Bred for greatness: Champ's pedigree tailor-made for Cheltenham glory

If ever a pedigree had been tailor-made for Cheltenham Festival victory, it is the one possessed by Champ. And, in a copybook case of blood will out, the Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old came with an irresistible late run to collar Minella Indo and Allaho in a thrilling finish to the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase on Wednesday.

Bred by Philip and Jane Myerscough, Champ is from the final crop of festival sire extraordinaire King's Theatre, who has now supplied 14 winners of 17 races at jumping's flagship meeting.

Among the celebrities King's Theatre has produced are Cue Card, winner of the Champion Bumper and Ryanair Chase, dual festival victor Wichita Lineman, Ryanair hero Riverside Theatre, Arkle scorer Captain Chris and the ill-fated but hugely talented Brindisi Breeze.

The son of Sadler's Wells, who was bred by Michael Poland, stood at Ballylinch Stud in County Kilkenny until his death at the age of 20 in 2011.

King's Theatre's other Cheltenham Festival winners

Horsedamsire race(s)

Balthazar KingHernando Glenfarclas Chase, twice
Brindisi BreezeChamberlin Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Captain ChrisStrong Gale Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase
Cue CardKing's Ride Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Ryanair Chase
Diamond KingBelmez Coral Cup
Fingal BayBlakeney Pertemps Network Final
Glens MelodyOrchestra OLBG Mares' Hurdle
MenorahStrong Gale Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Riverside TheatreDistinctly North Ryanair Chase
The Druids NephewShareef Dancer Ultima Handicap Chase
The New OneTurgeon Neptune Novices' Hurdle
Wichita LinemanHead For Heights William Hill Trophy Chase, Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle
William HenryBob Back Coral Cup

Champ is the first foal out of China Sky, a Definite Article half-sister to none other than Best Mate, who recorded a famous hat-trick in the Cheltenham Gold Cup between 2002 and 2004 for Henrietta Knight.

China Sky - bred by Myerscough from the Miller's Mate mare Katday, who he bought when her star son Best Mate was just a yearling - is also a half-sister to the high-class Cornish Rebel, a Grade 2-winning chaser who finished third to Trabolgan in the 2005 Royal & SunAlliance Chase, and the dual Grade 3-winning hurdler Inexorable.

She is also the dam of Drury, a three-time winner for Willie Mullins, and Track Mate, who was placed in an Irish point-to-point for Paul Cashman. China Sky also has an unraced four-year-old gelding by Fame And Glory, a three-year-old Presenting colt, a two-year-old son of Walk In The Park and in 2019 she visited Soldier Of Fortune.

Champ made one visit to the sales, where Aiden Murphy went to €40,000 to secure the well-bred youngster as a foal.

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At the double: Kalanisi bags two winners on day one of the Cheltenham Festival

Shishkin supplies Grade 1 success for a family with Cheltenham Festival history