'We know he's a proper Grade 1 horse' - who fancies their chances of taking down Gerri Colombe in Champion Chase?

It's all set up to be informative Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase with two multiple Grade 1 winners in Gerri Colombe and Envoi Allen being taken on by last season's King George hero Hewick, who has the benefit of race fitness following his reappearance at Punchestown last month.

If Galopin Des Champs wasn't around, Gerri Colombe would have had an extraordinary campaign last season and it was still incredibly productive, particularly for his maiden season in open company. He edged out Envoi Allen to take this race on his comeback before finishing a distant second to Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown.

That 23-length beating wasn't the real Gerri Colombe and he proved as much when getting much closer to Willie Mullins' dual Gold Cup winner at Cheltenham, despite the riderless Fastorslow impeding him at an especially inopportune juncture.

It was an enormously high-class effort to get within three and a half lengths of him and the pair pulled well clear of Corach Rambler in third, while he continued his upwards trajectory by taking another Grade 1 at Aintree.

There's more to come from him, especially when you think his trainer Gordon Elliott's greatest chaser Don Cossack didn't evolve into a Gold Cup contender until his second season away from novice company. He's the best in this line-up but he's a prohibitively short price on his return, given he's unlikely to be firing on every cylinder until the spring.

Envoi Allen beat Kemboy to land this race in 2022 before finishing runner-up to Gerri Colombe 12 months ago. He had the benefit of a run at Gowran Park prior to last year's race but did land this on his reappearance the season before so the layoff isn't overly concerning.

Hewick: King George hero a live contender in Down Royal Champion ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

He ran a huge race in the Ryanair Chase last season when second to Protektorat before struggling at Aintree and decent ground is a big plus for him. The eight-time Grade 1 winner has posted four wins and a second from five efforts at this track, so he's a solid proposition and odds of around 3-1 look about right.

The overpriced runner in the field has to be Hewick as the outsider of the front three in the market. He ran an encouraging race when third at Punchestown last month, beaten under seven lengths by a race-fit French Dynamite, who he had to concede 12lb to.

His form last season was superb. After defeating Bravemansgame and Allaho in the King George, he ran slightly below par over hurdles at Aintree but came on plenty from that to run a massive race when beaten three and a half lengths into third by Fastorslow in the Punchestown Gold Cup, with Galopin Des Champs splitting the pair. He finished the campaign off with another high-class effort when runner-up in the French Champion Hurdle.

He's not far off Gerri Colombe at his best and the ground will be ideal for him so he rates a huge danger.

Elliott also saddles Delta Work, who ran with immense credit when chasing home I Am Maximus in the Grand National when last seen. He's a bit below this level nowadays and will likely need the run, while Visionarian for Gavin Cromwell isn't without a chance and the ground will suit, but the trip is an unknown.

Elliott confident ground will suit Gerri

Gordon Elliott has made a habit of turning out some his stars at Down Royal's two-day meeting and this year is no different with Gerri Colombe, one of the aces in the Cullentra pack, set to bid for successive Grade 1 Champion Chases.

Elliott has claimed this contest five times in the past and Don Cossack took it en route to landing the Gold Cup in 2016 and hopes will be high Gerri Colombe can follow a similar path to go one better at Cheltenham in March.

"Gerri Colombe looks great and is going to come on again for the run, but he's in good form and we're happy with him," he said. "I think he's actually better on better ground so as long as it's safe we'll be happy."

Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Delta Work will also pitch up having been last seen chasing home I Am Maximus in the Grand National. "Delta Work takes his chance and we might mix it up between disciplines with him this season. He looks great," Elliott said.

What they say

Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park, owners of Envoi Allen
Hopefully we'll get lovely ground and it's a good starting point for him. He normally needs the run and he's a little older now and it's going to be stiff competition, but we're hopeful he can bounce back to his best.

Shark Hanlon, trainer of Hewick
He ran a great race at Punchestown last time and was in great form working at the Curragh during the week. It's a competitive race but we know he's a proper Grade 1 horse and we're confident he can show that again.

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