BetVictor Champion Chase

{{short description|Steeplechase horse race in Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox horseraces |class = Grade 1 |horse race = BetVictor Champion Chase |image = |caption = |location = DOwn Royal, County Down Northern Ireland |inaugurated = 1999 |race type = Chase |sponsor = BetVictor |website = [http://www.downroyal.com/ Down Royal] |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 |bonuses = }} {{Jockey colours header | name = Ladbrokes Champion Chase }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2025 | image1 = File:Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg | alt1 = Red, white sash, royal blue cap | caption1 = Envoi Allen | image2 = File:Owner Mr P L Polly.svg | alt2 = Black and red chevrons, black sleeves, red cap, black star | caption2 = Affordale Fury | image3 = File:Owner Weldspec Glasgow Limited.svg | alt3 = White, royal blue stars, red sleeves, white diabolo, white cap, red star | caption3 = Western Fold }} |} {{Jockey colours collapsible header}} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2024 | image1 = File:Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg | alt1 = Red, white sash, royal blue cap | caption1 = Envoi Allen | image2 = File:Owner T J McDonald.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, black seams, striped sleeves and star on cap | caption2 = Hewick | image3 = File:Owner Robcour.svg | alt3 = Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star | caption3 = Gerri Colombe }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2023 | image1 = File:Owner Robcour.svg | alt1 = Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star | caption1 = Gerri Colombe | image2 = File:Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg | alt2 = Red, white sash, royal blue cap | caption2 = Envoi Allen | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption3 = Conflated }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2022 | image1 = File:Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg | alt1 = Red, white sash, royal blue cap | caption1 = Envoi Allen | image2 = File:Owner Kemboy and Brett Graham and Ken Sharp Syndicate.svg | alt2 = Royal blue, yellow disc, yellow diamonds on sleeves, royal blue cap | caption2 = Kemboy | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_white_cap.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap | caption3 = Conflated }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2021 | image1 = File:Owner Mr P J Vogt.svg | alt1 = Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap | caption1 = Frodon | image2 = File:Owner Mr R A Bartlett.svg | alt2 = Dark blue and white diamonds, white sleeves, red cap | caption2 = Galvin | image3 = File:Owner Barry Maloney.svg | alt3 = Maroon, yellow stars, maroon sleeves, striped cap | caption3 = Minella Indo }} {{Jockey colours no footer}} {{Jockey colours named collapsible header | name = 2020-2011 }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2020 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs Pat Sloan_yellow_cap.svg | alt1 = Dark blue, yellow diamond and sleeves, yellow cap, red diamond | caption1 = The Storyteller | image2 = File:Owner Robcour.svg | alt2 = Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star | caption2 = Chris's Dream | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_yellow_cap.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star, white armlets, yellow cap | caption3 = Tout Est Permis }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2019 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_royal_blue_cap.svg | alt1 = MAROON, WHITE star and armlets, ROYAL BLUE cap | caption1 = Road To Respect | image2 = File:Owner Mr Ged Mason.svg | alt2 = White, royal blue epaulettes, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap | caption2 = Clan Des Obeaux | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption3 = Alpha Des Obeaux }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2018 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_yellow_cap.svg | alt1 = Maroon, white star, white armlets, yellow cap | caption1 = Road To Respect | image2 = File:Owner Mrs T K Cooper.svg | alt2 = Royal blue, grey cap | caption2 = Woodland Opera | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_royal_blue_cap.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlets, blue cap | caption3 = Outlander }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2017 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_white_cap.svg | alt1 = Maroon, White star, armlets and cap | caption1 = Outlander | image2 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_royal_blue_cap.svg | alt2 = Maroon, white star and armlets, blue cap | caption2 = Road To Respect | image3 = File:Owner Mr C Jones.svg | alt3 = Maroon and white stripes, maroon cap, white hoop | caption3 = Zabana }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2016 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_royal_blue_cap.svg | alt1 = MAROON, WHITE star and armlets, ROYAL BLUE cap | caption1 = Valseur Lido | image2 = File:Owner Mr Chris Giles.svg | alt2 = Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves, pink cap | caption2 = Silviniaco Conti | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_white_cap.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star, white armlets, white cap | caption3 = Lord Scoundrel }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2015 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt1 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption1 = Don Cossack | image2 = File:Owner The Johnson and Stewart Families.svg | alt2 = Royal blue, red sleeves, white spots, red cap, white spots | caption2 = Rocky Creek | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_white_cap.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap | caption3 = Roi Du Mee }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2014 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_white_cap.svg | alt1 = Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap | caption1 = Road To Riches | image2 = File:Owner The Johnson and Stewart Families.svg | alt2 = Royal blue, red sleeves, white spots, red cap, white spots | caption2 = Rocky Creek | image3 = File:Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg | alt3 = Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap | caption3 = Boston Bob }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2013 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt1 = Maroon, white star and armlets, blue cap | caption1 = Roi Du Mee | image2 = File:Owner A Potts.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap | caption2 = Sizing Europe | image3 = File:Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg | alt3 = Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap | caption3 = Prince De Beauchene }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2012 | image1 = File:Owner Mr R J H Geffen.svg | alt1 = Light blue, dark blue chevrons and sleeves, dark blue and light blue quartered cap | caption1 = Kauto Stone | image2 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud_white_cap.svg | alt2 = Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap | caption2 = First Lieutenant | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption3 = Quito De La Roque }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2011 | image1 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt1 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption1 = Quito De La Roque | image2 = File:Owner A Potts.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap | caption2 = Sizing Europe | image3 = File:Owner Mr C G Roach.svg | alt3 = Red, white cross sashes, hooped sleeves, red cap, white star on cap | caption3 = The Nightingale }} {{Jockey colours no footer}} {{Jockey colours named collapsible header | name = 2010-2001 }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2010 | image1 = File:Owner Mr Clive D Smith.svg | alt1 = Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap | caption1 = Kauto Star | image2 = File:Owner A Potts.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap | caption2 = Sizing Europe | image3 = File:Owner Michael O'Flynn.svg | alt3 = Yellow and red chevrons, hooped cap | caption3 = China Rock }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2009 | image1 = File:Owner Old Moss Farm.svg | alt1 = Yellow, black chevron, check sleeves | caption1 = The Listener | image2 = File:Owner The Stewart Family.svg | alt2 = Black And White (halved), Red Sleeves And Cap | caption2 = My Will | image3 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt3 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption3 = War Of Attrition }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2008 | image1 = File:Owner Mr Clive D Smith.svg | alt1 = Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap | caption1 = Kauto Star | image2 = File:Owner J Stafford.svg | alt2 = Yellow, black spots, yellow cap, white star | caption2 = Light On The Broom | image3 = File:Owner Mr M G St Quinton.svg | alt3 = Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap | caption3 = Knight Legend }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2007 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs A B Yeoman and Mr C R Whittaker.svg | alt1 = Royal blue, beige cross belts | caption1 = Taranis | image2 = File:Owner Braybrook Syndicate.svg | alt2 = Maroon and White stripes, White sleeves, Maroon cap, White spots | caption2 = Justified | image3 = File:Owner J Stafford.svg | alt3 = YELLOW, black spots, yellow cap, white star | caption3 = Light On The Broom }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2006 | image1 = File:Owner Mr B J Craig.svg | alt1 = YELLOW, emerald green seams, green cap | caption1 = Beef Or Salmon | image2 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg | alt2 = MAROON, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star | caption2 = War Of Attrition | image3 = File:Owner Braybrook Syndicate.svg | alt3 = Maroon and White stripes, White sleeves, Maroon cap, White spots | caption3 = Justified }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2004 | image1 = File:Owner Mr B J Craig.svg | alt1 = YELLOW, emerald green seams, green cap | caption1 = Beef Or Salmon | image2 = File:Owner Mr Conor Clarkson.svg | alt2 = PURPLE, white diamond and sleeves, purple cap | caption2 = Kicking King | image3 = File:Owner Cloudy Bay Syndicate.svg | alt3 = BLACK and WHITE STRIPES, quartered cap | caption3 = Cloudy Bays }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2003 | image1 = File:Owner F Bradley.svg | alt1 = Black, red stripe, red cap, yellow star | caption1 = Glenelly Gale | image2 = File:Owner Grand Alliance Racing Club.svg | alt2 = Emerald green,royal blue cross sashes,royal blue sleeves,yellow cap,green spots | caption2 = Arctic Copper | image3 = File:Owner Mrs B Lenihan.svg | alt3 = Red, black stars, red sleeves, red cap, white stars | caption3 = Barrow Drive }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2002 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs D Grehan.svg | alt1 = Blue and white hoops, checked cap | caption1 = More Than A Stroll | image2 = File:Owner Mr Paul K Barber.svg | alt2 = Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap | caption2 = See More Business | image3 = File:Owner Mrs E Queally.svg | alt3 = Grey, maroon triple diamond and seams on sleeves, grey cap, maroon diamonds | caption3 = Give Over }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2001 | image1 = File:Owner Sir Anthony O'Reilly.svg | alt1 = BLACK and WHITE HOOPS, emerald green cap, white star | caption1 = Foxchapel King | image2 = File:Owner Liam Queally.svg | alt2 = LIGHT GREEN and DARK GREEN CHECK, light green sleeves, orange cap | caption2 = Wicked Crack | image3 = File:Owner Mrs Violet O'Leary.svg | alt3 = Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots | caption3 = Florida Pearl }} {{Jockey colours no footer}} {{Jockey colours named collapsible header | name = 2000-1999 }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2000 | image1 = File:Owner T Collins.svg | alt1 = Blue, red epaulets, white sleeves, red chevrons, blue cap, red star | caption1 = Looks Like Trouble | image2 = File:Owner Mr T J Doran.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, red stars, red star on cap | caption2 = Dorans Pride | image3 = File:Owner Nancy Hogan Syndicate.svg | alt3 = Blue, yellow hoop and armlets, maroon and white hooped cap | caption3 = Inis Cara }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 1999 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs Violet O'Leary.svg | alt1 = Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots | caption1 = Florida Pearl | image2 = File:Owner Mr T J Doran.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, red stars, red star on cap | caption2 = Dorans Pride | image3 = File:Owner Richard Upton.svg | alt3 = Dark blue and light blue, check, white sleeves, dark blue cap | caption3 = Ferbet Junior }} {{Jockey colours footer}} The '''BetVictor 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.

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 BetVictor 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jennings |work=Racing Post |first1=David |title=Ladbrokes unveiled as new sponsor of first Grade 1 of jumps season at Down Royal |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/ladbrokes-unveiled-as-new-sponsor-of-first-grade-1-of-jumps-season-at-down-royal/399064 |date=10 September 2019}}</ref> The race has been sponsored by BetVictor since 2025.

==Records== <div style="font-size:90%"> '''Most successful horse (3 wins):''' * Envoi Allen - '' 2022, 2024, 2025 ''

'''Leading jockey (4 wins):''' * Ruby Walsh – ''Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Valseur Lido (2016)''

'''Leading trainer (5 wins):''' * Paul Nicholls – ''Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Kauto Stone (2012), Frodon (2021)'' * Gordon Elliott - ''Roi du Mee (2013), Don Cossack (2015), Outlander (2017), The Storyteller (2020), Gerri Colombe (2023) ''

</div>

==Winners== {| class = "sortable" | border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%" |- bgcolor="#77dd77" align="center" ! '''Winner''' ! width="160px" | '''Winner''' ! width="40px" | '''Age''' ! width="180px" | '''Jockey''' ! width="180px" | '''Trainer''' |- | 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 |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2005 | ''no race 2005'' {{efn|The 2005 edition was abandoned after bomb warnings were telephoned to the racecourse.<ref>{{cite news | title = Racing abandoned in bomb threat | publisher = bbc.co.uk | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4410158.stm | date = November 5, 2005 | access-date = 2009-11-07}}</ref>}} || || || | |- | 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 |- | 2021 | Frodon | 9 | Bryony Frost | Paul Nicholls |- | 2022 | Envoi Allen | 8 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |- | 2023 | Gerri Colombe | 7 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |- | 2024 | Envoi Allen | 10 | Darragh O'Keeffe | Henry de Bromhead |- | 2025 | Envoi Allen | 11 | Darragh O'Keeffe | Henry de Bromhead |} {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

* Racing Post: ** {{Racing Post|274366|1999|11|06|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|293958|2000|11|18|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|308883|2001|11|10|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|324760|2002|11|09|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|341965|2003|11|08|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|361307|2004|11|06|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|417392|2006|11|04|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|441315|2007|11|03|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|466648|2008|11|01|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|491828|2009|11|07|180|down-royal}} ** {{Racing Post|515447|2010|11|06|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|540291|2011|11|05|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|564548|2012|11|03|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|587760|2013|11|02|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|612112|2014|11|01|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|638092|2015|10|31|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|661294|2016|11|05|180|down-royal}}, {{Racing Post|687049|2017|11|04|180}}, {{Racing Post|714102|2018|11|03|180}}, {{Racing Post|742541|2019|11|02|180}} ** {{Racing Post|768990|2020|10|31|180}} * [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/nov/01/horseracing guardian.co.uk] – ''"Kauto Star strides to victory in jnwine.com Champion Chase" (2008).'' * [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=5880 pedigreequery.com] – ''James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase – Down Royal.''

Category:National Hunt races in Ireland Category:National Hunt chases Category:Recurring events established in 1999 Category:Down Royal Racecourse Category:Horse races in Northern Ireland Category:1999 establishments in Northern Ireland