CHAMP FOR LEOPARDSTOWN
NICKY Henderson has confirmed the Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival as the likely comeback target for Champ.
Last seen lunging late to claim a third win from four starts over fences in a thrilling renewal of the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March, the JP McManus-owned eight-yearold is on the Gold Cup trail this season.
Champ holds an entry in the King George on St Stephen’s Day, but Henderson i s unsure the righthanded speed test Kempton represents will suit – and views the Savills Chase at Leopardstown two days later as a suitable alternative.
‘Champ is very, very good and building up well,’ said Henderson. ‘We had to stop and have a wind operation, but I’m glad we got that done and he’s done a bit of schooling – he went over to Henrietta Knight’s for a few days. His jumping could tidy up a little bit.
‘He’s in the King George, but I’m mindful with him and Santini that I don’t think Kempton is a good track for either of them.
‘Champ would tend to go out to his left a little bit and I think there’s every possibility he might be going to Ireland – it would be the obvious race for him, possibly.’
Last season’s Gold Cup runner-up Santini is expected to return in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on December 5, the same day on which Altior is due to make his reappearance in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
Of Altior, the trainer added: ‘He’s all set for Sandown on Saturday week, absolutely.
‘He’s in really good form, he galloped at Newbury last week and was good. He schooled the other day, frightening.’
Henderson’s Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante will make her seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.
Also owned by McManus, the mare will be making her first competitive appearance since providing her trainer with an eighth victory in the feature event of the opening day of t he Cheltenham Festival.
Henderson has already won the Fighting Fifth on five occasions – and Epatante will be the red-hot favourite to add to his tally, with good ground forecast. ‘I think she’s pretty versatile ground-wise, but by and large we all want good ground for these races ,’ said Henderson.’
Henderson also left Marie’s Rock in the Fighting Fifth at Monday’s confirmation stage, but she is instead set to contest this year’s Gerry Feilden. The trainer added: ‘We waited to see what the entries were like and decided to stick her in at 11.45am, just in case anything goes horribly wrong [ wi t h Epatante],’ he explained. ‘I would like her to run in the Gerry Feilden.’
He also provided a positive update on Buveur D’Air, who has been off the track since suffering defeat and a nasty f oot i njury in l ast year’s Fighting Fifth. ‘Buveur D’Air is in very good form and coming along really well, so he comes i nto the equation somewhere,’ he said.