‘That’s for Michael’: not a dry eye in the house following an emotionally charged afternoon at Cheltenham Festival
It is fair to say that you would have had to be made out of stone not to be moved by the scenes that unfolded on day two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival this afternoon (12 March), where the Queen Mother Champion Chase was the feature race.
Last month, Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan died following a fall at Thurles Racecourse, just days before his 25th birthday.
Two years ago, Michael won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle aboard the Barry Connell-owned and trained Marine Nationale. Were it not for his passing, Michael would have ridden the eight-year-old in today’s BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, which he duly won under Sean Flanagan.
Those watching on at Cheltenham Racecourse understood the gravitas of this poignant victory, and there was barely a dry eye in the house.
“It’s very raw; the whole thing with Michael over the last three or four weeks has been horrible, horrible,” said Barry. “My thoughts and prayers are with [Michael’s] family and his girlfriend, Charlotte [Giles], is here and was with us saddling up the horse.
“Everybody in racing has come together for Michael and I hope this is a fitting tribute to him. Marine Nationale is a magical creature, to get one like him you just pinch yourself.”
Barry added that Michael had been on quite a journey with the horse.
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“Michael rode him in all his races in his novice season over hurdles. He won three Grade Ones as a claimer, was awarded with leading rider on the first day [at Cheltenham Festival in 2023], and then leading conditional [in Ireland, in the same year]. I’ve asked racing historians and I don’t think they can find anyone who did all that.
“It is a tragedy that he’s left us, but it’s a record that he can be really proud of. He achieved more in a lifetime than a lot of riders who have been riding a lot longer ever achieve, so I’d like to dedicate this win to Michael.”
Sean Flanagan was unsurprisingly in total agreement with Barry, adding: “It’s hugely emotional for a lot of reasons – all the jockeys in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks. I’m only the man that steered Marine Nationale around – Michael’s the man who made him what he is and he’ll never be forgotten.”
Many felt that Michael was looking down on them when Jazzy Matty duly went on to win the following race – the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase – 40 minutes later.
This six-year-old, ridden by Danny Gilligan, owned by the Top Man Racing Syndicate and trained by Cian Collins, was the horse who gave Michael O’Sullivan a day one double at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 when trained by Gordon Elliott to win the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
“It went very smoothly, never missed a beat the whole way round there,” said Danny. “I’m sure everyone knows there’s someone very special looking down on us today. That’s for Michael.”
What happened to Jonbon?
Jonbon, who went off as 5/6 favourite in the Queen Mother Champion Chase under jockey Nico De Boinville for trainer Nicky Henderson and owner JP McManus, but was on the back foot from the start after the tape hit him in the face, then a juddering error five fences out put paid to his chances of victory.
He managed to battle back to finish second, after a challenging Quilixios fell at the last. Both the horse and Rachael Blackmore walked away.
“It went wrong from the start,” said Nico. “We were stood up against the tape, it’s gone back and pinged up against his nose. He’s just been startled for a second, then they’ve gone hard.
“At five out, there was a stride there, but he lost his sight slightly, decided to chip in and it wasn’t there. From there you’re doing what you can.
“He’s some horse to manage to finish where he did.”
Cheltenham Festival day two results
1.20pm: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
1st: The New Lion, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton
2nd: The Yellow Clay
3rd: Final Demand
2pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
1st: Lecky Watson, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Sean O’Keeffe
2nd: Stellar Story
3rd: Better Days Ahead
2.40pm: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
1st: Jimmy Du Seuil, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Danny Mullins
2nd: Impose Toi
3rd: Ballyadam
3.20pm: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
1st: Stumptown, trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Keith Donoghue
2nd: Latenightpass
3rd: Vanillier
4pm: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
1st: Marine Nationale, trained by Barry Connell and ridden by Sean Flanagan
2nd: Jonbon
3rd: Captain Guinness
4.40pm: Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
1st: Jazzy Matty, trained by Cian Collins and ridden by Danny Gilligan
2nd: Unexpected Party
3rd: Midnight It Is
5.20pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper
1st: Bambino Fever, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Miss J Townend
2nd: Heads Up
3rd: Shuttle Diplomacy
When was the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase?
The Grade One National Hunt steeplechase race, which is run over two miles with 13 fences to jump, went off at 4pm on Wednesday 12 March.
Who were the runners in the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase?
Horse: Jonbon | Jockey: Nico De Boinville | J P McManus
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Marine Nationale | Sean Flanagan | Barry Connell
Barry Connell
Energumene | Paul Townend | Tony Bloom
Willie Mullins
Solness | J J Slevin | Bronsan Racing
Joseph O’Brien
Found A Fifty | Jack Kennedy | Bective Stud
Gordon Elliott
Captain Guinness | Rachael Blackmore | Declan Landy
Henry De Bromhead
Quilixilos | Darragh O’Keeffe| Cheveley Park Stud
Henry De Bromhead
Libberty Hunter | Adam Wedge| Mr & Mrs William Rucker
Evan William
What were the Queen Mother Champion Chase odds?
The following odds were correct at the time of publishing and may vary between bookmakers.
Jonbon: 10/11
Marine Nationale: 5/1
Energumene: 7/1
Solness: 15/2
Found A Fifty: 12/1
Captain Guinness: 28/1
Quilixilos: 28/1
Libberty Hunter: 33/1
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What was the prize money?
The winner of the 2025 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase takes home £225,080.
Recent winners
2o24: Captain Guinness – read race report
2023: Energumene – read race report
2022: Energumene – read race report
2021: Put The Kettle On – read the race report
2020: Politologue – read the race report
2019: Altior – read the race report
2018: Altior – read the race report
2017: Special Tiara – read the race report
2016: Sprinter Sacre – read the race report
2015: Dodging Bullets – read the race report
2014: Sire de Grugy– read the race report
2013: Sprinter Sacre – read the race report
2012: Finian’s Rainbow – read the race report
2011: Sizing Europe – read the race report
Winning-most trainer, horse, jockey and owner
There are three all-time leading Queen Mother Champion Chase trainers; Nicky Henderson, Tom Dreaper and Paul Nicholls who each have six wins between them. The winning-most horse in the race is Badworth Boy, who won it three times (1983-85). Two jockeys have won the race five times, which is the current record — these are Pat Taaffe and Barry Geraghty. And there are three leading owners in this race; George Ansley, Doug Armitage and John Hales, who have each won three runnings of the race.
The history of the Queen Mother Champion Chase
This race was established in 1959, and it was originally called the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase. It was given its present title in 1980 — the year of the late Queen Mother’s 80th birthday — in recognition of her support to jump racing. The late Queen Mother was a successful owner of National Hunt horses, particularly chasers, and among these was Game Spirit — the runner-up in this race in 1976.
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.