The Celebration Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 1 mile 7½ furlongs (1 mile, 7 furlongs and 99 yards, or ), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late April.
History The event has its origins in 2001, when the Cheltenham Festival was cancelled due to a foot-and-mouth crisis. Replacements for some of the Festival's races were held at Sandown in late April, and the equivalent of the Queen Mother Champion Chase was a Grade 1 event called the Championship Chase.
The following year the race returned as the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Celebration Chase, in memory of the Queen Mother (1900–2002), who frequently attended racing at Sandown. The event was downgraded to Class B level, but it continued to attract high quality chasers. It was promoted to Grade Two status in 2005, and at this point its title was shortened to the Celebration Chase.
The race is currently sponsored by Bet365, and it takes place at a meeting which features both jump and flat races. Other events at this meeting include the Bet365 Gold Cup, the Gordon Richards Stakes and the Sandown Mile. The Celebration Chase was upgraded to Grade One by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running.
Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Altior - 2017, 2018, 2019
Leading jockey (5 wins): Nico de Boinville - Sprinter Sacre (2016), Altior (2017, 2018, 2019), Jonbon (2024)
Leading trainer (7 wins): Paul Nicholls – Cenkos (2002, 2004), Andreas (2008), Twist Magic (2009), Sanctuaire (2012), Greaneteen (2021,2022) Nicky Henderson - French Opera (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2016), Altior (2017, 2018, 2019), Jonbon (2023, 2024)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 2001 Edredon Bleu 9 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight 2002 Cenkos 8 Barry Geraghty Paul Nicholls 2003 Seebald 8 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2004 Cenkos 10 Barry Geraghty Paul Nicholls 2005 Well Chief 6 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe 2006 River City 9 Tom Doyle Noel Chance 2007 Dempsey 9 Timmy Murphy Carl Llewellyn 2008 Andreas 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 Twist Magic 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2010 I'm So Lucky 8 Tom Scudamore David Pipe 2011 French Opera 8 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 2012 Sanctuaire 6 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls 2013 Sire De Grugy 7 Jamie Moore Gary Moore 2014 Sire De Grugy 8 Jamie Moore Gary Moore 2015 Special Tiara 8 Noel Fehily Henry de Bromhead 2016 Sprinter Sacre 10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2017 Altior 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2018 Altior 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2019 Altior 9 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson no race 2020 2021 Greaneteen 7 Bryony Frost Paul Nicholls 2022 Greaneteen 8 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2023 Jonbon 7 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson 2024 Jonbon 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2025 Il Etait Temps 7 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2026 Edwardstone 12 Tom Cannon Alan King
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races Recurring sporting events established in 2001 – this race is included under its original title, Championship Chase.
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Celebration Chase – Sandown.