BetVictor Champion Chase: runner-by-runner guide

There is something for everyone this weekend, including the first Grade One Jumps race of the season in Britain in the shape of the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal.

This three-mile contest rarely disappoints, featuring many class acts and a string of close finishes in recent years.

A constant in the past three editions has been Envoi Allen, successful in 2022 and last year, while in between he got collared on the line.

He’s also won or been placed six times at the Cheltenham Festival, helping the 11-year-old gain an army of admirers.

One of the usual battles for punters over the months ahead will be avoiding letting hearts rule heads. Envoi Allen provides an early test of that rule, unless of course your head tells you he is going to win, too.

Here’s a guide to the seven runners. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: --. Official rating:  150. Odds: 12-1. 

The 2023 Albert Bartlett Hurdle runner-up has since been lightly raced, indicating he has had a problem or two. We only saw him in action once last term, but he shaped well when chasing home the race fit Western Fold in a tactical affair over 2m 4f at Gowran this month, not least because he had been off eight months and was running over a trip short of his best. He’s entitled to be sharper and stepping back up to 3m should suit, but he does have to back that effort up. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.3. Official rating:  162. Odds: 2-1. 

He’s made this meeting his own, winning five times and being beaten a whisker on another occasion. The 11-year-old is a tad unfortunate not to be chasing a fourth successive victory in this race; winning in 2022 and 2024 either side of being grabbed close home by Gerri Colombe in 2023. 

It goes without saying he excels when fresh and will have been teed up with this day in mind again, but Father Time must be stalking him and it was interesting that Henry De Bromhead has said in the build-up to this race that no concrete plans have been made beyond the weekend. 

Envoi Allen ran only twice more last term, when again disappointing in the King George and then when a distant third in the Ryanair Chase.  He’s going to have to be somewhere near his best to win again. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: --. Official rating:  115. Odds: 250-1. 

Was a leading fancy in the 2023 Scottish Grand National and was still moving well when unlucky to exit in the second half of the race. However, it’s since been all downhill, with two changes of trainer failing to revive his fortunes. I’d imagine connections thought this might cut up (there have been a maximum of five runners for the past four years) and that he may be able to pick up some crumbs from the top table, but that’s not the case. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.7. Official rating:  165. Odds: 11-2. 

He’s made a winning return at this meeting for the past two years, impressing when giving 14lb and a beating to Pinkerton last year over the best part of 2m 4f. He also gave weight and a beating to Super Sam and Blood Destiny at Fairyhouse in April over the same trip. 

Those efforts put him in the mix, but the big question mark hanging over him is his stamina. He’s speedy and not been crying out for 3m, with two Grade One wins as a novice a couple of seasons being gained over 2m. 

When he won here 12 months ago, he covered the last four furlongs in 54.62 sec. Envoi Allen, running over half a mile further, polished them off in 54.28sec. And at Fairyhouse, Found A Fifty looked in need of the line with the rallying Super Sam eating into his lead close home. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: 8.5. Official rating:  163. Odds: 5-2. 

Jimmy Mangan had been making pessimistic noises about Spillane’s Tower running earlier in the week because of the prospect of good ground, but the rain that fell at the track on Thursday will hopefully ensure he lines up. 

He was among the best staying novice chasers the season before last, signing off with Grade One wins at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. And when he began last season with a near-miss in the John Durkan, when splitting Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs after being friendless in the betting (suggesting he would need the run), it looked like he would be a major force in the top contests. 

It did not pan out that way as he failed to make an impact when fifth in the King George – by all accounts he did not enjoy being away from home – and we only saw him once more, when no match for Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Connections have had time to hit the reset button and, still only 7, he has plenty of time on his side. He is a polished jumper, reflected by his RaceiQ data, and right-handed tracks seem to suit him. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: 7. Official rating:  154. Odds: 14-1. 

The mud was flying when he clawed back The Jukebox Man in the 2024 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and his best effort over fences last term came when runner-up in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. That looked an ordinary renewal, though, and he was subsequently well beaten at Punchestown. 

Easy ground or slower seems important for him, and he’s been a non-runner three times when the going has officially ranged between good and yielding. If he’s got a big race in him this season, it might be a long-distance handicap. 

RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.7. Official rating:  157. Odds: 13-2 

It seems odd to think that Western Fold failed to win any of his five races over fences last term because he’s been flawless this term, reeling off four successive victories. 

He readily defied a handicap mark of 148 in the Galway Plate in late July, and had something left in his locker when mastering Affordable Fury and Blood Destiny in Grade Two company at Gowran last time. 

There’s no denying he’s a young horse with momentum, plus his fitness is guaranteed and he remains unexposed over 3m. More improvement is required, but it would be folly to underestimate him. 

Envoi Allen’s record here speaks for itself but, rising 12, he could be vulnerable to younger legs. I’m surprised he is preferred at the top of the betting to SPILLANE’S TOWER and can only assume that is partly down to the latter’s participation being in doubt earlier in the week. His efforts as a novice, coupled with his fine comeback run in the John Durkan last season, make him the one to beat. Found A Fifty should also be in the thick of the action if his stamina holds out.