November 11 / 14.20 Down Royal

14.20

Soft

Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £78318.58
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £1.40

Form: 11121- C

Last run: 211 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
Exciting young chaser is unlucky not to be unbeaten in his 10 starts under all codes; won his first three novice chases last season (including two Grade 1s) before getting going a bit too late in the Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham; bounced back with an easy win in an Aintree Grade 1 next time; needs to improve now tackling open Grade 1 company but that is likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Gerri Colombe

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Five Grade 1 wins and runner-up in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup; reappearance at Christmas came after 421 days off and this season's form is well short of his best, but second to Grangeclare West at Fairyhouse was a big step back in the right direction and he comfortably obliged at odds-on for latest outing; cheekpieces last three starts; well handicapped on his old form and could be on his way back.

25/1

1st

3

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

3m 2f 50y

15:38 Down Royal

Gerri Colombe

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Five Grade 1 wins; runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 Gold Cup; defeated at odds-on here in November 2024; absent until pulled up early in the Savills at Christmas; respectable third at Gowran in the Galmoy Hurdle (heavy) in first-time cheekpieces; good effort behind Grangeclare West in the Bobbyjo; gets 7lb from Nick Rockett, race-fitness in his favour

11/10

2nd

6

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Gerri Colombe

11st 0lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Five-time Grade 1 winner was a runner-up behind Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 Gold Cup; defeated at odds-on at Down Royal in November 2024 and didn't reappear for 421 days when pulled up early in the Savills over Christmas; more promise in his third at Gowran in the Galmoy Hurdle (heavy) in first-time cheekpieces, although 18l behind; back over fences now and this is a key test to see if the ability is still there.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1714-3 CD BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
High-class sort has won 8 Grade 1 races; proved that he stays this trip when winning this race on his comeback run last year; ran poorly in the King George' next time but bounced back with a fine win in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham; goes well fresh, so that isn't an issue and stable jockey prefers him to Minella Indo; a big run is likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Envoi Allen

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

His remarkable haul of ten Grade 1 wins includes three at the Cheltenham Festival, and it was at that level that he won at Down Royal in November on his sole outing this season; however, he was a well-beaten third in the Ryanair last March and, now 12, today's task is likely to prove beyond him.

25/1

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:40 Down Royal

Envoi Allen

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Winner of this race in 2022 and 2024, just touched off in 2023; eight chase wins also include a Ryanair Chase; ran just twice after last season's win here, unseating in King George and bit below-best but nonetheless creditable third in Ryanair in March; veteran vulnerable to younger rivals but has to be respected.

9/4

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:40 Down Royal

Envoi Allen

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Winner of this race in 2022 and 2024, just touched off in 2023; eight chase wins also include a Ryanair Chase; ran just twice after last season's win here, unseating in King George and bit below-best but nonetheless creditable third in Ryanair in March; veteran vulnerable to younger rivals but has to be respected.

9/4

Form: 313P-5 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 167

Form & Verdict
Officially the highest-rated in this field; beat Minella Indo by 6l when winning the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in 2022 and added the Savills Chase at the same track last winter after being 3rd to Envoi Allen in this race; however, was very disappointing when beaten nearly 20l by Minella Indo on return at Punchestown and Jack Kennedy prefers Gerri Colombe.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

16

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Conflated

10st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Finished third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; showed some spark around Punchestown's banks course this February but this 12yo is nothing like the force of old and was well beaten in the cross-country race at Cheltenham last month; without a win since December 2022 and looks up against it.

66/1

9th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Conflated

10st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Top class over regulation fences in his prime (dual 3m Grade 1 winner) but has regressed and become inconsistent; gave a pretty good account when placed behind Vanillier on Bank course at Punchestown (3m1f, soft to heavy; refitted cheekpieces/first-time tongue-tie) last month but was well beaten on his only C&D start (in 2024); younger rivals appeal much more.

25/1

3rd

6

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Conflated

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class in his day, winning a brace of Grade 1 Leopardstown contests at 3m; not at that level nowadays, including fourth in C&D cross-country chase at last year's festival; runner-up on latest two runs in point-to-points, most recently at Tyrella 11 days ago; new headgear combination; Jack Kennedy prefers The Goffer.

7/2

Form: P/1P-1 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
Beat stablemate A Plus Tard when winning the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup but was no match for that rival in the 2022 edition; only two runs last year, winning a Grade 3 at Tramore before not getting the best of starts and being pulled-up in the Gold Cup; showed enthusiasm to win a Punchestown Grade 3 on return and should run a big race if improving from that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Minella Indo

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, second in it in 2022 and third in last year's Grand National; what a staying star he's been and the first of his two runs this season was creditable (latest was over hurdles) but, off just 1lb lower than 12 months ago, this veteran could again be on the premises without winning.

22/1

9th

6

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Minella Indo

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, second in it in 2022 and third in last year's Grand National; what a staying star he's been and the first of his two runs this season was creditable (latest was over hurdles) but, off just 1lb lower than 12 months ago, this veteran could again be on the premises without winning.

22/1

6th

5

9th Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:40 Navan

Minella Indo

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear after 2 out

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €2.50
Straight Forecast €2.85
Trifecta €8.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gerri Colombe

TOPSPEED:

Envoi Allen

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Conflated

The Irish Sun:

Gerri Colombe

POSTDATA:

Envoi Allen