November 05 / 15.32 Down Royal

15.32

Soft

Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £74369.75
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 5 runners
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Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.90
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 16133- C

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
Won the Grade 2 on this card last year and won three-runner Grade 1 at Leopardstown last Christmas but was no match for Energumene towards the end of the campaign; pulled up on his sole start at this trip, although has shaped like it would suit at times; this looks a stiff enough task on return back up in trip.
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

6/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 34-622 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Smart performer in his pomp and sets the standard on his form from a few seasons ago; wasn't far behind Galvin in last year's Savills but he's not the force of old and he's another year older now; has fitness on side at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

25th Feb 2023

Yielding

3m 1f 110y

15:55 Fairyhouse

Kemboy

11st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made virtually all, soon led, briefly headed 2nd, not fluent 5th, pushed along and faced challenge when not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well but reduced lead towards finish, just did enough

7/4

6th

5

4th Feb 2023

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 44y

15:05 Leopardstown

Kemboy

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: W P Mullins

led, briefly headed halfway, headed before 3 out, pushed along and weakened from 2 out

10/1

2nd

7

28th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 0y

14:20 Leopardstown

Kemboy

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

led, headed and raced in second after 9th, headway disputing lead after 5 out, headed 3 out, jumped slightly right 2 out, ridden and chased clear leader approaching last, kept on, no match for winner

7/1

Form: 211F2- D

Last run: 212 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 168

Form & Verdict
Surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February when getting an easy time of it on the front end; was in the process of chasing home Allaho in the Ryanair before making a mistake and coming down at the penultimate fence; signed off the season with another solid run when runner-up in the Bowl; will be involved if he's at that level but his record fresh isn't too inspiring.
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: 2146-1 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Runner-up to Frodon in this last year before winning the Savills at Leopardstown; possibly struggled with the pace of the Gold Cup when fourth at the Festival and was well held at Punchestown at the end of the campaign; however, it was a solid return to action when landing a Grade 3 at Punchestown last month and he's hard to oppose with a fitness edge over his main rival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Galvin

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Grade 1 chase winner in his prime; not getting any younger and absent since close second in US Grade 1 hurdle in October but came second in non-handicap version of this race in 2023 (soft) and is now 1lb lower than when placed in last season's Grand National; drying ground will probably aid his cause; claims.

4/1

4th

17

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 44y

16:40 Punchestown

Galvin

12st 0lb

T: Gordon Elliott

First reserve; Grade 1-winning chaser was 2nd in a valuable race in USA on last start; a player

4th

17

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 44y

16:40 Punchestown

Galvin

12st 0lb

T: Gordon Elliott

First reserve; Grade 1-winning chaser was 2nd in a valuable race in USA on last start; a player

Form: 1F27P-

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Won the Drinmore at Fairyhouse last term; bounced back from a heavy fall in a Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown when runner-up in a Grade 2 novice at Navan but well below form in two subsequent starts towards the end of the season; talented and goes well fresh but it would be a surprise if he was up to this test.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:00 Taunton

Beacon Edge

11st 12lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: J Newman

Best known as a very talented hurdler, also landing a Grade 1 novice chase in 2021; had jumping issues over fences subsequently and this is his first chase start since 2022; returned from some time off with a point win last month (3m, soft); it remains to be seen how much ability this 12yo retains but he's entitled to considerable respect on his hunter chase debut.

13/8

1st

1

28th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

16:55 Wexford

Beacon Edge

12st 0lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: Gordon Elliott

Winner of nine races; 7-34 record over hurdles, including a four-runner Grade 2 event over 3m at Wetherby last October; ran creditably when seventh in the 26-runner Coral Cup at Cheltenham; down the field at Aintree subsequently; trip is short of his best but he won a stronger race than this over 2m2f at Ballinrobe a year ago; amateur rider, 2-11 over hurdles.

11/8

1

28th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

16:55 Wexford

Beacon Edge

12st 0lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: Gordon Elliott

Winner of nine races; 7-34 record over hurdles, including a four-runner Grade 2 event over 3m at Wetherby last October; ran creditably when seventh in the 26-runner Coral Cup at Cheltenham; down the field at Aintree subsequently; trip is short of his best but he won a stronger race than this over 2m2f at Ballinrobe a year ago; amateur rider, 2-11 over hurdles.

11/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €22.60
Straight Forecast €26.92
Trifecta €72.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Galvin

RP Ratings (IRE):

Conflated

TOPSPEED:

Galvin

POSTDATA:

Galvin

The Irish Sun:

Galvin