Six go to post on Saturday for the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, in which five are hopefuls for the 2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, 13th March.
That race may seem like a two-horse contest given the strength of favourite El Fabiolo and his main danger Jonbon, but the latter’s shock defeat to Elixir De Nutz in the recent Grade 1 Clarence House Chase will provide plenty of hope to others’ connections that their charges have more than just an each-way shout for the championship race on day two of the Festival.
The two-time reigning champion, Funambule Sivola, goes in search of a hat-trick in the Game Spirit this Saturday, having also been runner-up in the 2022 Champion Chase to Energumene. However, his form has not been as strong of late and he faces a substantially stronger field this time around.
Also declared to take part are 2022 Arkle hero Edwardstone, who was second favourite for last year’s Champion Chase, as well as Harry Fry’s in-form Boothill. The pair are generally vying for third favouritism for this year’s renewal of the Queen Mother, with Alan King’s ten-year-old having given Jonbon a fright in the Tingle Creek at Sandown before Christmas.
Bigger outsiders for the 2m showpiece who also go on Saturday are last year’s Clarence House conqueror Editeur Du Gite and Elixir De Nutz’s stablemate Amarillo Sky, not seen for over a year.
There may also be some Festival clues in the Betfair Hurdle at 3:15, directly after the Game Spirit Chase. Current County Hurdle favourite Iberico Lord has been declared for Nicky Henderson, as has last year’s County winner Faivoir. There is also a chance another Festival fancy could emerge for Willie Mullins, as though Ocastle Des Mottes holds no current entries for Cheltenham, he is having his first run for the yard and is well-found at the head of the market.
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