BetVictor Champion Chase
(Redirected from Ladbrokes Champion Chase)
| Class | Grade 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | DOwn Royal, County Down Northern Ireland |
| Inaugurated | 1999 |
| Race type | Chase |
| Sponsor | BetVictor |
| Website | Down Royal |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3 miles (4,828 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 10 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | €125,000 (2020) 1st: €73,750 |
| 2025 | ||
| Red, white sash, royal blue cap | Black and red chevrons, black sleeves, red cap, black star | White, royal blue stars, red sleeves, white diabolo, white cap, red star |
| Envoi Allen | Affordale Fury | Western Fold |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||
| Red, white sash, royal blue cap | Emerald green, black seams, striped sleeves and star on cap | Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star |
| Envoi Allen | Hewick | Gerri Colombe |
| 2023 | ||
| Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star | Red, white sash, royal blue cap | Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star |
| Gerri Colombe | Envoi Allen | Conflated |
| 2022 | ||
| Red, white sash, royal blue cap | Royal blue, yellow disc, yellow diamonds on sleeves, royal blue cap | Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap |
| Envoi Allen | Kemboy | Conflated |
| 2021 | ||
| Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap | Dark blue and white diamonds, white sleeves, red cap | Maroon, yellow stars, maroon sleeves, striped cap |
| Frodon | Galvin | Minella Indo |
| 2000-1999 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| Blue, red epaulets, white sleeves, red chevrons, blue cap, red star | Emerald green, red stars, red star on cap | Blue, yellow hoop and armlets, maroon and white hooped cap |
| Looks Like Trouble | Dorans Pride | Inis Cara |
| 1999 | ||
| Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots | Emerald green, red stars, red star on cap | Dark blue and light blue, check, white sleeves, dark blue cap |
| Florida Pearl | Dorans Pride | Ferbet Junior |
The BetVictor Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.
The event was established in 1999, and it was initially contested over 3 miles and 1 furlong. It was cut to its present distance in 2000, and given Grade 1 status in 2002.
The BetVictor Champion Chase is now the first Grade 1 event of the Irish National Hunt season. It was sponsored by JNwine.com (James Nicholson Wine Merchant) from its inception until the 2018 running. Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2019.[1] The race has been sponsored by BetVictor since 2025.
Records
[edit | edit source]Most successful horse (3 wins):
- Envoi Allen - 2022, 2024, 2025
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Ruby Walsh – Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Valseur Lido (2016)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Kauto Stone (2012), Frodon (2021)
- Gordon Elliott - Roi du Mee (2013), Don Cossack (2015), Outlander (2017), The Storyteller (2020), Gerri Colombe (2023)
Winners
[edit | edit source]| Winner |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Florida Pearl | 7 | Paul Carberry | Willie Mullins |
| 2000 | Looks Like Trouble | 8 | Richard Johnson | Noel Chance |
| 2001 | Foxchapel King | 8 | David Casey | Mouse Morris |
| 2002 | More Than a Stroll | 10 | Conor O'Dwyer | Arthur Moore |
| 2003 | Glenelly Gale | 9 | Conor O'Dwyer | Arthur Moore |
| 2004 | Beef Or Salmon | 8 | Timmy Murphy | Michael Hourigan |
| no race 2005 [a] | ||||
| 2006 | Beef Or Salmon | 10 | Andrew McNamara | Michael Hourigan |
| 2007 | Taranis | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2008 | Kauto Star | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2009 | The Listener | 10 | Andrew McNamara | Nick Mitchell |
| 2010 | Kauto Star | 10 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | Quito de la Roque | 7 | Davy Russell | Colm Murphy |
| 2012 | Kauto Stone | 6 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls |
| 2013 | Roi du Mee | 8 | Bryan Cooper | Gordon Elliott |
| 2014 | Road to Riches | 7 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
| 2015 | Don Cossack | 8 | Bryan Cooper | Gordon Elliott |
| 2016 | Valseur Lido | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2017 | Outlander | 9 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2018 | Road to Respect | 7 | Sean Flanagan | Noel Meade |
| 2019 | Road to Respect | 8 | Sean Flanagan | Noel Meade |
| 2020 | The Storyteller | 9 | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott |
| 2021 | Frodon | 9 | Bryony Frost | Paul Nicholls |
| 2022 | Envoi Allen | 8 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2023 | Gerri Colombe | 7 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2024 | Envoi Allen | 10 | Darragh O'Keeffe | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2025 | Envoi Allen | 11 | Darragh O'Keeffe | Henry de Bromhead |
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- Racing Post:
- guardian.co.uk – "Kauto Star strides to victory in jnwine.com Champion Chase" (2008).
- pedigreequery.com – James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase – Down Royal.