Racecards
14:25 Down Royal (IRE)
Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Yielding (Yielding to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €125,000 added
- Winner: €75,000
- 2nd: €24,999
- 3rd: €12,500
- 4th: €6,250
- Form 2/2333-5
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey B J Cooper
pushed along briefly early, led and clear, reduced lead approaching 11th, headed approaching 2 out, soon no extra
- Form 973/44-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
chased leader in moderate 2nd, slight mistakes 5th and 10th, took closer order approaching 11th where slightly slow, pushed along and tight for room after 3 out, soon no impression
- Form 15/P110-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 164
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey R M Power
waited with, moderate 7th after 6th, took closer order approaching 11th, soon chased leaders, prominent and travelling smoothly from 3 out, challenged and on terms 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, strongly pressed and kept on well run-in, headed near line
- Form 3/14115-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 170
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
waited with, moderate 5th after 6th, slight mistake 8th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along briefly from 4 out, effort from next, one pace between last 2
- Form 18/353F-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 165
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D F O'Regan
chased leaders, soon moderate 3rd, took closer order approaching 11th, prominent between horses from 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, soon joined and headed, one pace between last 2
- Form 52F1-U6
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mark Walsh
waited with, soon well off pace towards rear, took closer order approaching 11th, soon pushed along briefly, pushed along again in last 4 out, kept on same pace from next
- Form 615630-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 154
waited with, moderate 6th after 6th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along briefly on inner approaching 3 out where slight mistake and pushed along again, no impression when switched left between last 2, one pace
- Form 2-P1121
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
waited with, moderate 8th after 6th, slightly slow 8th, took closer order approaching 11th, challenged and almost on terms between last 2, stayed on well run-in to lead near line
- Form 24453-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
chased leaders, soon moderate 4th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along behind horses after 3 out, not match principals from next, kept on without threatening run-in
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
CHRIS'S DREAM goes best fresh as he showed when landing the hugely-competitive Troytown Handicap at Navan last November. He had three months off before landing a Grade 2 at Gowran but less than a month when well beaten in the Gold Cup. Gordon Elliott is responsible for five of the entries including new recruit Presenting Percy, who fell at the second-last when there with a chance in the Cheltenham classic. He'd twice finished behind Delta Work in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown though wasn't beaten far in either. The latter was a big disappointment in this last year but is obviously a major threat. The Storyteller beat Tout Est Permis in a Punchestown Grade 3 a couple of weeks ago but the 10-times winner takes on the big guns here.
Formwatch
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Disputed lead, headed 6th, led 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, dist behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, headway to chase leaders at 12th, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 34 1/2l behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 18th, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Al Boum Photo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Delta Work (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd and 16th, headway when not much room and switched right after 3 out, stayed on, not trouble leaders, 5th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Al Boum Photo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Presenting Percy 10-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 18th, closed after 3 out, 7th and staying on when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Ravenhill (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) In rear, not fluent 2nd, briefly pushed along at 4th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 6th of 8, dist behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Soon mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before next, never reached leaders, weakened flat, 11th of 23, 15 3/4l behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
The Storyteller (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Towards rear, slight mistake 1st, closer in 5th 3 out, 3rd travelling well entering straight, 2nd and jumped right 2 out, ridden to lead before last, jumped right at last, stayed on well run-in. comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Tout Est Permis (11-2) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tout Est Permis (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, headway into 3rd on inner next, disputed lead travelling well entering straight, led 2 out and soon ridden, headed before last, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 7 1/2l behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.