November 01 / 14.40 Down Royal

14.40

Good

BetVictor Champion Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £78016.53
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 5 runners
ITV4
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BetVictor Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 15/2-2

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
High-class form in staying novice hurdles in the first half of 2023; chase campaign restricted, cut short after Galway win later in year and emerged from long absence with decent second (mistake last) in Fairyhouse rated event in February; after further absence best effort yet over fences in 2m4f Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase at Gowran a month ago, staying on well into second behind race-fit Western Fold; return to 3m a positive but good bit more needed at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Affordale Fury

11st 10lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

A revelation this season; runner-up in a Gowran Grade 2 before chasing home Envoi Allen in Down Royal Grade 1; took advantage of a drop in class when scoring at Thurles; came of age with a terrific effort under a positive ride in the Savills here at Christmas; his race-fitness was possibly a major factor and several of his victims may be closer to peak shape now.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4/1U3- CD

Last run: 233 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
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.
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: /P8-79 D

Last run: 109 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Useful sort for Paul Nicholls early in his career; last win was March 2023; tailed off in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle in July on stable debut and has missed all three engagements since; completely out of his depth here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:40 Down Royal

Flash Collonges

11st 10lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: R K Watson

Useful sort for Paul Nicholls early in his career; last win was March 2023; tailed off in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle in July on stable debut and has missed all three engagements since; completely out of his depth here.

150/1

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:40 Down Royal

Flash Collonges

11st 10lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: R K Watson

Useful sort for Paul Nicholls early in his career; last win was March 2023; tailed off in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle in July on stable debut and has missed all three engagements since; completely out of his depth here.

150/1

Form: 11P51- C

Last run: 194 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
High-class novice, winning 2m Grade 1 Aintree contest, and reappeared at this meeting last year to win 2m4f Grade 2 event before following up in 2m Grade 2 Fortria at Navan; back to 2m4f for career-best on final start of season when landing Grade 2 Fairyhouse contest at Easter, idling late on in testing conditions; first attempt at 3m and major player if staying.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Found A Fifty

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat.

7/4

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Found A Fifty

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February.

33/1

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

Found A Fifty

11st 8lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April.

13/8

Form: 2-1111 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Tremendously progressive 6yo novice comes here seeking a five-timer, notably impressive 2m6f Galway Plate success and (after 66-day break) when beating Affordale Fury with plenty to spare in 2m4f Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase at Gowran last month on ground considered plenty soft (yielding-to-soft); could have even more to offer now returned to 3m although his participation could depend on how much rain arrives.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Western Fold

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive in the first half of the season; won the Galway Plate, beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory; badly hampered and unseated two out in Fairyhouse Grade 1 won by Fleur In The Park.

12/1

8

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Western Fold

11st 10lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive last summer, winning the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good), and a defeat of subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran Park (2m4f, yielding to soft) in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory

10/1

10th

15

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Western Fold

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive last summer, winning the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good), and he beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran Park (2m4f, yielding to soft) in October; good second to Kaid d'Authie at Dublin Racing Festival last time and enters each-way calculations.

12/1

Non-runners

Spillanes Tower, Stellar Story

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €12.40
Straight Forecast €14.50
Trifecta €23.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Western Fold

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Envoi Allen

The Irish Sun:

Spillane's Tower

POSTDATA:

Western Fold

TOPSPEED:

Envoi Allen