No Gaelic Warrior as Jonbon top 11 in Champion Chase

Jonbon’s hopes of adding a first Cheltenham Festival success to his impressive CV were handed a boost at the six-day-entry stage for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase as last year’s Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior was scratched. 

The Nicky Henderson-trained favourite has been second at the meeting on two occasions, and had to miss last year’s festival due to an illness in the yard, but holds the best form this season and looks to have strong claims of adding 10 points for leading David Power Jockeys’ Cup contender Nico De Boinville. 

Jonbon’s closest rivals in the betting are Solness and Marine Nationale, who have locked horns twice this season, with the first-named coming out on top on both occasions. 

Thursday entries

French raider Il Est Francais retains the Champion Chase as an option but is widely expected to contest Thursday’s Ryanair Chase instead where he could face Fact To File. Willie Mullins’ charge also has the Cheltenham Gold Cup as an option, but the antepost favourite for the Ryanair heads 12 runners left in the race.  

Last year’s one-two Protektorat and Envoi Allen are entered once more, with the first-named one of the best rides on Thursday for Jockeys’ Cup leader Harry Skelton.  

Twenty horses remain engaged for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, with last year’s winner Teahupoo expected to be hard to beat for Gordon Elliott once more. 

However, Lucky Place (De Boinville) and Cheltenham Festival regular Langer Dan (Skelton) have a good chance of picking up some valuable Jockeys’ Cup points for their riders, as does the Sam Twiston-Davies-ridden Gowel Road.