Can Envoi Allen bag a third win in the race?
Envoi Allen faces six rivals as he bids to become the most-successful horse in the history of the Champion Chase with three wins at Down Royal on Saturday.
Henry de Bromhead’s veteran gelding rallied to regain the crown in last year’s thrilling renewal and is seen for the first time since placing third in the Ryanair Chase in March.
A stack of younger rivals present a fresh test for Envoi Allen including Jimmy Mangan’s exciting Spillane’s Tower and Noel Meade’s lightly raced Affordale Fury.
Gordon Elliott’s team are the main dangers, however, as classy chaser Found A Fifty, progressive Galway Plate hero Western Fold and Stellar Story, the 2024 Albert Bartlett winner, are in the mix.
Flash Collonges, rated a lowly 115 over fences, completes the field for Saturday’s 14:40.
Find Champion Chase odds on the Paddy Power website and app, otherwise, Timeform’s guide to the runners and betting tips are below.
Champion Chase 2025 verdict
Timeform: ENVOI ALLEN is closing on his 12th birthday but has an outstanding record at this fixture and can bring the house down and become the first 3-time winner of this Grade 1. Spillane’s Tower was a little disappointing in the King George and Punchestown Gold Cup on his final 2 outings last season but this 7-y-o still has time on his side and can bounce back and provide the chief threat ahead of Found A Fifty, who steps up to 3m for the first time now.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Champion Chase 2025 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Champion Chase 2025.
Affordale Fury
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: Donagh Meyler Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Smart chaser. 3/1, creditable 4¼ lengths second of 5 to reopposing Western Fold in Navan Grade 2 (20f, soft) on reappearance 28 days ago. Looks vulnerable here.
**
Envoi Allen
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 11 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Has excellent record at this meeting, making it 5 wins in the last 6 years when taking this race for a second time 12 months ago. Not at best when 17½ lengths third to Fact To File in Ryanair at Cheltenham (20.5f, good to soft) when last seen in March but capable of bouncing back with a bang.
*****
Flash Collonges
Trainer: R. K. Watson Jockey: Alex Harvey Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Useful for Paul Nicholls in his prime but nowhere near that level for other yards in 2025. Big outsider.
*
Found A Fifty
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Triple Grade 2 winner last season, including on reappearance in the following 2½m event on this card. Steps up to 3m for the first time here. The mount of Jack Kennedy from the Gordon Elliott trio.
***
Spillane’s Tower
Trainer: James Joseph Mangan Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Won 2 Grade 1 novices chases in spring 2024 and improved again when splitting Fact To File and Galopin des Champs in Grade 1 John Durkan on return last November. Didn’t manage to reproduce that level in just 2 subsequent outings last season but he’ll be a major threat to Envoi Allen if back to best.
****
Stellar Story
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Danny Gilligan Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Smart novice chaser at around 3m last season but will need to raise his game is he’s to make a significant impact in open Grade 1 company this season.
**
Western Fold
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Sam Ewing Age: 6 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Went 0-5 over fences last season but has been a totally different proposition in the first half of this campaign, winning all 4 starts, including Galway Plate and Gowran Grade 2 (beat reopposing Affordale Fury 4¼ lengths). Further progress needed to extend winning run to 5 but don’t rule it out.
***
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