Champ given Cleeve Hurdle prep as Stayers' emerges as 'probable' festival target

The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle appears to be the main Cheltenham target for Champ, with Nicky Henderson pointing at the Cleeve Hurdle as his likely festival prep run.

Plans for the ten-year-old had been unclear after he triumphed in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on his comeback this season. That run was intended as a warm-up before a return for chasing, with a second attempt at the Gold Cup initially said to be his ultimate goal.

Yet the manner of Champ's jumping en route to his one-and-three-quarter-lengths victory in the Long Walk prompted connections to reassess plans and it appears the Stayers' Hurdle on March 17 is now the festival aim.

Champion Hurdle, Stayers' and more: potential runners and a long-range shout

Henderson had options over hurdles and fences on Cheltenham Trials day on January 29, and the Cleeve Hurdle has been preferred over the Cotswold Chase.

On the question of the Stayers' Hurdle being the target, Henderson said: "It looks as though we'll head to the Cleeve Hurdle now, and if you're going to do that it probably says it is. Nothing is set in stone at the moment, but it's very much a possibility.

Nicky Henderson on Champ: 'He's been very good since [Ascot]. We know he likes Cheltenham, so he has a lot of things in his favour'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"We think he'd have a very good chance in it. He was brilliant at Ascot, where he jumped beautifully and travelled like a really good horse, which he is. He's been very good since. We know he likes Cheltenham, so he has a lot of things in his favour."

Champ is 4-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle with the race sponsor, while the Willie Mullins-trained Klassical Dream heads the betting at 11-4.

Henderson's contender, who gets his name in recognition of 20-time champion jump jockey AP McCoy, is as short as 14-1 for the Gold Cup but the trainer and owner JP McManus could be represented by Chantry House, a dual Grade 1 winner over fences as a novice last season.

The trainer added: "In terms of the Gold Cup we have Chantry House as well, and maybe we can try and win both races."

Age could be against Champ if he goes for the Stayers' Hurdle. The last winner aged ten or older was Crimson Embers in 1986, while Henderson last won the race in 2000 and has sent out 17 beaten runners since.

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

Paddy Power: 11-4 Klassical Dream, 4 Champ, 11-2 Flooring Porter, 13-2 Thyme Hill, 16 Sporting John, Asterion Forlonge, 20 bar

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