CHAMP lived up to his billing as he justified odds of even money to win a slowly-run Grade 1 Betway Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.
Champ - named after a champion, could still yet be one himself. He wins the Grade 1 Betway Challow Novices' Hurdle @NewburyRacing pic.twitter.com/Tdi1b4ZCQj
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 29, 2018
Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old, sent off a strong favourite in a field of seven for this two-mile, four-and-a-half-furlong contest on the back of a course-and-distance handicap win at the start of the month, had to defy a muddling pace in a tactical contest.
But there was no mistaking his superiority under Barry Geraghty as they took a narrow lead in the sprint to the last and then stayed on decisively two and a half lengths in front of Paul Nicholls’ Getaway Trump.
Kateson finished third, for Tom Lacey, a further three-quarters of a length back.
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