2.25 Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) 3m

Alpha Des Obeaux: Smart chaser on his day and ran a respectable third in this race last year. However, his best form over fences appears to leave him well short of the required standard and he will have to improve markedly on his comeback at Punchestown earlier this month.

Balko Des Flos: Formerly top-class sort who won the 2018 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. He hasn’t won since that Ryanair success though and struggled in a light campaign last season before returning to finish a well-held fourth behind The Storyteller at Punchestown. Others make more appeal.

Chris’s Dream: High-class type at his peak as he showed when winning last season’s Troytown off a mark of 146 on his return to action. Followed up by landing the Red Mills Chase before an unplaced effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup where he actually wasn’t beaten that far. Tends to go well fresh and is not one to underestimate.

Delta Work: Top-notch staying chaser on his day as evidenced by two excellent Grade 1 victories at Leopardstown last season before he signed off with a respectable six-length fifth in the Gold Cup where he wasn’t seen to best effect. Last season’s form makes him the one to beat but he will be vulnerable on his comeback and it wouldn’t surprise if he had to settle for a minor role.

Presenting Percy: Formerly brilliant RSA Chase winner who didn’t win last season but ran some very good races in defeat and wasn’t done with when falling two out in the Gold Cup. Starts out for a new yard here and remains a significant player in the staying chase division and it would come as no surprise at all if he were to play a leading role.

Ravenhill: Thorough stayer who won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last March. Struggled in a competitive Grade 3 event at Punchestown earlier this month and, while he is capable of better, he looks to have his work cut out at this level.

Snow Falcon: Very smart chaser on his day with his form including a Kerry National triumph and a pair of Grade 2 wins. However, he struggled somewhat in quality events over the course of last season and, while he can go well fresh, others in the line up have stronger credentials.

The Storyteller: Tends to find a few too strong at this level but he comes here fit and very well after a productive few months that yielded several victories headed by his seven-length win over Tout Est Permis in a Grade 3 over an extended three miles at Punchestown earlier this month. Comes here with confidence high and race fitness on his side which makes him a contender.

Tout Est Permis: Very smart on his day and ended last season with a fine third in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham before returning with a good effort behind The Storyteller at Punchestown. Should improve from that latter showing and it wouldn’t come as the greatest surprise if he were to reach the frame for his in-form yard.

Conclusion

A fine edition of the first Grade 1 of the jumps season with plenty of quality sorts in the line-up. Gordon Elliott holds an especially strong hand and a chance is taken on Presenting Percy who makes his first start for the trainer. He hasn’t won over fences for a while but he remains a force at this level and can add to his Grade 1 haul. Delta Work is likely to be vulnerable on his first start of the season so Chris’s Dream might represent the biggest danger to the selection, while a big run from the in-form The Storyteller would not surprise.