RacingBetter News
	Wednesday 8th October 2025

The Past Three Winners of the Champion Chase at Down Royal

First run in 1999 and upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2002, the Champion Chase at Down Royal has grown into a marquee autumn contest. Its timing and prestige make it an early barometer for trainers and horses setting ambitions for the season ahead.

Past winners read like a who’s who of jump racing legends: Kauto Star, Beef Or Salmon, Don Cossack, and more recently, Gerri Colombe. The race is also seen as a springboard - a strong showing here can raise expectations for later targets like the King George VI Chase or Cheltenham.

With the fixture’s former champions in mind – let’s take a look at the past three winners of the three-mile contest as those who have wagers on Irish meetings dissect the horse racing odds and get prepared for the 2025 renewal on Saturday, November 1.

2024 - Envoi Allen

In a pulsating season‑opener for Irish National Hunt racing, Envoi Allen surged to victory in the Champion Chase at Down Royal, edging out Hewick in a gripping final stretch to reclaim the Grade 1 prize.
From the off, Hewick, fresh from a King George VI victory, set the pace, taking the lead past the stands.

Meanwhile, Gerri Colombe looked dangerous early on. However, as the field turned for home, he began to fade. In the closing stages, Envoi Allen, under Darragh O’Keeffe, closed in relentlessly. Hewick rallied, but Envoi Allen had the edge — winning by about half a length.

Regular jockey Rachael Blackmore was sidelined through injury, making O’Keeffe’s performance even more impressive.

Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe, who entered as the favourite, could only manage third, about 13 lengths off the pace.

2023 - Gerri Colombe

Heavy rain in the run‑up forced the Down Royal meeting to be postponed, with the card eventually rearranged for 10–11 November. When raceday arrived, the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase drew a small but elite field of four over three miles.

From the start, the quartet raced tightly together, each refusing to yield an inch. Trainer Gordon Elliott had two runners — Gerri Colombe and Conflated — while Henry de Bromhead saddled Envoi Allen and Minella Indo.

As the field turned for home, Minella Indo was the first to drop away. Up front, Conflated made a move, jumping left at the second last and momentarily inconveniencing his stablemate Gerri Colombe.

At the final fence, Conflated and Envoi Allen jumped nearly in tandem, with Envoi Allen perhaps carrying the momentum. But Gerri Colombe, under jockey Jack Kennedy, had vision and stamina in reserve. He switched to the outside in the closing strides and, in a finish worthy of a spring festival, edged up to hit the front in the shadow of the post — winning by a neck from Envoi Allen. Conflated was just a length further back in third.

2022 – Envoi Allen

The Champion Chase is always a high‑profile feature at Down Royal, but in 2022 the runup was especially dramatic. Heavy rain in the lead‑in days had threatened the meeting, and at one point the fixture was under serious doubt. The downpour left the course sodden, but stewards and track officials held firm, rescheduling and working to ensure the show would go on.

On the day, five top chasers lined up over 3 miles, tackling 16 fences on a soft surface. Among them were Kemboy, Conflated, Galvin, Beacon Edge, and of course eventual winner Envoi Allen.

As the field set off, Kemboy adopted a forward role, making the running. He looked to exploit his more recent form over longer trips and under headgear. Behind him, Conflated chased, doing well considering a layoff of seven months.

Envoi Allen, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, was held more patiently in the early stages, judged to benefit from a more measured ride over this extended trip.

As the race entered its critical phase between the last two fences, Envoi Allen surged. He took the lead after the penultimate fence and, in the final furlongs, asserted decisively. Despite efforts from Kemboy, who refused to yield without a fight, Envoi Allen held on to win by 1¾ lengths.

Conflated ran on for third, four and a half lengths back, while Galvin, the favourite, produced an uncharacteristically poor showing, finishing a distant fourth. Beacon Edge lagged behind in fifth.