Champ v Paisley Park again: who comes out on top in a match of familiar foes?

Monday: 12.45 Kempton
Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Champ and Paisley Park have become familiar foes over the last two years. This will be the fifth time they have met in that period and the score is 2-2. So who will take the lead here?

Cheltenham is key to Paisley Park as both verdicts over Champ came at Prestbury Park. The first was his win in the Cleeve Hurdle in January and the second the Stayers’ Hurdle in March, when he was a place and length and a quarter in front as they filled third and fourth.

Champ has held a definite advantage away from Cheltenham. He had Paisley Park five and a quarter lengths behind when winning this race last year at Ascot and added another victory at Paisley Park’s expense when scoring by a neck to beat him into second at Newbury last time.

There evidently isn’t a lot between them – Racing Post Ratings has 1lb in Champ’s favour – but history tells us that Paisley Park would have a better chance if this were at Cheltenham.

Goshen shares the highest RPR in the race with Champ, but most of his best form has come over two miles and it remains to be seen whether he can repeat that over a mile further.

He proved he stays two miles, three and a half furlongs on a stiff track when running away with the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle last month, though, and wasn’t stopping at the end. This is an extra five furlongs, but Kempton is flatter terrain so, if he’s going to stay, it’ll be at this track.

Not So Sleepy is in a similar boat, also having stamina to prove. However, he has been placed in three runnings of the Cesarewitch and stays strongly on the Flat. The worry is that he can be a tearaway front-runner, but he is no forlorn hope if he doesn’t ruin his chance early on.

He was only two and a quarter lengths behind the classy Epatante when third in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last time and that form doesn’t leave him with much to find. He is only 3lb behind Champ and Goshen on RPRs and he may even improve for a stiffer test.

The improving mare Miranda completes the line-up and her 7lb allowance brings her right into it. She is also the only course-and-distance winner and that came last time in a career-best effort on RPRs. She has plenty to find, but is an improver against mainly exposed rivals.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Goshen goes into unknown territory

At six years of age, the high-class Goshen is the youngest in the field and could conceivably find his niche in 3m staying contests if his stamina lasts out.

Champ, Paisley Park and Not So Sleepy are all just days from their 11th birthday, so the door could be open for a horse like Goshen to gatecrash the upper echelons of the staying division. His trainer Gary Moore certainly hopes so.

“It’s his first time over the trip,” he said. “I think he could well be suited to it. I’ll leave it to Jamie [Moore] how he rides him.”

Goshen: steps up to three miles for the first timeCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Goshen produced his best performance for some time on his latest start when demolishing Brewin’upastorm by eight and a half lengths in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot and has pleased his trainer since.

“He seems in a good place, and likes soft ground,” Moore said. “I don’t want it to get too heavy, but soft would suit him well.

“If he stays the trip in top-class company it will open up new avenues for him. I’m hopeful he will, and I’m looking forward to Boxing Day to find out.”

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Champ
He doesn't do an awful lot in his work at home but we've been very happy with him. It's going to be an interesting race and it looks like a proper Grade 1. We're going a different way round to Newbury but we won right-handed at Ascot, so I don't see Kempton being a problem. He does tend to lug left a little bit but really only a little bit. The ground shouldn't be an issue, either.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Not So Sleepy
He’s a credit to himself and to his owner-breeders, Lord and Lady Blyth. We’re trying something different in terms of trip; it may or might not work – none of us really know. He stays 2m2f in the Cesarewitch which is usually a good indicator that they might stay three miles over hurdles, we’ll have to see. The horse seems in good form, and is a joy to have.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Paisley Park
He’ll have to run to his absolute best to win the Long Walk on a track like Kempton. I’m grateful the race has been rescheduled and I’m very happy with him. How he travelled round Newbury last time is probably better than he’s travelled for a while. If they go a right gallop you'd hope that would make it more of a test than it could be. The fact he's still prepared to put so much into his races and run to the level he did at Newbury just shows what an extraordinary horse he is.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Miranda
She’s in good shape, and it’s a bonus that the race was rescheduled for Kempton because she does like a flat track. The rain has helped her. She has a good chance.

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2.30 Kempton: 'We haven't seen the best of him yet' - key trainer quotes for the King George

2.40 Limerick: 'He's done everything right' - Elliott and Mullins duel in Faugheen Novice Chase

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