The thing is though, old boy, Hendo will have as much say as to where Champ goes from here on in as you, me or dear old Fizz from ‘Coronation Street’. The decisions will be made by, play the sinister music please, the owner, or, and now play the even more sinister music, the owner’s management team. The 2 contentious horses that the barn kept down the novice route, at the Cheltenham Festival, in recent terms have to be Sprinter Sacre (2012 Arkle rather than that terms ‘Champion Chase’) and Altior (2017 Arkle rather than that years ‘Champion Hurdle’). But both of these were owned by what you wold describe as more malleable owners who would have had no problems being led by the great man and forum favourite. McManus and his entourage would be a whole different story. Incidentally, Hendo (as you call him) won both the ‘alternative’ races listed so he wasn’t, as they say, ‘bothered’, that both Sprinter and Altior went for the easier options. But in my opinion had both had more forceful owners they would have won the 2012 Champion Chase and the 2017 Champion Hurdle, respectively, with absolute ease.
