Un de Sceaux leads the field for one of Cheltenham’s biggest races

March 16th, Cheltenham, and 23 horses go to post.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the biggest races of the Cheltehham festival after the Gold Cup,  and there is a serious Irish interest in this year's renewal, after the opening declarations were made for the race. There's no shock to see Un de Sceaux top the list, as  it has been almost 12 months of speculation that the horse would lead out the field after last year's Arkle win. Mullins saddles six horses in the race in total as he loads with up with Grade One talent in Felix Yonger, Twinlight Vautour, who is also declared for the Ryanair Chase, as well as Champagne Fever, and the emerging Mozoltov. Last year's winner Dodging Bullets is back in the fold, while there will be huge interest in Sprinter Sacre and Sire de Grugy if they can line up at the tart tape in two months time. Vibrato Valtat is also in the mix too, having impressed in thr 2015 race. Other Irish interests centre on  Special Tiara and Sizing Franitie from Henry de Bromhead's yard while Gordon Elliott will fancy a punt on his mounts Bright new Dawn and Clarcam. In total 23 horses are set to run for the almost half a million euro in prize money https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/687602154815778817 Currently Ladbrokes have Un de Sceaux at 6/4 while Sprinter Sacre is at 3/1 and Dodging Bullets is 8/1. The full odds are available here.