- Champ-Tritonic fromthehorsesmouth.info 45-1 Ascot double
- Streaky Bay 33-1 placed at Wolverhampton
By Andrew Atkinson
Nicky Henderson trained Champ (4-1) tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info returned to the winner’s enclosure when landing the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
“He’s always been very special – he didn’t get that name for nothing!,” quipped Henderson.
Nine-year-old Champ’s victory gave jockey Jonjo O’Neill jnr his first Grade 1 win after beating 5-2 favourite Thyme Hill by a length and three quarters.
“That’s my first Grade 1 and I’m going to remember this one. As a young boy this was all I wanted to do.
“To do it at Ascot for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus – with a horse named Champ – doesn’t get much better,” said O’Neill.
Champ’s odds have been sliced to 5-1 from 10-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Jockey O’Neill added: “I was in front too soon but he’s won an RSA, has very good stamina and when Tom O’Brien, on Thyme Hill came to me he went again.”
The victory was Henderson’s first Long Walk success in 13 years – on the back of ante-post favourite Buzz being absent after sustaining a serious injury on Friday.
Champ’s win came after blip on his last outing at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
“At Cheltenham it all fell to pieces. A lot of repair was needed and we had to get schooling and jumping,” said Henderson.
“That was for his own confidence – we had to have a run over hurdles,” he said.
Henderson added: “Buzz was the one we were thinking to be our World hurdler winner. He is at home sadly at this time in his box and time will tell that hopefully he will make a full recovery in time. We’ll know in 48 hours.”
Tritonic
Alan King trained Tritonic (8-1) bagged £100,000 when landing the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot under Adrian Hesketh beating Onemorefortheroad (14-1), to complete a fromthehorsesmouth.info 45-1 double.
Bob-on at Newcastle
At Newcastle fromthehorsesmouth.info tip Bavington Bob (13-8) won the bet365 Novices Handicap Chase. Each-way tip Off The Hook (13-2) was placed.
Mullins Navan win
Willie Mullins trained Ciele Du Neige (6-5) was a winning selection at Navan. Coole Arcade (7-2) tipped each-way was placed under Rachael Blackmore. Gordon Elliott-trained American Mike (1-8) tipped to win the Listed Flat race obliged gaining a 17 lengths win.
Adrimel Haydock romp
Tom Lacey rode tip, Stan Shepherd trained Adrimel (7-2) to win the Virgin Bet Novices Chase at Haydock Park gaining a 15 lengths win ahead of Donald McCain jnr trained 11-10 favourite Dreams Of Home.
Ryan Moore rode selection Belacqua (11-8) to victory at Lingfield Park.
Main Caption: Nicky Henderson trained Champ won Ascot Long Walk Hurdle. (Image courtesy Ascot Racecourse Twitter)
