Victory for Champ in the Grade 1 Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last year proved to be one of the most exciting moments of the whole Festival. Trailing the leaders Minella Indo and Allaho, Champ stormed through the middle to bisect the leaders and streak clear for victory at the last. It was a joyous moment for jockey Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson, and set the tone for a successful Festival for both men.
After the race, Henderson lavished praise on Champ: “It wasn’t a surprise that he won, as we all knew that he could do that. Where all that came from at the end, I don’t know. It was an extraordinary performance from the horse and from Barry Geraghty. I don’t see why he can’t be a Gold Cup horse next season. He is top class, there is no doubt about it.”
Well, it looks as though Henderson’s faith in Champ has remained unwavering. The nine-year-old was named among the 41 potential entries for the Gold Cup at the upcoming 2021 Cheltenham Festival, and is fancied by many as a contender in the Cheltenham odds from Betfair Exchange. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 12 months since Champ recorded that memorable triumph in the Novices’ Chase, but now the horse faces a date with destiny in one of the biggest races horse racing has to offer.
Recent times have been strange for horse racing, and indeed Champ has not raced since his victory at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. It remains to be seen whether Henderson chooses to race him between now and March, but it looks unlikely. He has also been entered in the Stayers’ Hurdle, providing a bit of insurance in case Henderson feels Champ is not quite ready for the blood and thunder of the Gold Cup.
Should he race in the Gold Cup, competition will be fierce, not least from stablemate Santini, who came so close to Gold Cup glory last year, just being pipped by a neck by the indomitable Al Boum Photo. Santini is among the entrants this year again, and Henderson may well view him as the more likely to earn him his third Gold Cup triumph as a trainer, but the qualities of Champ can never be discounted.
The latter has received a wind operation in the intervening period since last year’s Festival, and having not raced since then, it will be interesting to see how he fares. But Henderson is about as experienced a trainer as they come, and he’ll be able to judge whether the horse is ready for the demands of the Gold Cup. Those looking for Cheltenham tips might well favour him.
“He is a very good horse, Champ,” Henderson reiterated in November. “He lost his place at the second-last in the RSA and I just wonder if that wind issue just caused him to drop off them for a moment, then he cleared it and got going in that rather miraculous finish.”
‘That rather miraculous finish’ is the reason why Champ is held in such esteem as Cheltenham 2021 approaches. The Gold Cup is, of course, a different kettle of fish, but a horse with such enduring determination and bursts of speed is always one to be feared. Would anyone really be surprised to see this indefatigable gelding charge through the pack towards Gold Cup glory?
