Champ and Paisley Park poised for Long Walk rematch

PA Sport Reporters
December 26, 2022 3:43 pm

Veteran stayers to renew rivalry at Kempton.

Champ and Paisley Park will renew rivalry in the rescheduled Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The race was due to be run at Ascot before Christmas but the cold snap saw the fixture cancelled, giving racegoers in Sunbury an additional highlight on one of the feature festive cards.

Nicky Henderson’s Champ proved a neck too strong for the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park in a thrilling finish to last month’s Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, with the latter narrowly failing with his customary late charge.

Goshen switches up to three miles for the first time (John Walton/PA)

The duo take each other on again in a five-strong field that also features Goshen, who will be stepping to three miles for the first time after returning to winning form for Gary Moore with a bloodless Ascot Hurdle success.

Another switching up in trip is Hughie Morrison’s Not So Sleepy, a well-beaten third behind Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth, while the five-strong field is completed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Miranda – a Listed victor at Kempton on her most recent spin.

Nicholls holds a strong hand in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, fielding both Gelino Bello and McFabulous.

McFabulous was an easy winner at Newbury (John Walton/PA)

The first-named has won both his starts over fences and will be ridden by Bryony Frost, while Harry Cobden has opted to ride McFabulous, who is two from three in chase company and landed a Newbury Grade Two last month.

He beat Thyme Hill that day and Philip Hobbs’ charge will attempt to reverse that six-and-a-half-length defeat.

Dan Skelton runs Galia Des Liteaux rather than Ballygrifincottage, with the experienced Mortlach from Fergal O’Brien’s yard the final contender for Grade One honours.