Ladbrokes Champion Chase
Grade 1, Down Royal 14:40
€150,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus, 3m   
Saturday 2nd November 2024

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1 Envoi Allen 3/1
2 Hewick 4/1
3 Gerri Colombe 8/11F
5 ran Distances: ½l, 13l, 6l
Time: 6m 4.10s (slow by 19.10s)

2022 winner Envoi Allen had to settle for second behind Gerri Colombe last year, but this time the favourite was beaten a long way out under Sam Ewing as King George VI Chase winner Hewick set a fierce pace to test his rivals' fitness.

For a moment, it looked like Hewick had them all in trouble, but Envoi Allen drew alongside at the second last and took the lead before the final obstacle. Hewick fought back valiantly but couldn't regain the lead from the gallant Envoi Allen, who was winning for the first time since the Ryanair Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. The margin was half a length, with 13 lengths back to Gerri Colombe in third.

Winning jockey Darragh O'Keeffe said, "He's been some horse for connections. He loves this place and loves coming to the races fresh. Delighted he got the job done. It's great to get the chance to ride him; it's unfortunate Rachael (Blackmore) is out injured, but I'm very grateful for her advice. The plan was to follow Gerri Colombe, but Hewick put it up to everyone from the start. I could see jumping the fourth last that Sam (Ewing, aboard Gerri Colombe) was going as quick as he could and missed a couple of fences. So my plan was to come with one run; I missed the last fence and gave Hewick another chance, but my fellow showed a good attitude from the back of the last to put his head down. Delighted and very grateful to connections for the chance; it seems a long time since I rode A Plus Tard in the Savills, so delighted to win another Grade One."

A delighted Henry de Bromhead said, "It was brilliant, and he is just a class horse. Everyone at home has done such a great job. Obviously, it's a shame for Rachael, but delighted for Darragh, he gave him a super ride and has really stepped up. Fair play to him, he's taking his opportunities. Cheveley Park (Stud, owners) are tremendous supporters of ours and the game, so delighted for them as well."

When asked if this could have been the best performance of his three runs in this race, De Bromhead said, "Possibly, fair point. He was brilliant and jumped great. He travelled so well. Probably better ground than last year, I would have said as well. That would have helped us. I thought when we got under the last, we were going to get done again, but he battled really well. I must say I thought Darragh was brilliant on him. He's 10 now, so we'll see about future plans. That King George keeps coming back into my head; I feel we have unfinished business there. I need to speak to Cheveley Park and see what everyone would like to do. He was going to run at Christmas (in Savills Chase last year), but I think the ground just went very testing in Leopardstown."

A proud Shark Hanlon said of the runner-up, "He's one of those horses that has to have nice ground. I've said for the last couple of months that I think he's better than he was last year, and I'm looking forward to Christmas now or Cheltenham in March. The horse that won today was the one I was afraid of, but I'm just disappointed with the ground; Jordan said it was definitely yielding. Jordan said he felt the best he ever felt, the horse. I'm very proud of him; he's a little horse. He handles soft ground, but he's better on good ground, and he showed that again today. The only reason I don't run him on soft ground is the fences look so big to him, and I'm trying to mind him. He's a right little horse and a great horse to have. It gives everyone a big lift; we're after going through very tough times. I don't know about Kempton; I'd rather go to Leopardstown. If the ground was good, I'd be very happy to stay at home."

Gordon Elliott said of Gerri Colombe, "He seems to be okay after the race. I was disappointed. To me, he never looked happy. Sam said he got very tired at the end. We'll get him home and see how he is, but he definitely didn't run his race because he didn't finish out. We're about a fortnight behind where we were last year; I didn't get him away, but I'm not blaming fitness. For me, that wasn't fitness; he was beat with a circuit to go. We'll get him home and check, and hopefully, something will show up, and we'll go from there, but we'll go the same route. Leopardstown at Christmas is the plan."

BetGoodwin

Ladbrokes Champion Steeplechase
€150,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m
5 ran
Going: Good to Yielding

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Envoi Allen 10 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 3/1
2 ½ Hewick 9 11-10 John Joseph Hanlon Jordan Gainford 4/1
3 13 Gerri Colombe 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 8/11F
4 6 Visionarian 9 11-10 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 28/1
5 3¼ Delta Work 11 11-10 Gordon Elliott Donagh Meyler 28/1

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