Bets and Pieces

The Celebration Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 119 yards at Sandown Park in early April. Open to horses aged five years and upwards, the race was inaugurated, as the Championship Chase, in 2001, when it served as a substitute for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, following the abandonment of the Cheltenham Festival due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The inaugural running was won, fittingly, by reigning Champion Chaser Edredon Bleu.

Following the death of the Queen Mother in March, 2002, the race – albeit downgraded to a Class 2, weight-for-age conditions contest – was run as the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Celebration Chase and retained that title until 2005. At that stage, the Celebration Chase was promoted to Grade 2 status; it was promoted again, to Grade 1 status, in 2014.

The prolific Altior, trained by Nicky Henderson, won the Celebration Chase three years running, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and is the most successful horse in the history of the race. Henderson has saddled five winners altogether, but Paul Nicholls is the leading trainer with seven winners, namely Cenkos (2002, 2004), Andreas (2008), Twist Magic (2009), Sanctuaire (2012) and Greaneteen (2021,2022).

The 2023 renewal of the Celebration Chase is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 and, as is often the case, the ante-post betting is likely to be dominated by horses towards the forefront of the market for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Energumene, Shiskin and Ferny Hollow appear likely contenders at this still early stage, while the hat-trick seeking Greaneteen may attempt to improve Paul Nicholls’ a;ready impressive record in the race.

The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle run over 2 miles, 7 furlongs and 213 yards on the New Course at Cheltenham in December. The race is open to horses aged four years and upwards which, at the start of the current season, have yet to win a race over hurdles. The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle was inaugurated, over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 110 yards, in 1988, but was extended to its current distance, and elevated to Grade 2 status, in 1994. Since 2007, the race has been sponsored by potato supplier Albert Bartlett and run as the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Notable winners of the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle down the years include subsequent Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Remittance Man (1989), Grand National winners Bindaree (1999) and Comply Or Die (2003), Stayers’ Hurdle winner Iris’s Gift (2002) and, last, but by no means least, Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree (2012). Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Bindaree, also saddled Bosuns Mate (1998), Blaklion (2014), Wholestone (2016) and Redford Road (2019) to victory in the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle and is the most successful handler in the history of the race, with five winners in all.

The 2022 renewal of the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle is scheduled for 2:25pm on Saturday, December 10, day two of The International Meeting at Cheltenham. Ante-post prices are not yet available, but recent trends suggest that punters should focus on horses aged five or six years, with recent, preferably winning, form recorded no longer than six weeks previously. For the record, all bar three of the last dozen winners had an official handicap rating of 132, or higher, and all bar two were in the first three in the betting on the day of the race.

The 1965 Chase is a Grade 2 steeplechase run over 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 8 yards at Ascot in November. The race was inaugurated, as the H & T Walker Goddess Limited Handicap Chase, in 1981, but has been run in various guises down the years.

Initially contested over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, its distance was shortened to 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 110 yards in 1992 and again, to 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 175 yards in 2006, following the partial reconstruction of the National Hunt course at Ascot, before being lengthened to its current yardage in 2015. In 2006, the race was also renamed, to commemorate the year in which National Hunt was first staged at Ascot and, three years later, became a weight-for-age, conditions race, rather than a limited handicap. Nowadays, the 1965 Chase is open to horses aged four years and upwards with an official handicap rating of 120 or more.

Reigning champion trainer Paul Nicholls has saddled seven winners of the 1965 Chase – namely Cerium (2006), Master Minded (2010, 2011), Al Ferof (2013, 2014), Politologue (2018), Cyrname (2019) – and is the most successful handler in the history of the race. Other notable winners during the last five decades include three-time King George VI Chase winner Wayward Lad (1981), Grand National winner Red Marauder (1998) and dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run (2008).

At the time of writing, the 2022 renewal of the 1965 Chase – due off at 2:05pm on Saturday, November 19 – is less than three weeks away. The ante-post market is yet to take shape, but recent trends suggest that punters would do well to concentrate on the first three in the betting, which have produced the winner in all bar one of the last ten renewals; including joint favourites, six starting price favourites have win the 1965 Chase since 2012.

Introduction

A horse racing themed NetEnt video slot that was released in 2013 has fast become the Champion of the Track among players. This exciting slot has an RTP of 96.50% provided by this low volatility game with five reels, three rows and 30 paylines. Champion of the Track offers thrilling gameplay and lucrative winning opportunities thanks to its interwoven features.

There are also wilds, an interesting horse racing bonus game, a maximum payout of 48 532.00, and a Free Spins bonus round to play on this slot game designed to resemble a board game.

Champion of the Track Bonus Features

With a board game design, the game captures the excitement of horse racing perfectly. The four symbols with the lowest value on the reels are the jockeys, while the symbols with the highest value are the binoculars, stopwatches, horseshoes, and those with the blue ribbon and a number 2.

There are many features in Champion of the Track, including the Career Bonus. A bonus of 97000 coins awaits you if you advance 20 steps along the track with this bonus. You win more when you bet more, and the Career Bonus position is saved for 48 hours to your benefit.

When 3+ Scatter symbols appear across the slot reels, Free Spins are triggered. Get 10 Free Spins and a 2x Multiplier when you have three brown horse scatters. When you land five Horseshoes, you earn 10 more Free Spins and rank one square on the Career Track. If you land five Scatters, you overtake a horse and receive a horseshoe. 

Landing 3 Golden Trophy symbols trigger a separate Bonus Game. The game allows you to choose between four jockeys for the race and based on their performance, you can win cash prizes. A 5x Multiplier and 4 Career Track moves are available during this round.