Our Champ picks up deserved big prize at Haydock
Winner of a valuable race at Ascot earlier in the season, he has been running well all campaign in some tough races.
He was third in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, just out of the places in fifth in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot and sixth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Last time out, he was third to Absurde in defence of his Sussex Champion Hurdle crown, but slightly down in grade, he sprinted away from the opposition.
Givemefive adopted his usual front-running tactics and was still at the head of affairs on the run to the final flight but Freddie Gordon bided his time before kicking for the line.
Goblet Of Fire briefly looked a danger but he met the last all wrong and Our Champ (8-1) was able to win by three and three-quarter lengths from the running on Helnwein.
Freddie Gordon told Racing TV: 'He's been a star for the yard, he gives his all every single time he runs.
'I thought he might have too much weight today but he's a decent animal on his day
'Hopefully there's more to come because he's still young, he's only seven.
'His last few runs have been in very tough races. All I wanted was a nice lead today because last time I tried to run the sting out of Absurde. Today, in a bit of a lesser field, I could take my time.
'I lost a good friend in Lambourn this morning, he was a brilliant lad, so I just want to dedicate that to him.'
Earlier Alan King's Harbour Lake (8-1) was delivered late by Tom Cannon to win the Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle, beating Tiny Tetley and the fast-finishing Long Draw by a neck and a head.
Owen Burrows has enjoyed a fine start to the season and Alyanaabi provided him with a fifth winner from his last 10 runners in the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes.
A top-class juvenile, he was second to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst, last season did not go to plan but having been gelded, his mind was fully focused as he made all under Jim Crowley to justify even money favouritism by a length and a quarter from Tiber Flow.
Burrows said: 'He was a smart two-year-old, ran well in the Guineas and the St James's Palace but we lost him in the second half of the season.
'We gave him a full MOT, we cut (gelded) him and he's obviously shown a good level at home and has been doing that again this spring.
'Jim was able to set his own fractions. Where we go next, I'm not sure, maybe back here for the John O'Gaunt. If he does fall in that seven-furlong category there aren't many options, Jim would love to try him over a stiff six.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
40 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Lazy Griff all set for a third crack at Lambourn in Irish Derby
A Group Three winner in France at the end of his juvenile campaign, Lazy Griff made his return to action in last month's Chester Vase and emerged with plenty of credit in finishing second to Lambourn, earning him a shot at the Betfred Derby at Epsom. Johnston's charge was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic, but belied those odds with an excellent effort to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O'Brien's front-running colt and round three will take place at the Curragh this weekend. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐! โ Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 7, 2025 'It wasn't an easy decision to come to, perhaps the Grand Prix de Paris might have been an easier challenge and we certainly wouldn't have been taking on a horse that's already beaten us twice, but the lure of the Irish Derby was too strong to turn down,' said Johnston. 'We're under no illusions about the task in hand because it is two-nil to Lambourn, but having said that we weren't afraid to have another go at him. 'It'll be interesting to see how the race pans out. You can't take anything away from Lambourn and what he did at Epsom at all, but at the same time he was given a very good front-running ride and we all maybe gave him a little bit too much rope on the front end. 'Sunday is going to be a different day on a different track with a different field and we're more than happy to have another go and see what we can do to reverse the form.' Christophe Soumillon was on board Lazy Griff at Epsom, but as the French-based Belgian is required to partner Goliath in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Johnston has turned to William Buick to ride his stable star in his bid for Classic glory. He added: 'Obviously it's a shame as Goliath and Lazy Griff are probably Christophe's two marquee horses for the season at the moment and it's sod's law that they're both running on the same day. 'It's a shame for him, but we're able to bring William in who is obviously top-class but will also be very confident at the moment after a great Royal Ascot, it's a great replacement to call upon.' Lazy Griff and Lambourn feature in a 10-strong field following Friday's declaration stage, with Aidan O'Brien also saddling Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master and Gallinule Stakes scorer Thrice, as well as Serious Contender and Shackleton, both of whom performed well in defeat at Royal Ascot. His son Joseph runs Derby third Tennessee Stud, while Green Impact is a fascinating contender for Jessica Harrington on what will be his first attempt at a mile and a half. Ralph Beckett's Dante winner Pride Of Arras bids to bounce back from Epsom disappointment, with his stablemate Sir Dinadan completing the line-up.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
Lazy Griff all set for a third crack at Lambourn in Irish Derby
A Group Three winner in France at the end of his juvenile campaign, Lazy Griff made his return to action in last month's Chester Vase and emerged with plenty of credit in finishing second to Lambourn, earning him a shot at the Betfred Derby at Epsom. Johnston's charge was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic, but belied those odds with an excellent effort to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O'Brien's front-running colt and round three will take place at the Curragh this weekend. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐! โ Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 7, 2025 'It wasn't an easy decision to come to, perhaps the Grand Prix de Paris might have been an easier challenge and we certainly wouldn't have been taking on a horse that's already beaten us twice, but the lure of the Irish Derby was too strong to turn down,' said Johnston. 'We're under no illusions about the task in hand because it is two-nil to Lambourn, but having said that we weren't afraid to have another go at him. 'It'll be interesting to see how the race pans out. You can't take anything away from Lambourn and what he did at Epsom at all, but at the same time he was given a very good front-running ride and we all maybe gave him a little bit too much rope on the front end. 'Sunday is going to be a different day on a different track with a different field and we're more than happy to have another go and see what we can do to reverse the form.' Christophe Soumillon was on board Lazy Griff at Epsom, but as the French-based Belgian is required to partner Goliath in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Johnston has turned to William Buick to ride his stable star in his bid for Classic glory. He added: 'Obviously it's a shame as Goliath and Lazy Griff are probably Christophe's two marquee horses for the season at the moment and it's sod's law that they're both running on the same day. 'It's a shame for him, but we're able to bring William in who is obviously top-class but will also be very confident at the moment after a great Royal Ascot, it's a great replacement to call upon.' Lazy Griff and Lambourn feature in a 10-strong field following Friday's declaration stage, with Aidan O'Brien also saddling Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master and Gallinule Stakes scorer Thrice, as well as Serious Contender and Shackleton, both of whom performed well in defeat at Royal Ascot. His son Joseph runs Derby third Tennessee Stud, while Green Impact is a fascinating contender for Jessica Harrington on what will be his first attempt at a mile and a half. Ralph Beckett's Dante winner Pride Of Arras bids to bounce back from Epsom disappointment, with his stablemate Sir Dinadan completing the line-up.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Rhyl Journal
Lazy Griff all set for a third crack at Lambourn in Irish Derby
A Group Three winner in France at the end of his juvenile campaign, Lazy Griff made his return to action in last month's Chester Vase and emerged with plenty of credit in finishing second to Lambourn, earning him a shot at the Betfred Derby at Epsom. Johnston's charge was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic, but belied those odds with an excellent effort to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O'Brien's front-running colt and round three will take place at the Curragh this weekend. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐! โ Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 7, 2025 'It wasn't an easy decision to come to, perhaps the Grand Prix de Paris might have been an easier challenge and we certainly wouldn't have been taking on a horse that's already beaten us twice, but the lure of the Irish Derby was too strong to turn down,' said Johnston. 'We're under no illusions about the task in hand because it is two-nil to Lambourn, but having said that we weren't afraid to have another go at him. 'It'll be interesting to see how the race pans out. You can't take anything away from Lambourn and what he did at Epsom at all, but at the same time he was given a very good front-running ride and we all maybe gave him a little bit too much rope on the front end. 'Sunday is going to be a different day on a different track with a different field and we're more than happy to have another go and see what we can do to reverse the form.' Christophe Soumillon was on board Lazy Griff at Epsom, but as the French-based Belgian is required to partner Goliath in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Johnston has turned to William Buick to ride his stable star in his bid for Classic glory. He added: 'Obviously it's a shame as Goliath and Lazy Griff are probably Christophe's two marquee horses for the season at the moment and it's sod's law that they're both running on the same day. 'It's a shame for him, but we're able to bring William in who is obviously top-class but will also be very confident at the moment after a great Royal Ascot, it's a great replacement to call upon.' Lazy Griff and Lambourn feature in a 10-strong field following Friday's declaration stage, with Aidan O'Brien also saddling Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master and Gallinule Stakes scorer Thrice, as well as Serious Contender and Shackleton, both of whom performed well in defeat at Royal Ascot. His son Joseph runs Derby third Tennessee Stud, while Green Impact is a fascinating contender for Jessica Harrington on what will be his first attempt at a mile and a half. Ralph Beckett's Dante winner Pride Of Arras bids to bounce back from Epsom disappointment, with his stablemate Sir Dinadan completing the line-up.
