Kempton for the Champ

While the Festival may be over for another year, we have our own jumping star in action (snow permitting!!!) as Champagne Champ runs in the 3:50 at Kempton. As a five-time winner on the flat and rated as high as 93, Rod has been looking forward to sending him over hurdles and he has not disappointed. Third on his debut at Wincanton saw him gain some valuable hurdling experience and stepping up in trip on better ground saw him win cosily at Chepstow last time out. He was still a bit green in front approaching the last but kept finding enough on the run the line. We are hoping to see further improvement this afternoon and it would be great if he won again. The handicapper has given him an official mark of 128 which means he has four pounds to find with the favourite Chosen Path, whose latest third to OK Corral has been boosted by the victor finishing second in the Albert Bartlett yesterday so it is no easy task. However, they both have the same RPR rating and it looks an ideal stepping stone for Champ as we hope he might be good enough to go to Aintree.