Champ Floorshis Rivalswith Amazing Last-Gasp Knockout
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28 Thursday, March 12, 2020 racingpost.com YESTERDAY AT CCHHEELLTTEENNHHAMAM MICHAEL STEELE (GETTY IMAGES) Pictures from Racing TV show the ground made up by Champ Champ from the last fence floors hihiss rivals wiwithth amazing last-gasp knockout PATRICK McCANN (RACINGPOST.COM/PHOTOS) “I knew I still had a chance turning “Might Bite did funny things to us in RSA Insurance in when I was probably six or seven this race when he ran right off the lengths behind,” relived Geraghty. “I track but that was remarkable,” said Novices’ Chase hadn’t made any ground jumping the Henderson. “Halfway up the run-in I second-last and then it’s getting away started to watch what was going on up 1 Champ 4-1 a little bit, but the two in front hadn’t the front with the other two, then as 2 Minella Indo 3-1 been brilliant at the last and on the line was coming up Champ came landing at the back of that I’m 3 Allaho 5-2f into my sight! smelling the money again.” “If Shishkin was 100-1 at the second 4 Battleoverdoyen 7-1 Who knows what Champ could last what price was Champ at the last? smell but it must have been something Owner JP McManus He’s a horse with a wonderful attitude sweet as his revs went through the roof and temperament and to be fair the Trainer Nicky Henderson while the leaders hit the skids. fall last time didn’t do him too much Jockey Barry Geraghty “He started picking up and from harm. Groom Satya Subramani getting to within three lengths of them “Nico de Boinville has done a lot of Breeders Philip And Jane I knew it was over,” added Geraghty. work with him, he even took him in Myerscough “From putting his head in front 70 the indoor school yesterday morning yards from the finish he’s gone a to jump some poles and he has to take Distances 1l, 1l, 22l length clear – he was motoring.” a lot of credit for this.” By Lewis Porteous Both Rachael Blackmore on Minella The winner was given a quote of Indo who traded at 1.06 in running 14-1 with Paddy Power for next year’s DOWN but not out pretty much says it and Paul Townend on Allaho (traded Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, with all about Champ, who in the most at 2.0) looked sheepish at best having Henderson and Geraghty agreeing the unlikely of circumstances landed a had their pockets pinched and extra yardage in the feature race of the 12th round knockout to prevail in a Geraghty knew exactly what the pair festival would be no issue after what head-scratcher of an RSA Insurance were feeling. had just played out. Sir Anthony McCoy (tie) is among the throng celebrating Champ’s RSA win Novices’ Chase. “It’s brilliant for me reeling them in Sprawled on the canvas after a but I’ve been in Rachael’s position and McCoys – snr and jnr – beaming after wonder display sloppy effort to clear two-out on his have been mugged like that,” he said. last visit to Cheltenham, his corner “I was mugged on Native Dara in 2000 SIR ANTHONY McCOY watched from horserace he pulled out of the fire by end of the race reminded me a lot of could have been forgiven for throwing in the Coral Cup by What’s Up Boys the ITV presentation point and got galloping past punch-drunk pair Wichita Lineman.” in the towel on this occasion as he and there’s no worse feeling. extremely excited. Minella Indo and Allaho will live long The man who rode Wichita toiled in third turning in. “Rachael came over and congratu- Archie McCoy, supremely smart in in the memory – especially the Lineman to that unforgettable festival Still almost nine lengths behind lated me and I said to her, ‘I know his Pinewood School uniform, memory of one ecstatic little boy. triumph in 2009 had been bullish Minella Indo and Allaho at the last, where you are’. It’s a tough one but watched with his mother and Zara “It was very nice,” said Archie. “I got about Champ in the Racing Post’s layers on Betfair made Champ a 399-1 sing when you’re winning, as Robbie Tindall, who both encouraged him to really excited and I was jumping RSA preview and was recorded by chance. His trainer Nicky Henderson Williams said!” get extremely excited. He needed no around. He is very good. He’s my ITV roaring the new last-gasp hero had even given up hope, training his Memories of Might Bite’s antics in encouraging. favourite.” home. binoculars away from his horse and the same race in 2017 came flooding Champ is named after McCoy Mother Chanelle McCoy said: “That was amazing, brilliant and on to the leaders, thinking third and back for Henderson, who has a senior and morally belongs to McCoy “Archie really adores the horse. He what he was bought to do,” said no better was Champ’s lot. colourful but satisfying record in the junior, although JP McManus seems has followed him for the last two McCoy. “Staying has always been his Yet Barry Geraghty, on a high after a race, Champ becoming his fourth RSA happy to pay the bills. He also made years and accumulated quite a few forte.I always thought the further he fourth Champion Hurdle success on winner. sure the Cheltenham Festival’s six- trophies. When he fell on New Year’s went the better he would be. Tuesday, had been at pains to stay year-old first-time visitor came up to Day Archie was so relieved he got up “We hoped he would one day turn away from the quagmire down the the victory podium after Champ’s and was fine, so it was brilliant for up at the Cheltenham Festival and inner and, sensing tiring legs ahead of 399-1 astonishing success in the RSA Chase. him to come back today and win. He got beat last year but not this him, was perhaps the only one to get a Champ the wonder horse he may experience Champ winning. time.” whiff of victory. Champ’s in-running high not yet be, but the wonderful “It was so exciting. Watching the LEE MOTTERSHEAD Want the racingpost.com/freebets Daily Your favourite For The Must-Have Racing Offers BIGGEST PROMOS?O BOOKIES? offers? Racing Post backs responsible gambling. 18+ begambleaware.org 0808 8020 133.