Staged at Down Royal racecourse in Ireland this Saturday’s (31st October 2020) Ladbrokes Champion Chase (formerly the JNwine.com Chase) always attracts some of the best chasers from both England and Ireland.
Run over 3m the Grade 1 contest has been won by greats such as Kauto Star, Beef Or Salmon, Looks Like Trouble and Florida Pearl in the past. With top UK trainer Paul Nicholls winning 4 of the last 13 renewals then anything he sends across the Irish Sea should be respected, while the powerful Gordon Elliott camp have also saddled three of the last 7 winners.
Also note the Noel Meade stable, as they have landed three of the last six renewals, including the last two runnings with Road To Respect, but isn’t entered in the 2020 race, while it’s a race the Gigginstown House Stud horses have done very well in recently – they’ve won ALL of the last seven runnings!
Here at RACING AHEAD we are on hand with all the key stats head of the 2020 renewal – this year run on Saturday 31st October 2020
Recent Ladbrokes Champion Chase Winners
2019 – ROAD TO RESPECT (5/2)
2018 – ROAD TO RESPECT (6/4 fav)
2017 – OUTLANDER (16/1)
2016 – VALSEUR LIDO (2/1 fav)
2015 – DON COSSACK (2/11 fav)
2014 – ROAD TO RICHES (9/2)
2013 – ROI du MEE (12/1)
2012 – KAUTO STONE (4/1)
2011 – QUITO de la ROQUE (11/4 fav)
2010 – KAUTO STAR (4/7 fav)
2009 – THE LISTENER (7/1)
2008 – KAUTO STAR (2/5 fav)
2007 – TARANIS (10/11 fav)
2006 – BEEF OR SALMON (11/4)
2005 – No Race
2004 – BEEF OR SALMON (Evs)
2003 – GLENELLY GALE (7/1)
2002 – MORE THAN A STROLL (20/1)
2001 – FOXCHAPEL KING (4/1)
Key Ladbrokes Champion Chase Betting Trends
16/18 – Had won at least a Grade 2 Chase before
14/18 – Had won at least 5 times over fences before
14/18 – Had won over at least 3m over fences before
13/18 – Aged 8 or older
13/18 – Winning distance 2 ½ lengths or more
12/18 – Returned 9/2 or shorter in the betting
11/18 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
11/18 – Had won a Grade 1 Chase before
9/18 – Having their first run of the season (including 8 of last 12 winners)
9/18 – Had run at Down Royal before
8/18 – Won by a Gigginstown House Stud-owned horse (all of last 7)
8/18 – Winning favourites
5/18 – Raced at Aintree last time out
4/18 – Raced at Limerick last time out
4/18 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
4/18 – Won their last race
3/18 – Trained by Gordon Elliott (3 of the last 7)
3/18 – Trained by Noel Meade (3 of last 6)
The average winning SP in the last 18 runnings is 5/1
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: A race that trainers Noel Meade and Gordon Elliott have dominated in recent years – winning 6 of the last 7 renewals between them. They are both well represented again this Saturday too, with Meade running Snow Falcon and Tout Est Permis, while Elliot is mob-handed too with last season’s Gold Cup fifth – Delta Work, Presenting Percy and The Storyteller – a trio that all figure prominently in the betting. However, CHRIS’S DREAM is the other high-profile horse to mention for the Henry De Bromhead yard, that won this in 2016, and they could spoil the party for Meade and Elliott. This 8 year-old was last seen running down the field (10th) in the Gold Cup though so needs to bounce back, but probably just didn’t quite get home that day so the drop back in trip will help. He was running well in the Gold Cup until tiring in the closing stages and really that 18 length defeat that day probably looks a bit worse than it actually was. He’s a horse that’s gone well fresh in the past too and it’s interesting that jockey Robbie Power makes the trip over to ride as he’s predominantly based in the UK at the moment. Presenting Percy makes his debut for Elliott and is certainly a big player if back to his best, but he’s a horse that’s been plagued by issues in the last few seasons, but was running a big race until falling two out in the Gold Cup last time so clearly has more to give. Delta Work was a fair 5th in that Gold Cup and on that form is probably the one to beat. He represents the Gigginstown House Stud too and they’ve won this race for the last seven years! He’s the top-rated in the field at 170 too and is also a course winner – it’s hard to crab his chance, but I’ve not totally bought into him just yet. But of the Elliott runners their THE STORTYTELLER has had a resurgence of form of late and might be fitter than some after two runs already in October – he rates the danger to the selection. He bolted-up at Punchestown last time out too – beating Tout Est Permis by 7 lengths. He’s a bit to find on the ratings, but this might be good time to take on the likes of Delta Work, Percy and Chris’s, with all three back from a break.
