Champ is a big threat to Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup

Barry Geraghty: Champ a big threat to Al Boum Photo in Gold Cup

By Timeform, Tuesday 23 February 2021

Posted in: Cheltenham Festival News

Barry Geraghty has labelled old ally Champ “the biggest threat” to Al Boum Photo in next month’s WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup after the RSA Chase winner finished an encouraging second on his belated reappearance in the Betfair Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Sunday.

Champ was one of five winners at the meeting last year for Geraghty, who announced his retirement in the summer, bringing an end to a glittering career that included 43 Cheltenham Festival winners – a tally bettered only by Ruby Walsh.

Geraghty was especially pleased by how well Champ jumped in the Game Spirit, a two-mile contest trainer Nicky Henderson thought would serve as a better Cheltenham Gold Cup prep than the three-mile Denman Chase on the same card.

Writing in his first blog as an ambassador for The Festival™ supporting WellChild, Geraghty told thejockeyclub.co.uk: “It was interesting watching him run at Newbury with Nico de Boinville on his back on Sunday. He was brilliant, I thought.

“His jumping was better. In the RSA last year his jumping wasn’t as fluent. He didn’t school as well beforehand for whatever reason. He wasn’t showing the same amount of scope going into the RSA as he showed at the weekend - he was on springs!

“I think he’s the biggest threat to Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup. It’s very hard to put anything else in front of him and Al Boum Photo is there as defending champion. Champ’s run at Newbury would be a better level of form than Al Boum Photo has going into the race, but you’re taking it on trust because he took the same route last year and the year before.

“I’d be siding with Champ. If he can put it all together again at Cheltenham like he did on Sunday then Al Boum Photo will need to bring his A-game.”

Sceau Royal beats Champ to win the Betfair Game Spirit Chase!

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Geraghty also admits he is still getting used to the idea of not riding at the Festival this year, a sporting occasion he likens to football’s “Champions League Final”.

He explains: “I’ll admit straight away that it’s going to be strange not riding at Cheltenham this year. It’s such a buzz and your whole season is just geared around getting there.

“From the time your winter horses come in from their holidays, you’re thinking about which ones will be good enough for the Festival and as a jockey you want to get there in one piece. It’s your Champions League Final, and while I can’t tell you how many winners I’ve had at Aintree, Punchestown or Fairyhouse I can tell you how many I’ve had at Cheltenham - and I can name them.

“I knew going into last year’s Festival that it was going to be my last and with that in mind I was desperate to have a winner. It doesn’t matter which race it comes in, but winning the Champion Hurdle with Epatante meant the world to me.

“I probably showed more emotion riding winners at Cheltenham last year than I had done for a long time because I knew it was my last one, so to get Epatante in on the first day was the perfect way to start.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Epatante defend her Champion Hurdle title. She holds a special place in my heart after our win last year and if she brings her best on the day, I think she’s the one to beat.”

Read Barry Geraghty’s blog in full here