The grade 1 Jnwine.com Champion Chase takes place at Down Royal on Saturday, 4th November, and is the highlight of the national hunt season for the Northern Irish track. It is run over 3 miles and has been won by some top class chasers since 2000, including Kauto Star in 2008 & 2010 and Don Cossack last year.

Below we take a look at trends for past 10 runnings:

Age (Win-Place-Runners)
6yo: 2-0-3
7yo: 2-2-9
8yo: 3-4-18
9yo: 0-3-19
10yo: 3-1-13
11yo+: 0-2-4
All 3 winners aged 10 had finished in first 4 in a previous running (2 were previous winners)
6 of 7 winners aged 8 or younger were German or French bred.

Recent/Past Form
8 of 10 winners finished in the first 2 on last completed start
8 of 10 winners had won over 3M+ (1 exception was runner-up at only start over 3M+ and other 2 had won over 2M 6F and never tackled further)
9 of 10 winners had won a grade 1 or 2 chase (exception won the Galway Plate on penultimate start)
9 of 10 winners finished in first 3 a grade 1 chase (exception had won 2 grade 2 chases)
8 of 10 winners had won a chase worth 76K+
4 of 10 winners had previously won at Down Royal (4 exceptions having first course start)

Other Races
Woodlands Park Novice Chase winner (Roi Des Francs): 1 (1-0-1)
Ascot Chase winner (Silviniaco Conti): 1 (1-0-1)
Galway Plate winner (Lord Scoundrel): 71 (1-0-2)
Lexus Chase winner (Don Poli): 1U (1-0-2)
Star Chase winner (Sadler's Risk): 31 (1-0-2)
3 of 10 winners ran in the Aintree Bowl, finishing U27
3 of 10 winners ran in previous year's Betfair Chase, finishing 211
3 of 10 winners ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing 02F
2 of 10 winners ran in Ryanai Chase, finishing 13
2 of 10 winners ran in previous year's Powers Irish Whiskey Chase, finishing 11
2 of 10 winners ran in Irish Hennessy Gold Cup, finishing 16
2 of 10 winners ran in the Lexus Chase, finishing 1F
2 of 10 winners ran in previous year's John Durkan Chase, finishing 21
2 of 5 Irish-trained winners ran in the Gowran Park Champion Chase, finishing F2
2 of 5 Irish-trained winners ran in the Punchestown Gold Cup, finishing 21
2 of 5 British-trained winners ran in the King George, finishing 11
2 of 5 British-trained winners ran in the Ascot Chase, finishing 17
2 of 5 British-trained winners ran in the Melling Chase last time, finishing 27
2 of 2 second season chaser winners finished in first 2 in a novice chase at Punchestown Festival
2 of 2 Gordon Elliot-trained winners ran in Kinlock Brae, finishing 21
2 of 2 Gordon Elliot-trained winners ran in Star Chase last time, finishing 21

Trainers
Paul Nicholls (4-2-9) has trained 4 of the last 10 winners of this and also saddled the runner-up in 2009, 2014 & 2015.
Gordon Elliot (2-0-5) has trained the winner in 2013 & 2015.
Noel Meade (1-0-3) trained Road To Riches to win this in 2014.
Henry De Bromhead (0-3-3) has saddled Sizing Europe to finish 2nd in 3 renewals.
Mouse Morris (0-3-6) won this in 2001 & has seen 5 of his 7 runners since 2000 make the first 3.
British-trained runners (5-2-15) have won 5 of the last 9 renewals.

Price
9 of 10 winners were sent off 7/1 or shorter
Roi Du Mee’s win at 12/1 in 2013 has been the only big surprise result of past 10 years.
Favourites (5-4-11) have won 5 of last 10 runnings & show a £1 level stakes loss of £0.19.

Summary:
Based on trends from the past 10 runnings you are looking for a horse:
- French bred aged 6 to 8 or aged 9+ and previously finished in first 4 in this race
- Having first run over fences this season (or ran in Gowran Champion or Star Chase)
- Finished 1st or 2nd on last completed start
- Previously won a grade 1 or 2 chase
- Previously won or placed in a grade 1 chase
- Won over at least 2M 6F (ideally won over 3M+)
- Ran in previous season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, Lexus, Aintree Bowl and/or Betfair Chase
- Trained in Britain & ran in previous season’s King George, Ascot and/or Melling Chase
- Trained by Paul Nicholls or Gordon Elliot
- Priced 7/1 or shorter