Ten are set to line-up for Saturday’s Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, including the returning Champ.
Winner of the race in 2021, Nicky Henderson's Champ has not been seen since a well-beaten fifth in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April and will be making his seasonal reappearance. Now eleven-years-old, the gelding has been involved in some excellent fights with the re-opposing Paisley Park over the years.
"He's a great old horse, Nicky is happy with him and the plan is, all being well, to go there," said Frank Berry, racing manager to Champ's owner JP McManus.
"He runs well fresh so you would hope he would run well.
"He enjoys Ascot and has run some good races around there and Nicky is happy with him at the minute."
Old foe Paisley Park has the advantage of race fitness, having finished a good second in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury behind Dashel Drasher, who is also entered for Ascot. The pair are joined by Gary Moore's duo, Goshen and Botox Has, with the latter claiming the scalp of Dashel Drasher at Wetherby during the Charlie Hall meeting.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Blueking D'Oroux is unbeaten in two starts at Ascot and will be stepping up to Graded company, joined by fellow handicapper Crambo from the Fergal O'Brien stable. Red Risk, West Balboa and Gowel Road complete the line-up.
