WE are starting to see some of the better National Hunt horses emerge now, not least at Down Royal last week, where the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase took centre stage and provided a thrilling finish.

Down Royal and the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase is Envoi Allen’s manor. In the last six years, he has won at this meeting on five occasions. He had to fight hard for this one, with Hewick rallying in the closing stages, just half a length between them at the line.