FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Jockey: Danny Gilligan
- Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
- Age: 11
- National Weight: 11st 1lb
- Season Form Figures: 05F112
- National Prep-Race: 2nd - Cross Country Chase, Cheltenham Festival (Mar 2026)
”Favori De Champdou is going down the “Tiger Roll route” in heading to Aintree after a run in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. This horse has looked an absolute natural around there (Cheltenham’s Cross Country course) and I hope that will stand to him at Aintree.
Of course, it’s a different test, but he comes here on the back of an excellent run behind Final Orders at Cheltenham where he was giving him a lot of weight (13lb), where they pulled a long way clear of the third (18 lengths).
I think it would be fair to say that he has got plenty of weight (11st 1lb) when you look at some of the horses around him, but he’s got a great profile for the race and for whatever reason, has been in the form of his life this season. I can just see this horse finishing in the money at what will hopefully be a nice price.
His jumping will be a big asset; he’s fluent over his obstacles and like I say, he’s following that “Tiger Roll route”. Tiger Roll loved it around that Cheltenham course and then loved it around Aintree too and I can see the same with this fella.
He’s another horse people will probably grab because he is an 11-year-old now, and that’s fair, but he’s never been better; jumps well and I wanted to highlight a couple of horses at big prices who could run into the first five or six places, and he’s certainly one.
I can’t put my finger on why he has improved so much so late into his career, but whatever Gordon Elliott and his team have done with him this season, it’s working, as they’ve got him to step forward a full stone in the ratings. Maybe it’s the cross country test that has sparked something in him, but from winning the big Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he’s been a real roll so he’s one to keep in mind at a big price."
The Bottom Line
- Strong Suit
- "He’s been in the form of his life since Christmas and follows the “Tiger Roll route” here."
- Weak Spot
- "He is 11 now and the stats are against him."