'It's Trials day, not Gold Cup day' - Henderson upbeat about Champ and Chantry

Nicky Henderson is far from downcast about the prospects of Stayers' Hurdle contender Champ, as well as his main Gold Cup hope Chantry House, and hopes they will leave the bare form of their runs on Cheltenham Trials day behind them at the festival in six weeks' time.

Judged solely by bookmaker reaction, Britain's most successful trainer at the festival might have been left frustrated by events at Cheltenham on Saturday.

After defeating former stablemate Santini, Chantry House was left unchanged at 16-1 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, while stablemates Champ and Balco Coastal were eased for the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle and the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle respectively after their second-placed efforts.

Nico de Boinville jumped off Chantry House after crossing the line, but Henderson reported the eight-year-old was none the worse on Sunday morning.

'He loves the game' - JP McManus hits 4,000 winner mark thanks to Chantry House

"He was tired and he had a right good blow," said Henderson. "But it's Trials day, not Gold Cup day. It was a great race and Santini ran a great race."

Henderson admitted to being surprised at the way the runners in the Cotswold Chase and the other Graded contests had found conditions placing such an emphasis on stamina.

He added: "They went a good solid gallop on beautiful ground. Nico walked round – and Jon [Pullin] the clerk of the course said the same thing – it walked like really good ground but it rode very dead.

"They jumped off and went as if it were good ground and found out it was much slower than everybody anticipated.

Paisley Park surges past Champ in the Cleeve HurdleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"All mine were the same, Champ and Balco Coastal got tired. But we're refuelling them today and we've got six weeks to go, so that’s fine."

Champ was sent off the 8-15 favourite for the Cleeve Hurdle on the back of a demolition job when reverting to hurdles in the Long Walk at Ascot before Christmas.

But he became the second high-flyer in the Stayers' market to have his wings clipped in the space of three days after the defeat of Klassical Dream at Gowran Park last Thursday.

"Champ didn't jump as fluently as he did at Ascot but he didn't do anything wrong, it was just a brilliant performance to get Paisley Park back," said Henderson. "Full credit to Polly [Gundry] with Santini and Emma [Lavelle] with Paisley Park.

"It looked like we'd done enough but round there he is a very tough nut to crack. He will be again [in the Stayers' Hurdle] but we'll be ready to take him on again."

Henderson was quick to stress he doesn't believe Champ has an issue with Cheltenham, adding: "He just didn't travel as well as he did at Ascot, but take nothing away from the winner. We've got six weeks to go and as I say, this was Trials day."

Betfair: 10-3 A Plus Tard, 9-2 Galvin, 7 Minella Indo, 8 Al Boum Photo, 9 Protektorat, 12 Tornado Flyer, 14 Chantry House, 16 bar

Stayers' Hurdle

Paddy Power: 7-2 Flooring Porter, 5 Thyme Hill, Klassical Dream, 6 Champ, 7 Paisley Park, 10 Sporting John, 12 Royal Kahala, 20 bar

Read more:

'That was the proper Paisley Park' - Lavelle in awe at Cleeve Hurdle miracle

'A legend in his own right' - trainer Sue Smith pays tribute to Midnight Shadow

Harriet Bethell saddles first winner since suffering life-threatening injuries

Follow your favourites with our amazing Horse Tracker feature. Add up to 1,000 horses to your stable, filter them and keep up to date with automatic email alerts. Join Members' Club Ultimate now and never miss a winner again!