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.

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.