpass, 20 bar.

4:00pm BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

1 Captain Guinness (IRE) 10 11 10 Declan Landy Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore

2 Energumene (FR) 11 11 10 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend

3 Found A Fifty (IRE) 8 11 10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

4 Jonbon (FR) 9 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville

5 Libberty Hunter 9 11 10 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams Adam Wedge

6 Marine Nationale (IRE) ts 8 11 10 Mr Barry Connell Barry Connell Ireland Sean Flanagan

7 Quilixios 8 11 10 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe

8 Solness (FR) ts, p 7 11 10 Bronsan Racing Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland J. J. Slevin

CURRENT BETTING: 1/1 Jonbon, 5 Marine Nationale, 15/2 Energumene, Solness, 16 Found A Fifty, 28 Captain Guinness, Quilixios, 33 Libberty Hunter.

4:40pm Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 1m 7f 199y

1 JPR One (IRE) ts 8 12 0 Mr J. P. Romans Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell

2 Dancing On My Own (IRE) ts 11 11 10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore

3 My Mate Mozzie (IRE) ts 9 11 9 Alymer Stud Ltd Gavin Cromwell Ireland Keith Donoghue

4 American Mike (IRE) ts 8 11 6 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

5 Nells Son p 10 11 6 David & Nicky Robinson Nicky Richards Danny McMenamin

6 Martator (FR) p 8 11 5 Camilla Norton Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch

7 Unexpected Party (FR) ts 10 11 2 O'Reilly MacLennan Tynan Carthy Shanahan Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

8 General Medrano (IRE) 8 11 1 Elite Racing 003 Emma Lavelle Ben Jones

9 Fringill Dike (IRE) bl 8 11 0 Caron & Paul Chapman Jedd O'Keeffe Charlie Hammond

10 So Scottish (FR) p 8 10 11 Mr John P. McManus Emmet Mullins Ireland Donagh Meyler

11 The King of Prs (IRE) ts 7 10 10 Mr Damien Dillon Gavin Cromwell Ireland Conor Stone-Walsh (3)

12 Traprain Law (FR) ts 7 10 8 Mr Raymond Anderson Green Lucinda Russell Patrick Wadge

13 Gaelic Arc (IRE) 9 10 7 Mark R.D. Fleming / T. Westropp Bennett John Patrick Ryan Ireland Danny Mullins

14 Western Zephyr (IRE) 8 10 7 Swanee River Partnership Charlie Longsdon Sean Bowen

15 Jazzy Matty (FR) p 6 10 7 Top Man Racing Syndicate Cian Collins Ireland Danny Gilligan

16 Midnight It Is 9 10 6 Mr Brendan Keogh Gavin Cromwell Ireland Sean Flanagan

17 Third Time Lucki (IRE) ts 10 10 6 The Craze Family Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke

18 Conyers Hill (IRE) h 7 10 3 Buzzer Racing Syndicate Paul Nolan Ireland Sean O'Keeffe

19 Jasko des Dames (FR) ts 6 10 3 Mr Basil Holian Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe

20 Primoz (IRE) ts 7 10 2 Aim Equestrian Ltd & Russell Lucinda Russell Derek Fox

Reserve

R21 Dr T J Eckleburg (IRE) 7 10 2 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams

CURRENT BETTING: 7 Unexpected Party, 15/2 My Mate Mozzie, 17/2 The King Of Prs, 10 Jazzy Matty, 11 So Scottish, 12 JPR One, 14 American Mike, Midnight It Is, 20 bar.

5:20pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y

1 Copacabana 5 11 7 Mr Edward J. Ware W. P. Mullins Ireland

2 Dalston Lad (IRE) 5 11 7 Cherry Knoll Farm, M&T Ward & D Skelton Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell

3 El Cairos (FR) 5 11 7 Mr David Maxwell Gary & Josh Moore Mr David Maxwell

4 Fortune de Mer (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Stephen Bough Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

5 Gameofinches 6 11 7 Prof. Caroline Tisdall W. P. Mullins Ireland

6 Heads Up 5 11 7 Mr Darragh McDonagh John McConnell Ireland Sean Bowen

7 He Can't Dance (IRE) 5 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Harry Swan

8 Idaho Sun (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Jeremy Gear Harry Fry Bryan Carver

9 I Started A Joke (IRE) 6 11 7 Kate Costello & Brothers Syndicate Charles Byrnes Ireland P. Byrnes

10 Kalypso'chance (FR) 5 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy

11 No Drama This End (IRE) 5 11 7 McNeill Family and Chris & Giles Barber Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden

12 Shuttle Diplomacy (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Ciaran John Mooney Thomas Cooper Ireland Sam Ewing

13 Sortudo (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Michael Feeley W. P. Mullins Ireland

14 Aqua Force (IRE) 6 11 0 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

15 Bambino Fever (IRE) 5 11 0 O'Connell Morgan Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

16 Highland Haven 5 11 0 Mr Walid Marzouk Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke

17 Caballero Cliff 4 10 11 The Moore's Robert Stephens Ben Jones

18 Lancelot Allen (FR) 4 10 11 Holt, Robinson, Macnabb, Clark, Weedon Mrs Jane Williams David Noonan

CURRENT BETTING: 5/2 Copacopana, 9/2 Gameofinches, 13/2 Kalypso'chance, 7 Bambino Fever, 14 Aqua Force, No Drama This End, 20 Fortune De Mer, Idaho Sun, 28/1 bar.