Champ ready to roll in Long Distance highlight
Henderson runner leads classy Newbury field.
Connections have high hopes for Champ as he gets his season underway in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Friday. The gelding has switched between hurdles and fences throughout his career, notably winning what was then known as the RSA at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 before reverting to smaller obstacles last term. Taking the staying hurdler path, the bay won the 2021 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and was then placed in all of the top-class contests in the division during the rest of his campaign. Champ now makes his seasonal bow under regular rider Jonjo O’Neill Jnr and is the expected favourite for the Grade Two contest. “Nicky (Henderson, trainer) is very pleased with him, he said he’s done two nice bits of work and he couldn’t be happier with him,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus. “We’re hoping for the best with him, we’re likely to take it race by race from Saturday and see where we want to go next.”
EMPHATIC.
Proschema cruises to the bet365 Hurdle 🥇@harryskelton89 is on 🔥#ITVRacing | @WetherbyRaces | @Dannskelton pic.twitter.com/pKE79lZgG1 — ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 29, 2022
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