DOUBLE HANDFUL

John Shaw’s racing betting column in association with

THERE will be no better story in racing should Champ win today’s opening race, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Not only is Champ closely related to three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, he’s been affectionately named after Sir AP McCoy when he rode and recommended him to JP McManus.

If horses moved in social classes, Champ would be mixing with high society.

He’s practically horseracing royalty.

Champ was beaten in his only run in his novice year when touched off by Vinndication at Ascot in January 2018.

But he’s bounced back in some style, winning all four starts, including an impressive victory in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury (tipped up in this very column).

When they make a film about AP’s life, the final scene will inevitably see Champ winning at Cheltenham.

That’s as much a certainty as getting a glimpse of a bartender in any movie — you can guarantee he will be wiping the inside of a glass with a rag.

But real life doesn’t always hand us Hollywood-style endings, although it does provide us with plenty of barmen who think polishing glasses is more of a priority than serving pints.

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old can expect plenty of support in the betting ring, however he’ll have to overcome some rather damning statistics — as well as hurdles — if he is to emerge victorious this afternoon. None of the previous 16 winners of the Challow Hurdle have ever gone on to win the Ballymore. Furthermore, only one horse aged seven or older has won the Ballymore in the last 47 years. Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy won this race last year with Samcro and the same combination have high hopes for BATTLEOVERDOYEN.

It’s worth bearing in mind that Irish trainers have won nine of the last 18 runnings of this race.

The strapping six-year-old looked very impressive winning a Grade 1 at Naas in January and has been locked away with this as his target ever since.

He’s the horse who’ll be carrying my money in the opener.