Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 6m 16.6s

Delta Work^h,t²⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 163| C| D

11/2

Top-class chaser with 8 wins . 5/1, 6½ lengths third of 5 to Kemboy in Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (24.5f, soft), needing stiffer test. First run for 8 months and has more big prizes in him.

Form: 115/5U3-

Frodon^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 167| D

3/1

Top-class chaser. 4/5, didn't need to improve to win 4-runner Oaksey Chase at Sandown (22.8f, good) by neck from Mister Fisher when last seen in April. Likely to give it a good shot from the front.

Form: 4/14151-

Galvin¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 159| D

3/1

High-class chaser. Career best when winning 5-runner Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (23.9f, good to soft) 17 days ago by ½ length from Annamix, driven out. Should have more to offer.

Form: 11111-1

Minella Indo²²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 175| D

5/4

Top-class chaser. Career best when winning 12-runner Cheltenham Gold Cup (9/1) at Cheltenham (26.3f, good to soft) by 1¼ lengths from A Plus Tard in March. Very much the one to beat.

Form: 2/11F41-

Ravenhill³⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| D

125/1

Smart chaser. Six wins from 19 NH runs. 20½ lengths third of 4 to Minella Indo in Grade 2 chase at Navan (24f, heavy) when last seen 11 months ago. Looks up against it.

Form: F1/U683-

Forecasts

Minella Indo (5/4), Frodon (3/1), Galvin (3/1), Delta Work (11/2), Ravenhill (125/1)

This race revolves around Cheltenham Gold Cup hero MINELLA INDO, who will be very hard to beat if resuming in anything like the same form as when landing jump racing's blue riband event in March. He won on his reappearance last season and there's no real reason to believe that he won't be ready to roll first time out again this time round. Galvin is second choice ahead of the admirable Frodon.