The first Grade 1 chase of the season sees last season’s first and second lock horns once again.

And if we can get a repeat of last season’s race, we are in for a treat.

Here, I will give my thoughts on all five runners and the best online bookmaker to make your Ladbrokes Champion Chase bet a winning one.

Ladbrokes Champion Chase runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the Ladbrokes Champion Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

3 Gerri Colombe

• Age: 8
• Weight: 11st 10lb
• Form: /1221-
• Rating: 170
• Jockey: Sam Ewing
• Trainer: Gordon Elliott
• Odds: 4/6

Gerri Colombe, last season’s winner, will aim to become only the second horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Ladbrokes Champion Chase.

He was victorious by a neck last season when he somehow found extra gear after jumping the last running down-course specialist, Envoi Allen.

Two second-place finishes behind Galopin Des Champs in the Grade 1 Savills Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup follow. But it was back at Aintree where he got back in the score sheet with a length win over Ahoy Senor.

There is a slight worry about the ground with Gerri Colombe, but if he is forward enough for his return, he should have more than enough to take care of an ageing Envoi Allen and Hewick.

The clear form pick.

Last season’s winner
Top level Grade 1 chaser
Still in his prime

The ground is a slight worry

Star rating:

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2 Envoi Allen

• Age: 10
• Weight: 11st 10lb
• Form: /3224-
• Rating: 163
• Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
• Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
• Odds: 3/1

It’s fair to say that Envoi Allen is in the twilight of his career, but he comes alive around Down Royal.

From five runs at Down Royal, Envoi Allen has won four times, with his only defeat coming in last season running at the hands of Gerri Colombe.

At the ripe old age of 10, I’m sure Henry will have him primed and ready to try to win back his Down Royal crown.

This may be Envoi Allen’s only chance to win a Grade 1 this season, and he will give it his all to get back in the winner’s enclosure.

But he may have to settle for second best once again.

Four from five at Down Royal
His time of year

Hasn’t won since winning the 2022 running of this
He’s now a rising 11

Star rating:

Bet on Envoi Allen with BetMGM

4 Hewick

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 10lb
• Form: 163-23
• Rating: 165
• Jockey: Jordon Gainford
• Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon
• Odds: 13/2

Supplemented for €15,000, Hewick adds another layer to the Ladbrokes Champion Chase.

He has race fitness on his side after finishing third behind French Dynamite and Minella Indo at Punchestown last month, but that was even a disappointing run when all is considered.

All be it that he is a King George VI winner, for me, he is a horse that I am always willing to take on.

The form of his win in the King George is suspect as Bravemansgame has not won since December of 2022 (runs in the Charlie Hall today). Allaho, who was in third, was not the horse he had been before his nearly two year lay off, as well as the fourth The Real Whacker, not coming close to winning since his win in the Browns Advisory Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

That was a below-par King George, and he will need to hit another career best to beat the likes of Gerri Colombe and Envoi Allen here.

King George VI winner
Has race fitness on his side

His form can be taken on
Trainer has been in a poor run of form

Star rating:

Bet on Hewick with Spreadex

1 Delta Work

• Age: 11
• Weight: 11st 10lb
• Form: /3662-
• Rating: 157
• Jockey: Donagh Meyler
• Trainer: Gordon Elliott
• Odds: 20/1

This former Grade 1 winning chaser looks to have his sights set on another crack at the Aintree Grand National once again.

He was last seen running a huge race in the Grand National, chasing home the impressive I Am Maximus to take second place.

Given the recent changes, it is yet to be seen whether he will take in some cross-country races before Aintree, but with his decline in form and eyes set on Aintree next April, this will be used as a starting point.

He would be a shock winner with the ground not to his liking.

Has good back form

Best performances have come on soft/heavy ground
He’s pushing 12
Hasn’t won a Grade 1 since February 2020

Star rating:

Bet on Delta Work with VBET

5 Visionarian

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 10lb
• Form: 12-P01
• Rating: 151
• Jockey: Keith Donoghue
• Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
• Odds: 22/1

Having finally gotten his head back in front after winning the PWC Champion Chase at Gorwan Park, Visionarian takes a step up in class here.

The form of that win has already been shown in good light as the second French Dynamite going on to win the Grade 3 BetVictor Chase with Hewick back in third.

He’s not out of it by any means. He was second in a Grade 1 novice chase back in December 2022, so he has the ability to run a big race.

It would not be a shock for him to run into a place.

Comes in on the back of a Grade Grade 2 win
That form has been boosted since

Need to kick on again
His most significant test to date

Star rating:

Bet on Visionarian with Copybet

Ladbrokes Champion Chase verdict

There won’t be much between Envoi Allen and Gerri Colombe once again, with the latter sure to come on loads for the run. But I see GERRI COLOMBE coming out on top once again.

It’s hard not to see Envoi Allen bang there once again, but don’t be shocked if Visionarian was to put it a strong showing.

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