Ladbrokes Champion Chase: Runner-by-runner guide to Down Royal's showpeice

That didn’t take long, did it?

The first Grade One prize of the National Hunt season is here already and a fascinating field of five line up for the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, the highlight of the season at Down Royal and the centre-piece of the two-day Ladbrokes Festival Of Racing.

Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Kauto Star and Don Cossack feature among the rich roll of honour and several contenders this time have aspirations for the most prestigious steeplechase of them all before their seasonal returns this weekend.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott. General odds: 20-1.

This admirable campaigner suffered bleeding problems and was lightly-raced for Mouse Morris but has taken his form to a higher and more consistent level since joining Gordon Elliott, often jumping well and responding generously at the finish.

He is sure to make the running here and, while a searing test from flag-fall seems unlikely, there will be several prominent runners in behind and the nine-year-old will keep his rivals honest at the head of affairs.

On official ratings, Alpha Des Obeaux has the most to find but he seems very reliable these days and ran a good race in Grade Three company at Punchestown last time out. He is also race-fit which will be an advantage here.

With five runners, each-way betting is unattractive here but despite class concerns, he does looks a shade over-priced at 20-1. Do not be surprised if he outruns his odds.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. General odds: 9-4.

This progressive chaser had a fine campaign last season, rattling home in the Betfair Chase on his return before a very smooth and impressive success in the King George.

That form is probably the best on offer here and he ran a noble race in the Gold Cup, a test that perhaps just stretches him, before another good effort at Aintree just three weeks later.

A very good jumper and strong traveller, he showed tenacity and inherent ability when running on empty in the closing stages at the spring festivals and that is a positive given he is not likely to be cherry-ripe here - he improved a good deal from Haydock to Kempton last season.

Paul Nicholls has won the Ladbrokes Champion Chase four times and has a fine record at Down Royal, with 11 wins from 22 runners at the track.

Trainer: _Gordon Elliott. _General odds: 15-8.

A three-time Grade Over winner over fences, this is a big day for the young chaser on his first start in open company.

He has it to prove stepping out of novice company, but the way he goes through races suggests he has plenty of class.

When he gets his fences right, he genuinely takes lengths out of his rivals and can then accelerate quickly away from his obstacles. He is pretty good already but it’s the prospect of more to come which is particularly exciting.

He does make jumping errors, most notably at Cheltenham in last season’s RSA Chase, yet he travelled well into the straight and closed all the way to the line after being denied a run late on. His finishing resolution is a hallmark and a trait displayed in Grade One company last term too at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.

Delta Work signed off in fine style at the Punchestown Festival and his rivals were there were of a useful standard. It is no coincidence that was his most fluid jumping performance and if he can back that up for the first time over fences, we can get genuinely excited about what this horse could potentially achieve.

Trainer: Noel Meade. General odds: 7-2.

This classy operator was a fantastic winner of this race last year, and by no less than 16 lengths after particularly positive vibes from Noel Meade and jockey Sean Flanagan beforehand.

Similar noises have been quieter this time and, despite a race record which boasts three Grade One victories over fences, Road To Respect has never absolutely convinced in the jumping department.

You could argue he was a bit unlucky on occasions last season – particularly when slipping twice in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas and then just denied in the Irish Gold Cup on lively ground – but his jumping does put him on the back foot and you would just like to see him take a cut at his fences and carry more momentum in races.

He is an honest stayer and finds plenty at the finish, though that visual impression could be exaggerated given the ground he tends to concede on the way round at his obstacles.

He is a very solid and very decent chaser, though is he vulnerable to the younger and potentially more classy pair at the head of the market?

Trainer: Noel Meade. General odds: 8-1.

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Snow Falcon boats pretty good form figures over jumps in October and November and this is certainly his time of year.

He won at Down Royal on this card last season and this multiple Grade 2 scorer is worth a try at this level given the likely set-up, while he is race-fit after a good effort in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran last time.

An exuberant jumper, he can throw in the odd howler and convinces more at two and a half miles rather than three over fences. He made a bad mistake at half-way in the Champion Chase at Punchestown over that trip, but still looked to be travelling quite nicely before fading pretty badly in the straight.

A fine servant for connections, he is likeable and in good form, yet his profile doesn’t wholly convince in this context. Place money would not be a bad return at all.

This is a big test for Delta Work, but there’s no disputing his raw ability and another jumping performance similar to Punchestown could make him a tough nut to crack despite the inclusion of CLAN DES OBEAUX.

However, the Paul Nicholls runner rates the call at the current prices given his form last season and greater experience over fences. His jumping is absolutely proven, too.

Alpha Des Obeaux is the 20-1 outsider, but he will have the run of things out in front and can take third to continue his good run for the Elliott team.