ONE thing is certain about today’s rescheduled Ladbrokes Champion Chase (2.20) - the Grade 1 prize will be remaining in familiar hands.

The €150,000 is all about quality over quantity, with just four runners going to post and two stables represented, though both yards have consistently been to the fore in this contest over the last decade.

Gordon Elliott, who continues to make a massive impact on this two-day meeting, will bid to join Paul Nicholls on a record-equalling five wins in the weekend’s feature, while Henry de Bromhead is seeking a third success since 2016.

Rachael Blackmore has put her faith in last year’s winner Envoi Allen bouncing back to his best, partnering the eight-time Grade 1 winner over stablemate Minella Indo, who the record-breaking rider was aboard when making a successful comeback at Punchestown last month. Darragh O’Keeffe, fresh from big-race success last weekend at Wetherby with Gentlemansgame, has got the call up to partner de Bromhead’s first Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Staying stars

The jockey bookings would surely have been much more straightforward to call at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra base. Gerri Colombe is viewed as the stable’s brightest Gold Cup hope for the coming campaign and Jack Kennedy gets the chance to be reunited with the triple Grade 1 scorer for the first time in almost a year.

Conflated, a decisive winner of last year’s Savills Chase under Kennedy last Christmas, needs to bounce back from a below par return when trailing the five-runner contest won by Minella Indo at Punchestown just over four weeks ago.

Speaking after a double at Clonmel on Thursday, Kennedy told The Irish Field: “I’m looking forward to getting on Gerri Colombe in the big one this weekend. He’s been a rock-solid horse and had a great season last year. You’d be hoping he can get the job done. I do think he’ll come on plenty for his first run back after a break, though, so we’ll see how he gets on.

“Conflated is a horse I know well too. He will have improved for his first start of the season at Punchestown. I think he should run well too.”

Envoi Allen is a perfect four out of four in his career at Down Royal but must leave behind a pretty tame defeat behind Easy Game in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park six weeks ago.

Bouncing back

Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast earlier this week, Cheveley Park Stud’s Chris Richardson said: “I hope Envoi Allen has stepped forward from his return at Gowran Park; that was a bit disappointing.

“He’s had a couple of off days over the last few years, and also some on days as well. He obviously won this race last year and the Ryanair last season. You’d hope for a much better performance than last time and he likes the track so we’ll have our fingers crossed.”

Heading into the race won by top performers such as Florida Pearl, Beef Or Salmon, Kauto Star and Don Cossack, Gerri Colombe is shortest of the quartet for this season’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup as the general 6/1 second favourite behind reigning champion Galopin Des Champs.

Envoi Allen and Minella Indo can be backed at as big as 66/1 for the same event, while the former is a top-priced 20/1 for a Ryanair repeat. Alternatively, Conflated is a 50/1 chance for the Blue Riband event.

If those prices are a reflection of the relative abilities of each contender in this contest, it could well turn out to be more one-way traffic for Kennedy, Elliott and Robcour. Get set for an afternoon that promises to deliver some meaty clues for the winter ahead.