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Our Champ picks up deserved big prize in Swinton Hurdle
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 10 May 2025
Our Champ streaked clear in the closing stages to win the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock for the father and son team of Chris and Freddie Gordon.
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.”
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