Options open for 'old friend' Champ as he stamps his class back over hurdles

Things are never dull when Champ comes to town and the Cheltenham Festival winner once again put on a remarkable show to land the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle in style.

Mercurial when winning the 2020 RSA Chase and downright disappointing when pulling up early in this year's Gold Cup, he was simply imperious on his first run over hurdles since winning a Grade 1 as a novice at Aintree 988 days ago.

Partnered for the first time by Jonjo O'Neill jnr, Champ raced with verve throughout, almost looking like he was enjoying himself too much as his rider reined him back early on.

While his rivals raced behind the bridle, Champ was hard on his, and after going into second at the eighth hurdle he led, travelling easily turning into the home straight.

Click here to watch Champ advertise his Stayers' Hurdle claims

From there it was a matter of whether or not his early exuberance would count against him, but as last year's narrow runner-up Thyme Hill threw down a strong challenge, Champ found the sort of reserves only a real champ could find, pinging the last and gaining enough of a cushion over his closest pursuer to allow his young rider to salute the crowd as he celebrated the first Grade 1 of his career.

Jonjo O'Neill jnr celebrates his maiden Grade 1 victory aboard Long Walk winner ChampCredit: Mark Cranham

"I'm definitely going to remember this one," said a beaming O'Neill. "When I was a young boy this is all I wanted to do – ride a Grade 1 winner. To do it at Ascot for Nicky Henderson, JP McManus and with a horse called Champ – it doesn't get much better.

"The one thing Nicky said was don't disappoint him. I was anxious to have one horse directly in front of me and I just had to sit on him. Jumping the last down the back he did get a bit of light and really started to go.

"I was in front too soon but he's won an RSA and has very good stamina. When Tom O'Brien [on Thyme Hill] came to him he went again. It's a tremendous effort from Nicky to get him back to do this on his first run."

Expert jury: How do you see the Stayers' Hurdle picture after Champ's Long Walk Hurdle win?

Back problems were diagnosed after Champ's lacklustre effort in the Gold Cup and Henderson admitted that his first run since then was as much about building the horse's confidence as it was trying to add to his Grade 1 tally

"This was really meant to be a confidence booster," said the winning trainer. "He's had a bad time and things haven't gone right. Today was meant to be all about Buzz and whether he stayed three miles and his injury [on Friday morning] was just cruel.

"Then up pops our old friend here. He'd been in very good form and it seemed the logical thing to do to come back and give him a run over hurdles for his own good and his confidence.

"Having tanked as hard as he has, even first time out, he's got the fight of a lion in him to go and win the race as well. He's a horse everybody loves and is a real favourite. It's sad Buzz wasn't here but it's amazing to have cover for him in a race like this."

So good was the winning performance, Champ was swiftly promoted towards the top of the Stayers' Hurdle betting in March, with Coral going 4-1 (from 14) in a field headed by Klassical Dream at 7-2.
The same firm offer 20-1 about Champ landing the Cheltenham Gold Cup but despite the discrepancy between the those two prices, Henderson was keen to point out that Champ is not guaranteed to go down the Stayers' Hurdle route at this stage.

"I can't give you an answer to be honest," said the trainer. "There's no point rushing into a decision now. We have the option of going both ways. He could go back to fences, yes, or you could say let's concentrate on the Stayers' Hurdle. All options are open and it's just lovely to see him back where he belongs."

Champ got the better of Thyme Hill to earn victory for the first time since last year's RSA ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Owner JP McManus, scooping his fifth Long Walk and first since Unowhatimeanharry in 2016, echoed Henderson's view, with both options still on the table.

"I'd like to do the right thing for the horse," said McManus. "Whether that's the Gold Cup or the Stayers', let's see how he comes out of this. It's a high-class problem.

"Nicky has shown tremendous patience and, named after AP [McCoy], no horse gives me as much pleasure as this horse. We deliberated a long time before we put the name Champ on a horse so we thought a lot of him from the start."

Connections of both Thyme Hill in second and Paisley Park in third are set on the Stayers' Hurdle, with both horses in the frame to meet again in the Cleeve Hurdle at the end of January before the festival highlight in March.

Catch-up on Saturday’s action:

Expert jury: How do you see the Stayers' Hurdle picture after Champ's Long Walk Hurdle win?

Lee Mottershead: 'He wanted a cuddle' - long week ends in Long Walk for emotional Henderson (Members’ Club)

Ascot: Tritonic puts the cherry on the Christmas cake for in-form owner Max McNeill

Navan: Champion Bumper favourite American Mike remains unbeaten with dominant victory

Haydock: 'If you get it wrong, you'll get it right next time' - Hammond gets it spot on

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