The 2024/25 National Hunt Season is underway and Down Royal Racecourse, just eight miles outside of Belfast, hosts one of the early Grade One races in the new campaign. The latest edition of the 3m contest looks set to be a strong once again.
This year will be the 25th renewal of the prestigious race. It is one of the most valuable prizes contested in Northern Ireland in either horse racing code.
Gerri Colombe Likely to Defend His Crown
Irish horse Gerri Colombe established himself as one of the best chasers in the UK and Ireland last season. He finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. He is 12/1 in the bet on horse racing market for the Blue Riband event in the sport.
Gerri Colombe is likely to be one of the leading horse race tips for the 2024 Champion Chase at Down Royal, as he was at his best at this course in 2023. In a four-runner field that included multiple Grade One winners, he prevailed by a neck ahead of Envoi Allen.
The eight-year-old won two Grade One races last season, finishing his campaign with victory in the Aintree Bowl Chase at the Grand National Meeting in Liverpool. He has an official rating of 170 going into the 2024/25 season.
Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins has several horses in his yard that could enter the Champion Chase. All eyes will be on the Irishman to see if he gives dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs his first run of the season at Down Royal.
Roll Of Honour Includes Some National Hunt Greats
Some of the greatest 3m chasers in history have won the Champion Chase at Down Royal, including Kauto Star who was successful in Northern Ireland in 2008 and 2010. Those two appearances were a big boost to the race.
On his debut at Down Royal in 2008, Kauto Star prevailed by 11 lengths. He cruised to success under the hands of Ruby Walsh in a classy performance. Later that season, he regained his crown in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Paul Nicholls-trained chaser returned to the Champion Chase in 2010 where he scored comfortably again by four lengths.
Other greats of the 3m chase division that have won the Champion Chase include Florida Pearl and Beef Or Salmon. Those horses helped establish this contest as one of the highlights of the Jumps calendar.
Strong Supporting Card at Down Royal’s Season Opener
The opening day of Down Royal’s Champion Chase meeting includes a Grade Two hurdles contest over 2m1f. That race is used for horses targeting the Champion Hurdle later in the campaign.
On day two of the meeting, one of the other feature races is a Grade Two chase over 2m3½f. That race, due to its distance, attracts most of the leading 2m and 2m4f horses in the UK and Ireland.
The opening two-day meeting from Down Royal takes place between 1st-2nd November and tickets remain available for both days.
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