Champ's Leopardstown mission hinges on crunch weekend workout

Gold Cup fancy Champ, who won the RSA in such thrilling style last season, will work this weekend before connections commit to a trip to Ireland for Leopardstown's Savills Chase a week on Monday.

Nicky Henderson, who trains the eight-year-old for JP McManus, was pleased with how a schooling session went on Wednesday morning, but will put him through his paces in the next few days.

"We'll probably just work him over the weekend and then see," said the champion trainer. "The coronavirus restrictions for travelling aren't a problem – I just want to see where he is. He schooled this morning and we think he's jumping very well, but we'll see."