14:25 Down Royal

Saturday 31 October 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 41.1s

Alpha Des Obeaux^b,t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| D

40/1

Very smart chaser. 11/1, shaped as if in need of run on return when fading fifth to The Storyteller in Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (24.6f) 17 days ago. Placed in this 12 months ago so not ruled out.

Form: 2/2333-5

Balko Des Flos¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 160

33/1

High-class chaser at best but lightly raced nowadays. 8/1, not disgraced given 11 months off when fourth to The Storyteller in Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (24.6f) 17 days ago. Needs more now though.

Form: 973/44-4

Chris's Dream²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 164| D

5/2

High-class chaser. Landed Grade 2 at Gowran before tenth in Cheltenham Gold Cup (26.3f) where seemed not to get home having travelled strongly to 3 out. Can do better back at 3m so interesting.

Form: 15/P110-

Delta Work^h,t²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 170| C| D

3/1

Top-class chaser. Dual Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown before good fifth of 12 in Cheltenham Gold Cup when didn't jump so well as usual. Course winner and form pick but only fourth here 12 months ago.

Form: 3/14115-

Presenting Percy^t²³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 165| D

3/1

Top-class chaser but only lightly raced. Winless last season but running creditably when falling 2 out in Cheltenham Gold Cup on final run for Patrick Kelly. Worth considering now with new yard.

Form: 18/353F-

Ravenhill¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| D

125/1

Smart chaser. Stiff task when well-beaten sixth of 8 to The Storyteller in Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (24.6f) 17 days ago. This is another tough ask so others appeal more from the Elliott quintet.

Form: 52F1-U6

Snow Falcon²³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 154| C| D

40/1

Smart chaser. Only win last term in Grade 2 at Gowran last October though and ended season below par in Grade 3 Cheltenham handicap in March. Course winner but big step forward needed on comeback.

Form: 615630-

The Storyteller¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 158| C| D

9/2

Very smart chaser who made it 3-5 this season in Grade 3 at Punchestown (24.6f) 17 days ago by 7½l from Tout Est Permis. Not always best of jumpers but holds place claims.

Form: 2-P1121

Tout Est Permis^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 152| D

8/1

Smart chaser who returned with good 7½l second of 8 to The Storyteller in Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (24.6f) 17 days ago. Tongue strap back on but hard to make a case for in this higher grade.

Form: 24453-2

Forecasts

Chris's Dream (5/2), Presenting Percy (3/1), Delta Work (3/1), The Storyteller (9/2), Tout Est Permis (8/1), Balko Des Flos (33/1), Snow Falcon (40/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (40/1), Ravenhill (125/1)

A fascinating renewal of this Grade 1 and it could pay to side with CHRIS'S DREAM who made great strides last term and appeals as the sort to go on again this year with this bare 3m likely to prove ideal. Delta Work rates the form pick of Gordon Elliott's quintet but he could finish only fourth in this 12 months ago so may have to settle for minour honours again with his Presenting Percy.