Ged Mason, one of the co-owners of L’Eau du Sud, is increasingly hopeful of Champion Chase glory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Mason’s quotes emerged in advance of the news that Marine Nationale has been ruled out of the race. The 2025 hero’s absence opens the pathway to success further, including according to the bookmakers. L’Eau du Sud is now a general second favourite for the Champion Chase.
The grey recorded a statement win at the start of the 2025/26 season. He defeated Jonbon by 15 lengths in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase, run over the same course and distance as the Champion Chase.
Although he was beaten next time out in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, optimism remains that his best is to come. Dan Skelton has deliberately spared him any more racing in an attempt to have him fresh for Cheltenham.
“You wouldn’t swap our boy” – Mason
Mason is just one of four co-owning parties of L’Eau du Sud. One of those is former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, while Paul Hogarth and the Hales family are also involved.
There would be tremendous celebrations if L’Eau du Sud pulls off a famous victory. Mason is confident in the horse’s trainer as much as anything else.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Mason said: “Over time trainers find out what is best for their horses and Dan has found that this horse is good when he’s fresh.”
That freshness could be key. There will have been three months since L’Eau du Sud’s last race, since which Majobrough has raced twice and Il Etait Temps has flopped in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. Mason believes his horse has all the attributes to bely any absence too.
“Two-mile chases are all about speed and you’ve got to be accurate with your jumping, and in that department he’s very good. He’s obviously up against some very good horses but, as Dan has said many times, you wouldn’t swap our boy.”
Indeed, the break between runs may well not have been long enough between his first and second starts of this campaign. A very different performance is expected compared to the Tingle Creek.
“Dan had him right for the Shloer and then the Tingle Creek came up fast, so I don’t think L’Eau Du Sud had left anything in the tank.
“Our horse has certainly earned the right to be there. I know Jonbon might not have been match fit in the Shloer, but to beat him the way he did showed L’Eau Du Sud’s quality and hopefully he can demonstrate that on the day.”