Henderson and McManus put faith in Chantry House as Champ given Stayers' aim

Nicky Henderson and JP McManus have placed their hopes of landing the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup with Chantry House as Champ was on Tuesday scratched from the race with the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle now his confirmed target.

Champ may have been scythed down by the reluctant-to-start Paisley Park in last month’s Cleeve Hurdle, but Chantry House’s presence towards the top of the market for the Gold Cup and what Henderson perceives as Champ’s preference for the smaller obstacles has convinced the trainer to commit the ten-year-old – named in honour of McManus’s former retained rider Sir Anthony McCoy – to the hurdling contest.

"We've decided Champ will stay over hurdles, so we took him out of the Gold Cup as we still have Chantry House for that," explained Henderson, who also left the James and Jean Potter-owned 100-1 shot Mister Fisher in the race. "I just think Champ finds jumping hurdles easier. He's had a few issues and it makes life better for him.