The Gowran Park Champion Chase is a Grade 2 race run in early October over a distance of 2 miles 4 furlongs.
The 2011 Cheltenham Festival Champion Chase winner, Sizing Europe has won the last three renewals.
Previous winners also include China Rock, winner of the 2012 Punchestown Gold Cup and Kicking King the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
Gowran Park Champion Chase Trends
- There is a huge variation in the official rating of winners in the last decade with three rated in the 120s, 6 rated between 140-155 and Sizing Europe a standout 177
- Jockey Andrew Lynch has three wins
- Trainer Henry de Bromhead has won three times and Noel Meade twice since 2002
- The Fonze (16/1) was the highest price winner since 2002. 8 of the last 11 have been priced at 13-8 or less.
Gowran Park Champion Chase Winners 2002-2013
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | WT | OR | SP |
| 2013 | Sizing Europe (IRE) | Lynch, A E | De Bromhead, H | 11 | 11-10 | 169 | 4-5 |
| 2012 | Sizing Europe (IRE) | Lynch, A E | De Bromhead, H | 10 | 11-10 | 171 | 11-10 |
| 2011 | Sizing Europe (IRE) | Lynch, A E | De Bromhead, H | 9 | 11-10 | 177 | Evens |
| 2010 | China Rock (IRE) | Walsh, R | Morris, M F | 7 | 11-3 | 142 | 13-8 |
| 2009 | The Fonze (IRE) | Barry, J R | Doyle, Eoin | 8 | 11-3 | 125 | 16-1 |
| 2008 | Knight Legend (IRE) | Leigh, A D | Harrington, Mrs J | 9 | 11-6 | 150 | 2-1 |
| 2007 | Justified (IRE) | Walsh, R | Sheehy, E | 8 | 11-10 | 155 | 9-10 |
| 2006 | Sir Oj (IRE) | Carberry, P | Meade, N | 9 | 11-8 | 146 | 11-2 |
| 2005 | Always | Carberry, P | Meade, N | 6 | 11-6 | 123 | 9-1 |
| 2004 | Kicking King (IRE) | Geraghty, B J | Taaffe, T J | 6 | 11-10 | 148 | 11-4 |
| 2003 | Go Roger Go (IRE) | O’Dwyer, C | O’Grady, E J | 11 | 11-8 | 140 | 5-2 |
| 2002 | Barrow Drive | Geraghty, B J | Mullins, A | 6 | 11-0 | 126 | 11-4 |
Although the race has been a pointer to Gold Cup and Champion Chase success in the past, the standout entries Sizing Europe, Baily Green and Road to Riches may be more likely to turn up in the Ryanair Chase come March. Share your thoughts on our Cheltenham Festival forum.<< Back to Racing Headlines
