Minella Indo and Frodon in line for Champion Chase cracker at Down Royal

Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo will begin his campaign with a heavyweight clash against King George winner Frodon in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase (2.50) as five were declared for the Down Royal feature on Saturday.

Minella Indo, who famously delivered trainer Henry de Bromhead a one-two in the festival feature in March, will make his first start since that triumph and will be reunited with Rachael Blackmore, with Gordon Elliott insisting Jack Kennedy rides Delta Work in the same race.

However, he faces a formidable opponent in Frodon, who claimed his second top-level win in Kempton's festive feature last December under Bryony Frost, with the pair hoping to avenge their 34-length defeat by Minella Indo in the Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old will also bid to put trainer Paul Nicholls out on his own as the outright leading trainer with a fifth win in the contest, having landed the spoils with Taranis (2007), Kauto Star (2008, 2010) and Kauto Stone (2012) previously.

Frodon: King George hero seeks Grade 1 glory in the Champion Chase at Down RoyalCredit: Edward Whitaker

As well as Delta Work, Elliott saddles the two remaining runners in Ravenhill and Galvin – who made a winning reappearance in a Grade 3 at Punchestown earlier this month.

2.50 Down Royal: Champion Chase card and betting

Elsewhere on the card, De Bromhead unleashes another star as Envoi Allen makes his seasonal bow in the Grade 2 Join Racing TV Chase (3.25).

The seven-year-old is already a five-time Grade 1 winner, but must bounce back from a no-show when pulling up at the Punchestown festival, with Rachael Blackmore keeping the ride in the 2m3½f contest.

Seven have been declared for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby (3.05), in which Cyrname bids to get his career back on track once more with successive victories in the Grade 2 contest.

The nine-year-old was bitterly disappointing when pulling up in both the King George and Ascot Chase following his two-length win at the Yorkshire track last year and will be partnered by usual rider Harry Cobden.

3.05 Wetherby: Charlie Hall Chase card and betting

Grade 1-winning novice chaser Shan Blue, the Nicky Henderson-trained Fusil Raffles and Scottish Grand National hero Mighty Thunder are all among the opposition to the Paul Nicholls-trained star.

Paisley Park heads a field of eight for the other Grade 2 on Wetherby's card, the bet365 Hurdle (2.30), while at Ascot 14 will go to post in the Bateaux London Gold Cup (3.20), which includes the last two winners of the race, Vinndication and Regal Encore.

Ladbrokes Champion Chase runners and riders

Delta WorkJack Kennedy
FrodonBryony Frost
GalvinDavy Russell
Minella IndoRachael Blackmore
RavenhillDenis O'Regan

Ladbrokes: 5-6 Minella Indo, 3 Galvin, 9-2 Frodon, 8 Delta Work, 40 Ravenhill

bet365 Charlie Hall Chase runners and riders

CyrnameHarry Cobden
Clondaw CastleJonathan Burke
Mighty ThunderDerek Fox
Shan BlueHarry Skelton
Fusil RafflesDaryl Jacob
Kitty's LightJack Tudor
Top Ville BenThomas Dowson

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