JNwine.com Champion Chase Odds and Preview – Horse Racing Betting November 3

Bank on Balko at Down Royal

Horse Racing Betting

Though there is a blurred line about when the National Hunt season begins and ends, the JNwine.com Champion Chase is the first big race of the winter in the UK and Ireland to carry Grade One status. Run at Down Royal over three miles for horses aged five years or older, it is probably an exaggeration to claim it is a trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but is the first step in a long season for many a classy chaser, though it’s disappointing that there are no challengers from the UK this year.

Race History

First run in 1999, the enigmatic Florida Pearl won the inaugural running of the contest and went on to become one of Ireland’s best 3m chasers. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding won four Irish Hennessy titles and also the 2001 King George VI Chase at Kempton. Looks Like Trouble won in 2000 after he had already landed the Cheltenham Gold Cup earlier in the year and Paul Nicholls’ superstar Kauto Star stormed to success in 2008 and 2010.

Past Winners of the JNwine Champion Chase

  • 2017 – Outlander
  • 2016 – Valseur Lido
  • 2015 – Don Cossack
  • 2014 – Road To Riches
  • 2013 – Roi Du Mee
  • 2012 – Kauto Stone
  • 2011 – Quito De La Roque
  • 2010 – Kauto Star
  • 2009 – The Listener
  • 2008 – Kauto Star
  • 2007 – Taranis
  • 2006 – Beef Or Salmon
  • 2005 – No Race
  • 2004 – Beef Or Salmon
  • 2003 – Glenelly Gale
  • 2002 – More Than a Stroll

JNwine.com Champion Chase Trends

  • Twelve of the last 16 winners had previously won a race over at least 3m over fences
  • Thirteen of the last 16 winners had won at least five times over fences before
  • Twelve of the last 16 winners were aged eight or older
  • 12 of the last 16 winners had finished 1st or 2nd in their previous race
  • Six of the last 10 winners were having their first run of the season

Just seven runners in this year’s renewal and only four trainers represented. Henry De Bromhead, Gordon Elliott and Jessica Harrington all have two runners with one from the Noel Meade yard. Surprisingly, no Willie Mullins chaser has made the final declaration.

Outlander (a best 9/1) is bidding for back-to-back victories having pulled off a 16/1 shock last season. He beat Road To Respect (a general 15/8 this year) by half-a-length with Sub Lieutenant (5/1 with William Hill) only fifth. Road To Respect later had his revenge in the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown, however, and Sub Lieutenant beat him in the Daily Star Chase at Punchestown last month.

BALKO DES FLOS can be the star turn this year as he won the Galway Plate on his reappearance last season so a recent absence shouldn’t be a problem. Only headed on the run-in when second to Road To Respect in last year’s Christmas Chase, he might prove the pick of the Gigginstown quintet this time with the ground riding fast at Down Royal for this time of year – the seven-year-old is a stand-out 9/4 with Ladbrokes.

JNwine.com Champion Chase Current Best Odds

Road To Respect 15/8, Balko Des Flos 9/4, Sub Lieutenant 5/1, Outlander 9/1, Don Poli and Woodland Opera 20/1, Sandymount Duke 50/1
(Odds Correct at 3.00pm November 2)