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The reigning champion Energumene will have an opportunity to defend their title in the Grade 1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) on Wednesday.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Energumene had shocked the odds-on favourite Shishkin in the race 12 months ago under Paul Townend in the colours of owner Tony Bloom.

This year's race will feature six rivals for Energumene. These include Edwardstone, who had won the Arkle Novices' Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival as well as the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase this season, and Editeur Du Gite. The latter had made all the running under jockey Jamie Moore to win the rearranged Grade 1 Clarence House Chase from Edwardstone in second and Energumene in third at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day in January.

Also competing in the Championship Chase is Funambule Sivola. This eight-year-old had chased home Energumene at last season's festival and was an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month. The field is completed by Nube Negra and Greaneteen, who have both been placed in the Champion Chase in the past, and Captain Guinness.

This year's championship will be an exciting and closely contested one with the potential for defending champion Energumene to retain their title.