BetVictor Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 6m 13.10s

Affordale Fury²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 150| D

9/2

Smart chaser. 3/1, creditable 4¼ lengths second of 5 to reopposing Western Fold in Navan Grade 2 (20f, soft) on reappearance 28 days ago. Looks vulnerable here.

Form: 2215/2-2

Envoi Allen^t²³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 162| CD

11/4

Has excellent record at this meeting, making it 5 wins in the last 6 years when taking this race for a second time 12 months ago. Not at best when 17½ lengths third to Fact To File in Ryanair at Cheltenham (20.5f, good to soft) when last seen in March but capable of bouncing back with a bang.

Form: 224/1U3-

Flash Collonges^b,t¹⁰⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Harvey| T: R K Watson| OR: 115

300/1

Useful for Paul Nicholls in his prime but nowhere near that level for other yards in 2025. Big outsider.

Form: PP/P8-79

Found A Fifty¹⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 165| C| D

2/1

Triple Grade 2 winner last season, including on reappearance in the following 2½m event on this card. Steps up to 3m for the first time here. The mount of Jack Kennedy from the Gordon Elliott trio.

Form: 1/11P51-

Western Fold²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 157| C| D

9/4

Went 0-5 over fences last season but has been a totally different proposition in the first half of this campaign, winning all 4 starts, including Galway Plate and Gowran Grade 2 (beat reopposing Affordale Fury 4¼ lengths). Further progress needed to extend winning run to 5 but don't rule it out.

Form: 32-1111

Non-Runners

Spillane's Tower¹⁸⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: J J Mangan J: Mark Walsh

Stellar Story¹⁸⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Danny Gilligan

Forecasts

Found A Fifty (2/1), Spillane's Tower (2/1), Western Fold (9/4), Envoi Allen (11/4), Affordale Fury (9/2), Stellar Story (14/1), Flash Collonges (300/1)

ENVOI ALLEN is closing on his 12th birthday but has an outstanding record at this fixture and can bring the house down and become the first 3-time winner of this Grade 1. Spillane's Tower was a little disappointing in the King George and Punchestown Gold Cup on his final 2 outings last season but this 7-y-o still has time on his side and can bounce back and provide the chief threat ahead of Found A Fifty, who steps up to 3m for the first time now.