Champ Goes Chasing Nicky Henderson sends Comkilred Champ over the larger obstacles tonight in the 6.20 at Exeter, the Champagne Lanson Rose Handicap Chase and under Richard Killoran, the son of Zaffaran will be having his first start in handicap company. The seven-year-old has shown only a glimmer in soft ground novice hurdles so far since joining the Seven Barrows outfit but his handler has always had a bit of regard for Comkilred Champ, who finished runner-up in a point-to-point at Summerhill in 2007. In Racing Post stable tours, Henderson described how himself and David Minton spotted the horse at the meeting on the Fowler's lands and bought him the next day. Two subsequent Gold Cup winners have apparently finished second in the same race in years gone by and this smashing big horse, who can be a bit keen, has been mentioned as being "all right." Richie Cully who trained and rode Comkilred Champ in his point-to-point days, said today: "He has been disappointing but going over fences might suit him and two miles one might suit too if they let him bowl along. He is a bit keen but he ran a good race for me and we thought he was a certainty for a maiden after that. "He has been a little bit disappointing since going over but he is a big good looking horse and you'd be surprised if he couldn't win a race the likes of tonight. Overall he has been disappointing though." Comkilred Champ's dam, Comkilred was a useful mare, winning four and interestingly this fellow himself was second in a good ground 'point,' a surface that he will encounter for the first time under Rules tonight.
