Nicky Henderson: “I’m delighted with Champ”

CHELTENHAM – FRIDAY

3:05 G1 Well Child Cheltenham Gold Cup

Champ (Nico De Boinville)

As you all know this has been the aim all season and while he hasn’t had the most conventional preparation I was delighted with his run in the Game Spirit over 2 miles and I’d like to think he’s come on a little bit, although he was pretty sharp that day anyway. This is a typically competitive Gold Cup and you can’t rule any of them out but Champ is in excellent shape and we have done lots of schooling and he’s been to Henrietta Knight’s to have plenty of practice as well so hopefully we have every angle covered. You could say the ground may be a very small issue if it really dries out, but I can’t see any reason why he won’t handle it and we are all very excited about seeing him run. 

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Santini (Aidan Coleman)

Aidan gave him a very sensible ride at Sandown last time because he didn’t give him a hard race when he knew he was beaten and was able to come home in his own time so he arrives here in fine fresh form. We’re hoping the visor will sharpen him up because he can’t afford to lose much ground at the start, if he does he’ll be playing catch up the whole way so hopefully the headgear will help. He schooled in a visor last week and was very good so we’ve kept them off since and the first time he’ll have them back on again will be in the pre-parade ring at Cheltenham. He’s posted some very good efforts at the Festival, finishing second in both the RSA and the Gold Cup so he certainly deserves to get his head in front. 

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4:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle

Adjali (Ben Ffrench Davis)

He hasn’t won for quite some time but has posted some solid efforts in defeat and the handicapper seems to be dropping him a little bit as well which is an obvious help. I’m not worried about the switch back to hurdles and he has been in great shape at home so with a bit of luck he can run a nice race. 

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Mill Green (Joe Anderson)

I think this horse has a pretty good chance to be honest. He ran very well in this race last year off the same mark, and I think he’ll be much happier on this ground. If you go back through his form there is plenty to suggest he is no back number and I fancy him to run a very big race. 

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