Fans-favourite Well Chief will tackle the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next month, in what could be his final attempt at landing the Grade 1.

David Pipe’s superstar will go down as one of the greatest horses never to win the race and he will be remembered for his heroics behind the mighty Moscow Flyer in the 2005 renewal of the race.

That was one of the greatest spectacles in the Festival’s history and many believed that he could go one better in 2010 when he beat Master Minded last November.  However all has not gone according to plan and he has been defeated in his three subsequent starts, the most recent being at Ascot last month.

Now his trainer is hoping that he can bow out of the chasing game on a high, with this likely to be his last season racing.  Pipe explained:  "He's going straight to Cheltenham now. He's a top-class horse, probably not quite as good as he once was, but he loves Cheltenham."

Ladbrokes make Well Chief a 33/1 chance for this year’s Champion Chase and his chances of winning the two mile spectacular will have been dented when Master Minded ran out a sensational winner of the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.  He is now a 4/5 shot to land a hat-trick of victories at the Festival.

Ladbrokes are offering punters a free £25 bet on this year’s Festival.

Queen Mother Champion Chase - Ladbrokes
2m, Cheltenham March 2010
4/5 Master Minded, 6 Kalahari King, 6 Twist Magic, 8 Big Zeb, 16 Free World, 16 Petit Robin, 20 Barker, 20 Golden Silver, 33 Well Chief, 33 Sizing Europe, 33 Tranquil Sea, 40 Oh Crick, 50 Cornas, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)