Queen Mother Champion Chase - Analysis

The Queen Mother Champion Chase has attracted 29 top-class chasers, four more than last season, including a record 11 entries from Ireland and one from France.

Moscow Flyer, successful in 2003 and 2005, could attempt to emulate Badsworth Boy (who collected a trio of wins between 1983-1985) by becoming only the second horse ever to win the race three times. Despite not having scored so far this term, Jessica Harrington's chaser excels around Cheltenham, having also won the Irish Independent Arkle Chase in 2002 and, at the age of 12, will be a threat to all if returning to his scintillating best.

The reigning champion could be re-opposed by fellow Irish challenger Central House, who finished sixth in last year's contest. However, Dessie Hughes's charge has looked an improved performer this term, posting decisive victories over Moscow Flyer and Rathgar Beau at Navan and Cork respectively before a controversial defeat in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown in December, when jockey Roger Loughran stopped riding after mistaking the winning post, forfeiting a likely winning advantage.

Paul Nicholls, successful in the 1999 race with Call Equiname and in 2004 with Azertyuiop (ruled out through injury this year), has a four-strong entry consisting of Andreas, Armaturk, Hors La Loi III and Kauto Star.

The progressive six-year-old Kauto Star looks the strongest contender, having followed a good comeback run from injury when second in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter with an impressive victory in the Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown in December, defeating six opponents including Ashley Brook and Oneway, who look to reoppose come The Festival.

Andreas and Armaturk have both been contesting handicaps of late and will need to show improved form to figure, while Hors La Loi III, who won the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in 2002, returned from an absence of 978 days to win a novice chase at Taunton last month.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe has yet to taste success in Cheltenham's prestigious two-mile contest, and with stable-star Well Chief missing this year's race through injury, the Nicholashayne-handler has entered Celtic Son, Contraband and Locksmith.

Celtic Son has been campaigned over two and half miles so far in his novice year over fences, while 2005 Irish Independent Arkle Chase winner Contraband has raced only once this season, finishing fifth behind Monkerhostin in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. Locksmith was well beaten last time in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown behind Kauto Star, Ashley Brook and Oneway.

Nicky Henderson, who trained the 1992 victor Remittance Man, has Isio, winner of the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in 2004, engaged, while Nigel Twiston-Davies's exciting Fundamentalist, Noel Chance's River City and the Mark Pitman-trained Dempsey are other interesting contenders. The home defence is completed by the Sue Smith pair of Mister McGoldrick and Town Crier, the Ian Williams-trained Bambi de L'Orme and the enigmatic Venn Ottery, fifth in 2004 and seventh last year for owner-trainer Oliver Carter.

A strong Irish challenge includes the aptly-named Jim, trained by Jim Dreaper, who won the race back in 1975 with Lough Inagh. Mouse Morris, whose Buck House claimed the 1986 running, has entered Fota Island, winner of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival in clear-cut style. He ran well to be second on his reappearance behind Hi Cloy, who represents trainer Michael Hourigan. Paul Nolan is three-handed with the exciting novice Accordion Etoile, Cloone River and Say Again.

The other Irish entries are the Dusty Sheehy-trained novice Justified, Newmill from the John Joseph Murphy stable and Noel Meade's Watson Lake. The mare Kario de Sormain, a Grade Two winner at Auteuil, represents 11-times Champion French Jumps trainer Jean-Paul Gallorini.