Barry Geraghty believes Champ could be a future Gold Cup contender after his heroics in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last week.
With Geraghty on board, the eight-year-old claimed a stunning late victory at the Cheltenham Festival last week, overcoming Minella Indo and Allaho in the final stages.
Champ was more than three lengths adrift late on but somehow came through for the win and now Geraghty thinks Nicky Henderson's charge could have what it takes to win a Gold Cup back at Prestbury Park in the future.
He told the Racing Post: “He has the class and you'd like to think there is improvement to come in his jumping. If he finds any at all, he will have to be bang there in the Gold Cup picture.”
Geraghty admitted he always felt Champ was going to come good in the RSA, despite trailing in third with time running out.
He added: “It's some feeling when you're three lengths down but you know you're going to win. It can happen anywhere, particularly at somewhere like Galway, that you're a couple of lengths down but you know it's in the bag. For those few split-seconds, it's some buzz.”
