Not much good came out of Trials day as Champ and Chantry failed to impress

Nicky Henderson was quite right, Saturday’s card at Cheltenham was only Trials day and his two high-profile horses were only warming up for the big gig in March, but I have to say that as warm-up runs go, Champ and Chantry House were incredibly unconvincing.

Champ was nothing like the horse who won the Long Walk at Ascot the time before and anyone who thought his run on Saturday was anything other than a laboured effort was watching a different race to me.

Paisley Park must have given him a 15-length start and still beat him easily at the line and his finishing effort was really disappointing given how he stormed up the hill to beat Minella Indo and A Plus Tard as a novice chaser.