BetVictor Champion Chase

The BetVictor Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.

The event was established in 1999, and it was initially contested over 3 miles and 1 furlong. It was cut to its present distance in 2000, and given Grade 1 status in 2002.

The BetVictor Champion Chase is now the first Grade 1 event of the Irish National Hunt season. It was sponsored by JNwine.com (James Nicholson Wine Merchant) from its inception until the 2018 running. Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2019. The race has been sponsored by BetVictor since 2025.

Records

<div style="font-size:90%"> Most successful horse (3 wins):

• Envoi Allen - 2022, 2024, 2025

Leading jockey (4 wins):

• Ruby Walsh – Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Valseur Lido (2016)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

• Paul Nicholls – Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010), Kauto Stone (2012), Frodon (2021)
• Gordon Elliott - Roi du Mee (2013), Don Cossack (2015), Outlander (2017), The Storyteller (2020), Gerri Colombe (2023)

</div>

Winners

See also

• Horse racing in Ireland
• List of Irish National Hunt races

References

• Racing Post:
• , , , , , , , , ,
• , , , , , , , , ,
• guardian.co.uk – "Kauto Star strides to victory in jnwine.com Champion Chase" (2008).
• pedigreequery.com – James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase – Down Royal.