Savills Chase Tips, Odds & Runners 2024

England has the King George, Ireland has the Savills Chase, a 3m Grade 1 at Leopardstown which hosts the best of the Irish staying chasers. Another stellar line-up is expected in 2024, and GG’s tipsters will have their selections in the race here.

Tips to follow

Who are the Top Three Favourites to Win this Year’s Savills Chase?

Given Ireland have had the last six winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, you can be certain that the Savills Chase favourites will be among the best staying chasers around. Here are the three market leaders:

Fact To File

The top staying novice of last season, Fact To File graduated to open company with flying colours when landing one of the strongest editions of the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown of all time. He beat the three horses directly behind him in the Gold Cup market that day, and clung on in game style.

That race may have been over 2m4f, but he won over 3m at the Cheltenham Festival. He is also 2/2 at Leopardstown, and as a seven-year-old with his best days ahead of him, there is every chance he stamps his authority even though the division is so strong.

Galopin Des Champs

The two-time Gold Cup hero has never had the best record at Punchestown; it is the only track Galopin Des Champs has lost at over fences when staying on his feet. As a result, his front-running third in the John Durkan, when just three lengths behind Fact To File, was a fine effort.

He has won his five chases at Leopardstown by a combine 66½ lengths, including a 23-length demolition job in this race a year ago. He stays thoroughly, loves the track and is still the one they all have to beat wherever and whenever he lines up.

Gerri Colombe

A distant second in this last season, Gerri Colombe is on a retrieval mission after a disappointing return at Down Royal in a race he had won 12 months previously. He is Gordon Elliott’s staying chase star, with his best form coming when second in the Gold Cup before he won the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl.

He is capable of high class form, but has a bit more to prove than the front two having been well beaten in this a year ago. Slower ground may help this hardy stayer bridge the gap.

Who Are This Year’s Savills Chase Underdogs?

JP McManus is responsible for a number of those just below the  top three in the market.

Spillane’s Tower would hold every chance if running in this over the King George after his narrow second to Fact To File in the John Durkan. As well as him, Corbetts Cross has demonstrated top class form when on his best day, while I Am Maximus was the 2024 Grand National winner and is now rated as a Grade 1 chaser.

Last Year’s Savills Chase Odds

In a destruction of his rivals, Galopin Des Champs took apart the 2023 Savills Chase field when sent off the 6/4 favourite.

Savills Chase Racecourse 

Leopardstown is a broad, galloping track which provides a stiff finish and jumping test. However, for the majority of the runners’ journey around 2m at the venue, the course is fairly flat, enabling Savills Chase competitors to find their feet and get into a jumping rhythm. The final uphill test from the last bend will catch any horses out that are at the end of their stamina tether.

Are There Any Specific Savills Chase Betting Offers?

With the Savills Chase such a prominent horse race in Ireland, we will provide all of the inevitable betting offers on our site closer to the time.

Savills Chase Trends & Historic Data

For a spell of seven years between 2015 and 2022, the Savills Chase was a graveyard for favourites, with plenty of well-fancied runners beaten, including Sizing John at 9/10 and A Plus Tard at 8/11, both defeated. However, the last two renewals have both gone the way of the market ladder.

In terms of age, eight of the last ten winners have been aged either six or seven, so it has paid to side with a horse with potential than those with experience. That could well speak positively to Fact To File’s chances, as both Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe are already eight years old.

Which Trainers Have Historically Had the Most Success in the Savills Chase?

Willie Mullins has three wins in the Savills Chase sine 2015, but he is not the most successful trainer in the race in the last decade. That title belongs to Gordon Elliott, who has recorded four wins since 2014 with four different horses, the latest being 2/1 favourite Conflated in 2022.

Elliott is just one shy of the all-time record holder for the event, which is Michael Hourigan. The trainer of three-time winner Beef Or Salmon also secured two wins in the 1990s courtesy of Deep Bramble and the popular Dorans Pride.

There was briefly an immensely successful era for British-trained runners prior to the more recent domination of the Mullins, Elliott and Henry De Bromhead yards in particular. Between 2006 and 2013, only one Savills Chase trophy was kept at home, as the likes of Denman, Synchronised and Bobs Worth, all Gold Cup winners, emerged to claim the race for Paul NIcholls, Jonjo O’Neill and Nicky Henderson respectively.

Runners & Riders Past Winners

Year	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
2023	Galopin Des Champs	Willie Mullins	Paul Townend	6/4F
2022	Conflated	Gordon Elliott	Jack Kennedy	2/1F
2021	Galvin	Gordon Elliott	Davy Russell	7/1
2020	A Plus Tard	Henry De Bromhead	Darragh O’Keeffe	15/2
2019	Delta Work	Gordon Elliott	Jack Kennedy	11/2
2018	Kemboy	Willie Mullins	David Mullins	8/1
2017	Road To Respect	Noel Meade	Sean Flanagan	8/1
2016	Outlander	Gordon Elliott	Jack Kennedy	11/1
2015	Don Poli	Willie Mullins	Bryan Cooper	4/6F
2014	Road To Riches	Noel Meade	Bryan Cooper	4/1