Gerri Colombe and Jack Kennedy © Photo Healy Racing
The €150,000 Ladbrokes Champion Chase is shaping up to be an exciting renewal with nine quality entries for the opening Grade 1 of the jumps season at Down Royal on Saturday week, November 4.
Gordon Elliott has won this three-mile event four times including with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack and the Cullentra House trainer holds a strong hand with five possibles.
Gerri Colombe, a three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice over fences last term, looks the pick of his quintet and the sponsors certainly agree making him their 11/10 favourite.
Elliott also intends running Conflated, twice a Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown last year and expected to progress from his reappearance at Punchestown this month, while Henry de Bromhead could also supply two big contenders in the shape of Minella Indo and Envoi Allen.
Minella Indo made a winning return in the Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown, with Conflated nearly 20 lengths behind, while Envoi Allen may bid to repeat his win in this race last year if ground conditions are not too testing.
Ladbrokes bet: 11/10 Gerri Colombe, 7/2 Minella Indo, Conflated, Envoi Allen, 10 French Dynamite, 12 Ash Tree Meadow, Gentlemansgame, 16 Delta Work, 33 Run Wild Fred.
