Ladbrokes Champion Chase
The Ladbrokes Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.
Grade 1 race | |
Location | DOwn Royal, Co. Down Northern Ireland |
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Inaugurated | 1999 |
Race type | Chase |
Sponsor | Ladbrokes |
Website | Down Royal |
Race information | |
Distance | 3 miles (4,828 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
Weight | 11 st 10 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
Purse | €125,000 (2020) 1st: €73,750 |
2020 | ||
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The Storyteller | Chris's Dream | Tout Est Permis |
Previous years | ||
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2019 | ||
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Road To Respect | Clan Des Obeaux | Alpha Des Obeaux |
2018 | ||
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Road To Respect | Woodland Opera | Outlander |
2017 | ||
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Outlander | Road To Respect | Zabana |
2016 | ||
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Valseur Lido | Silviniaco Conti | Lord Scoundrel |
2015 | ||
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Don Cossack | Rocky Creek | Roi Du Mee |
2014 | ||
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Road To Riches | Rocky Creek | Boston Bob |
2013 | ||
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Roi Du Mee | Sizing Europe | Prince De Beauchene |
2012 | ||
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Kauto Stone | First Lieutenant | Quito De La Roque |
2011 | ||
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Quito De La Roque | Sizing Europe | The Nightingale |
2010-2001 | ||
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2010 | ||
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Kauto Star | Sizing Europe | China Rock |
2009 | ||
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The Listener | My Will | War Of Attrition |
2008 | ||
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Kauto Star | Light On The Broom | Knight Legend |
2007 | ||
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Taranis | Justified | Light On The Broom |
2006 | ||
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Beef Or Salmon | War Of Attrition | Justified |
2004 | ||
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Beef Or Salmon | Kicking King | Cloudy Bays |
2003 | ||
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Glenelly Gale | Arctic Copper | Barrow Drive |
2002 | ||
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More Than A Stroll | See More Business | Give Over |
2001 | ||
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Foxchapel King | Wicked Crack | Florida Pearl |
2000-1999 | ||
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2000 | ||
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Looks Like Trouble | Dorans Pride | Inis Cara |
1999 | ||
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Florida Pearl | Dorans Pride | Ferbet Junior |
The event was established in 1999, and it was initially contested over 3 miles and 1 furlong. It was cut to its present distance in 2000, and given Grade 1 status in 2002.
The Ladbrokes Champion Chase is now the first Grade 1 event of the Irish National Hunt season. It was sponsored by JNwine.com (James Nicholson Wine Merchant) from its inception until the 2018 running. Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2019.[1]
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Beef or Salmon – 2004, 2006
- Kauto Star - 2008, 2010
- Road to Respect - 2018, 2019
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Ruby Walsh – Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Valseur Lido (2016)
Leading trainer (4 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Kauto Stone (2012)
- Gordon Elliott - Roi Du Mee (2013), Don Cossack (2015), Outlander (2017), The Storyteller (2020)
Winners
Winner |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
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1999 | Florida Pearl | 7 | Paul Carberry | Willie Mullins |
2000 | Looks Like Trouble | 8 | Richard Johnson | Noel Chance |
2001 | Foxchapel King | 8 | David Casey | Mouse Morris |
2002 | More Than a Stroll | 10 | Conor O'Dwyer | Arthur Moore |
2003 | Glenelly Gale | 9 | Conor O'Dwyer | Arthur Moore |
2004 | Beef or Salmon | 8 | Timmy Murphy | Michael Hourigan |
no race 2005 [lower-alpha 1] | ||||
2006 | Beef or Salmon | 10 | Andrew McNamara | Michael Hourigan |
2007 | Taranis | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2008 | Kauto Star | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2009 | The Listener | 10 | Andrew McNamara | Nick Mitchell |
2010 | Kauto Star | 10 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2011 | Quito de la Roque | 7 | Davy Russell | Colm Murphy |
2012 | Kauto Stone | 6 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls |
2013 | Roi du Mee | 8 | Bryan Cooper | Gordon Elliott |
2014 | Road to Riches | 7 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
2015 | Don Cossack | 8 | Bryan Cooper | Gordon Elliott |
2016 | Valseur Lido | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Henry de Bromhead |
2017 | Outlander | 9 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
2018 | Road to Respect | 7 | Sean Flanagan | Noel Meade |
2019 | Road to Respect | 8 | Sean Flanagan | Noel Meade |
2020 | The Storyteller | 9 | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott |
- The 2005 edition was abandoned after bomb warnings were telephoned to the racecourse.[2]
References
- Jennings, David (10 September 2019). "Ladbrokes unveiled as new sponsor of first Grade 1 of jumps season at Down Royal". Racing Post.
- "Racing abandoned in bomb threat". bbc.co.uk. November 5, 2005. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- Racing Post:
- guardian.co.uk – "Kauto Star strides to victory in jnwine.com Champion Chase" (2008).
- pedigreequery.com – James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase – Down Royal.