Solness to spring a surprise

Solness is backed to inflict what would be a third Cheltenham Festival defeat on hot favourite Jonbon in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase today.

There is little doubt that Nicky Henderson's Jonbon is the star of the division, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that each of his three previous defeats have come in the Cotswolds.

It is not too difficult to explain the first two as he was blown away by his esteemed stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and found only an on-song El Fabiolo too strong in the Arkle, but his neck reverse to Elixir De Nutz in last year's Clarence House takes a bit more forgiving.

Jonbon jumped terribly that day and while connections can point out he has since won a second Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, a 1.50-length defeat of Boothill is hardly earth-shattering stuff.

If the Champion Chase were run at Ascot or Sandown the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old would be nigh on impossible to oppose, but on the undulations of Prestbury Park, he could be vulnerable.