Chapple-Hyam talks up Traffic Guard’s Champion chances
The four-year-old belied his 50-1 price tag when beaten just half a length by Jim Bolger’s charge in the Irish Champion Stakes last month.
“On his home work, we expected Traffic Guard to run a big race last time,” said Chapple-Hyam.
“I wouldn’t have thrown him in at the deep end in Ireland if I didn’t think that he would have been in the first three and he justified that. He’s a good horse so he’s worthy of taking his place in the Champion Stakes.
“The horse is in good order and this time we don’t have the long journey over to Ireland, it’s just up the road. He is probably a little bit of an underdog but I’m going into the race quietly confident.”
“It would be great for the horse to break his Group-race duck in a Group One on Saturday and I’ve never won one either.”
Hebridean is the sole entry for Aidan O’Brien, while Dermot Weld’s
Famous Name completes a three-strong Irish challenge along with New Approach.
Full Of Gold and Russian Cross could make the trip from France, with the latter having been supplemented by Andre Fabre.
John Gosden has also supplemented Upton Grey, who is owned by Princess Haya Of Jordan and is likely to be used as New Approach’s pacemaker, while he may also saddle Pipedreamer.
Linngari, City Leader, Staying On and Twice Over complete the line-up, with the latter now Henry Cecil’s only representative after Phoenix Tower was ruled out of the race due to injury.
The four-year-old banged a tendon on Saturday and a scan has revealed sufficient damage to not only rule him out of this weekend’s race but also end his racing career.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “Scans this morning showed a small tear in the tendon which represented an unacceptable risk. The colt has now been retired from racing.
“Obviously it is disappointing as we were really looking forward to the weekend and he would have had a great chance.
“He was in really good form and it is a real shame as if ever a horse deserved to win a Group One, it was him.
“The decision has just been made this morning to retire him so we haven’t got any further than that at this stage.
“We will have to have a chat about where he will stand at stud but nothing has been decided on that yet.”
Champion Stakes, Ladbrokes bet: 5-4 New Approach, 6-1 Russian Cross, Twice Over, 8-1 Pipedreamer, 10-1 Linngari, 12-1 Famous Name, 14-1 Hebridean, Traffic Guard, 25-1 City Leader, 33-1 Full Of Gold, 66-1 Staying On, 200-1 Upton Grey.
