Favori De Champdou might have dented Festival chance in Trials day win

Connections fear Favori De Champdou’s impressive cross-country victory on Trials day could hinder his chances of following up in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Gordon Elliott’s 11-year-old is the general second-favourite behind defending champion Stumptown for the Cheltenham Festival’s most unique contest after bolting up by a cosy eight and a half lengths in late January.

However, he was handed a hefty rise from the handicapper for that performance, which leaves Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstown House stud questioning whether Favori De Champdou can add to the owners’ stellar record in this race and one they won three times with the incomparable Tiger Roll.

O’Leary said: “He was great on Trials day, but you just hope that hasn’t cost him his chance as he got 8lb for it.

“That’s a big whack and has taken the wind out of his sails a little bit. It’s a massive hit for a horse who has always worn his heart on his sleeve.”

While Favori De Champdou may be burdened by near top-weight in a race which was switched back to a handicap for the first time in 10 years 12 months ago, Gigginstown will also field former Gold Cup third Conflated.

Although now at the tail-end of his Grade One-winning career, the 12-year-old gave a bold bid when not beaten far into third at Punchestown recently and the 20-1 chance heads to the Cotswolds off his lowest mark since 2021.

O’Leary added: “You would like to think Favori De Champdou still goes there with some sort of a chance, but because of his rise, Conflated will have a nice racing weight out of the two of them.

“I don’t know if you could class Conflated as a forgotten horse, but he enjoys that discipline and the better the ground the better his chance will be.”