Announcement

Collapse

Fat Jockey Patrons

Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated.
Become a Patron!

You can also make a one-off donation here:
See more
See less

Henderson Festival 2014 Stable Tour

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Henderson Festival 2014 Stable Tour

    Nicky Henderson hosted today a Cheltenham Racecourse-organised media stable visit at Seven Barrows.

    He showed off his main hopes and said he could have up to 35 runners over the four days of The Festival, Tuesday, March 11 to Friday, March 14 inclusive, at Cheltenham.

    He said: "My situation is not as gloomy as some people have made out - we are only one winner behind last year at this stage "Sadly, we will be missing a lot of the A team at The Festival but I am cheerful - all the horses worked well this morning - Bobs Worth worked great and My Tent Or Yours worked great. "There are 16 or 17 horses going to Kempton to work on the Polytrack on Friday, while six will go to Newbury on Sunday including Bobs Worth, Captain Cutter, Triolo D'Alene, Royal Boy and maybe Vaniteux. That is the battle plan. We haven't been running them for very obvious reasons.

    "My Tent Or Yours will not go to Kempton or Newbury. I wanted to work some on the grass today and gave them a proper gallop. That would have been too much if they were going to Kempton on Friday as well. So the Kempton horses, led by Captain Conan, have just done a good bit on the all-weather this morning which is much less arduous.

    "All the horses going to Newbury are better off on grass but the risk of that is how wet will Newbury be after two days of racing, but I know how to get on the Flat course! "With the gallops as wet as they are, there has been some interference in our normal routine. It has been tough for everybody getting to and from the village (Lambourn). The water on the roads was a lot higher 10 days ago. We have been ferrying people here in jeeps and things - everybody has been fantastic. The worst thing was no electricity for 48 hours.



    Nicky Henderson with My Tent Or Yours (left) and Bobs Worth (right)

    Synopsis - Nicky Henderson is the all-time leading trainer at The Festival with 50 successes following four last year and a record seven in 2012 when he took The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award for the ninth time. He captured the Jump trainers' championships in 1985/86 and 1986/87, and regained the title from Paul Nicholls last year.

    Born - Lambeth, London, on December 10, 1950

    Background - The son of financier and amateur jockey John Henderson MBE, who founded Racecourse Holdings Trust, the forerunner for Jockey Club Racecourses, he was educated at Eton and the Royal Agricultural College.

    He worked for stockbrokers Cazenove in London and Australia, where he gained experience riding work at Randwick, before devoting himself full-time to racing.

    He first made his name in Britain as an amateur rider, finishing runner-up three times in the non-professional championship. His main wins as a jockey came on Happy Warrior in the 1977 Fox Hunters Chase at Aintree and on Acquaint in Sandown's Imperial Cup in the same year.

    Henderson recorded his 78th and final win on Rolls Rambler in the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford in June, 1978.

    He became assistant trainer to Fred Winter in 1974 and received his own training licence in July, 1978, taking over from Roger Charlton at Windsor House Stables in Lambourn, Berkshire. He moved to Seven Barrows, to the north of the village, in 1992, after swapping yards with Peter Walwyn.

    First Winner As A Trainer - Dukery at Uttoxeter, October 14, 1978.

    Cheltenham Festival Wins (50)

    Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1986 River Ceiriog, 1992 Flown)
    Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase (1991 Remittance Man, 1993 Travado, 2000 Tiutchev, 2012 Sprinter Sacre, 2013 Simonsig)
    Festival Trophy Handicap Chase (2000 Marlborough)
    Stan James Champion Hurdle (1985, 1986 & 1987 See You Then, 2009 Punjabi, 2010 Binocular)
    Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (2013 Rajdhani Express)
    Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (2012 Simonsig)
    RSA Chase (2005 Trabolgan, 2012 Bobs Worth)
    BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase (1992 Remittance Man, 2012 Finian's Rainbow, 2013 Sprinter Sacre)
    Coral Cup (2010 Spirit River)
    Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2012 Une Artiste)
    Ryanair Chase (2006 Fondmort, 2012 Riverside Theatre)
    Ladbrokes World Hurdle (1989 Rustle, 2000 Bacchanal)
    Byrne Group Plate (1985 & 1986 The Tsarevich, 2005 Liberthine, 2006 Non So)
    Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase (1990 Master Bob, 2002 The Bushkeeper, 2005 Juveigneur)
    JCB Triumph Hurdle (1985 First Bout, 1987 Alone Success, 1999 Katarino, 2009 Zaynar, 2010 Soldatino)
    Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (1993 Thumbs Up, 1997 Barna Boy)
    Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (2011 Bobs Worth)
    Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (2011 Long Run, 2013 Bobs Worth)
    Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2009 Andytown)
    Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (2006 Greenhope, 2012 Bellvano)
    Cathcart Chase (1990 Brown Windsor, 1994 Raymylette, 1999 & 2000 Stormyfairweather)

    Cheltenham Festival Wins by Year
    1985: 3 (The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival) - Stan James Champion Hurdle (See You Then), Byrne Group Plate (The Tsarevich), JCB Triumph Hurdle (First Bout)
    1986: 3 (The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival) - Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (River Ceiriog), Stan James Champion Hurdle (See You Then), Byrne Group Plate (The Tsarevich)
    1987: 2 (The Irish Independent joint leading trainer at The Festival) - Stan James Champion Hurdle (See You Then), JCB Triumph Hurdle (Alone Success)
    1988: no winners
    1989: 1 - Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Rustle)
    1990: 2 (The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival) - Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase (Master Bob), Cathcart Chase (Brown Windsor)
    1991: 1 - Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase (Remittance Man)
    1992: 2 (The Irish Independent joint leading trainer at The Festival) - Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1992 Flown), BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase (Remittance Man)
    1993: 2 (The Irish Independent joint leading trainer at The Festival) - Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase (Travado), Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Thumbs Up)
    1994: 1 - Cathcart Chase (Raymylette)
    1995: no winners
    1996: no winners
    1997: 1 - Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Barna Boy)
    1998: no winners
    1999: 2 - JCB Triumph Hurdle (Katarino), Cathcart Chase (Stormyfairweather)
    2000: 4 (The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival) - Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase (Tiutchev), Festival Trophy Handicap Chase (Marlborough), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Bacchanal), Cathcart Chase (Stormyfairweather)
    2001: no winners
    2002: 1 - Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase (The Bushkeeper)
    2003: no winners
    2004: no winners
    2005: 3 - RSA Chase (Trabolgan), Byrne Group Plate (Liberthine), Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase (Juveigneur)
    2006: 3 - Ryanair Chase (Fondmort), Byrne Group Plate (Non So), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Greenhope)
    2007: no winners
    2008: no winners
    2009: 3 - Stan James Champion Hurdle (Punjabi), JCB Triumph Hurdle (Zaynar), Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle (Andytown)
    2010: 3 (The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival) - Stan James Champion Hurdle (Binocular), Coral Cup (Spirit River), JCB Triumph Hurdle (Soldatino)
    2011: 2 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Bobs Worth), Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Long Run)
    2012: 7 (The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival) - Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase (Sprinter Sacre), Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Simonsig), RSA Chase (Bobs Worth), BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase (Finian's Rainbow), Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Une Artiste), Ryanair Chase (Riverside Theatre), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Bellvano)
    2013: 4 - Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase (Simonsig), Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (Radjhani Express), BetVictor Champion Chase (Sprinter Sacre), Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Bobs Worth)

    "Whereas, everything just rolled and rolled last season and went right, except for the Betfair Chase as usual, the horses were good, kept injury free and remained healthy. You have got to have all the luck in the world for that to happen. Things did go our way last season and it was fantastic but you know that it does not last. "This season has not been a disaster - I think we have won six Grade Ones and it usually is a good season if we do that.

    "Monday morning, when we had said about Sprinter Sacre missing Cheltenham, life was actually a bit easier again. A decision had been made, and I knew it was the right one, and now we could get on with things.

    "We have got what we have. We have not got Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and we are not going to run Long Run (kept for the Crabbie's Grand National) but we have good some very good horses. As long as we can find a winner or two at The Festival..... We have plenty of horses who have good chances and across the board. Last year we went into The Festival with three favourites for championship races and odds-on ones. There is nothing here which ought to win but they can win."
    Last edited by mayo; 25 February 2014, 04:22 PM.

  • #2
    Juvenile Hurdlers


    Royal Irish Hussar would have to have good ground (To run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle), as much as Kentucky Hyden wants very soft ground, so whichever way it goes we'll have one chance in it, but we won't have two chances as one wants it quick and one wants it slow. They'll both probably run, but they will not win if it's on the wrong ground.

    Kentucky Hyden (IRE)
    4 ch g Kentucky Dynamite (USA) - Cap Serena (FR) (Highest Honor (FR))
    Form: 832-41222 Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Breeder: Haras de Manneville

    Summary

    *Failed to win on the Flat and in four starts over hurdles at Auteuil for Thomas Trapenard.
    *Facile 33-length winner on debut for new connections at Sandown in November, before a neck defeat in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at The International in December.
    *Finished second to Le Rocher in both the Grade One Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas and the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on January 25, beaten two and a half lengths and 10 lengths respectively. He has a BHA rating of 139.

    Jump race record: Starts 8; Wins: 1; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £48,731

    Entries at The Festival
    JCB Triumph Hurdle
    Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
    Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle


    Royal Irish Hussar (IRE)
    4 b g Galileo (IRE) - Adjalisa (IRE) (Darshaan))
    Form: -1113 Owner: Triermore Stud Breeder: Adjalisa Stud


    Summary
    *14-furlong winner on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien in Ireland.
    *Completed a hat-trick over hurdles in the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at The Open in November, beating subsequent Grade One winner Guitar Pete by three and three quarter lengths.
    *Beaten 16 lengths into third by Fox Norton on his latest start in a Grade Two contest at Doncaster on December 14.

    Jump race record: Starts: 4; Wins: 3; 2nd: -; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £40,147

    Entries at The Festival
    JCB Triumph Hurdle

    Dawalan (FR)
    4 gr g Azamour (IRE) - Daltawa (IRE) (Miswaki (USA))
    Form: -4112 Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Breeder: HH Aga Khan

    I like his chances in the Fred Winter, he's in good form. I'm pleased with him, he's done everything right, winning his last two at Newbury. It was always the plan (the Fred Winter) so that's where we're going to go.

    Summary
    *Azamour half-brother to multiple Group One winners Dalakhani and Daylami, but failed to win in four starts on the Flat for Alain de Royer-Dupre.
    *Fourth to Calipto over an extended two miles on hurdling debut at Newbury in November, but followed that up with two victories over the same course and distance on December 18 and January 15 respectively. BHA rating of 133.
    *Beaten a nose in a jumpers' bumper on Polytrack at Kempton Park on January 31.

    Jump race record: Starts: 4; Wins: 2; 2nd: 1; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £7,929

    Entries at The Festival
    Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
    Last edited by Old Vic; 25 February 2014, 04:46 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Novice Hurdlers

      Royal Boy/Captain Cutter

      Royal Boy will go for the Neptune, it's just whether Captain Cutter goes with him or to the Albert Bartlett. They both worked together this morning and that's just because they work well together, not because we wanted to see which one can run faster. JP (McManus) says we can go where we want with Captain Cutter, it's not dependent on anything else, and I suppose I would just prefer the Albert Bartlett at the moment, though that could change if it came up soft.


      Captain Cutter (IRE)
      7 b g Westerner - Hollygrove Samba (IRE) (Accordion (IRE))
      Form: 132-111 Owner: J P McManus Breeder: Mrs S Brennan

      Summary
      *Got the better of Kings Palace on debut in a Listed bumper at Ascot in December, 2012, and was placed at Ascot and Punchestown.
      *Unbeaten over hurdles this term. Annexed minor events at Kempton Park and Market Rasen before a decisive four and a half length success in the Grade One Challow Novices' Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at Newbury on December 28.

      Jump race record: Starts: 6; Wins: 4; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £35,996

      Entries at The Festival
      Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle
      Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

      Josses Hill (IRE)
      6 b g Winged Love (IRE) - Credora Storm (IRE) (Glacial Storm (USA))

      Form: -2112 Owner: Alan Spence Breeder: I W Moore

      I think he has (got the required talents for the Supreme). Royal Boy beat him in the Tolworth, but I think he outstayed him that day. I don't think Josses Hill lacks stamina, he won a bumper in Ireland, and he's been very good. I think he's entitled to be one of the protagonists in the Supreme. It looks open and we're sort of watching and wondering in what Willie Mullins is up to. It seems he's got an absolute army of them, but I can only judge my own horses on what we've seen and we just hope that the Irish challenge isn't as strong as it sounds.

      Summary
      *Purchased for £100,000 at the Brightwells Cheltenham Premier May Sale after chasing home Faugheen for Andy Oliver in a bumper at Punchestown on May 11.
      *Landed an Ascot bumper by four lengths in late November on first start for new connections.
      *Made a winning hurdling debut over two miles at Newbury on December 18, beating classy Flat performer Communicator by three lengths.
      *Beaten a half-length by stable companion Royal Boy in the rearranged Grade One williamhill.com Levy Board Tolworth Hurdle at Kempton Park on January 11.

      Jump race record: Starts: 4; Wins: 2; 2nd: 2; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £14,061

      Entries at The Festival
      Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

      Royal Boy (FR)
      7 b g Lavirco (GER) - Quintanilla (FR) (Royal Charter (FR))

      Form: 1/23-311 Owner: Michael Buckley Breeder: Earl Haras Du Luy

      Summary

      *Knocked down for €150,000 at Goffs' Punchestown Sale in May, 2011, following a point-to-point win at Rathmorrissey in Ireland.
      *Second season novice over hurdles; two starts last season include a third behind Melodic Rendezvous in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on January 5, 2013.
      *Disappointed on his chase debut at Kempton Park in November and switched back to hurdles at Ascot on December 20, when he scored comfortably by six lengths over two miles, six furlongs.
      *Dropped back to two miles for the rearranged Grade One williamhill.com Levy Board Tolworth Hurdle at Kempton Park on January 11, wearing down stable companion Josses Hill by a half-length.

      Jump race record: Starts: 5; Wins: 2; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £30,895

      Entries at The Festival
      Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle
      Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

      Vaniteux (FR)

      5 br g Voix Du Nord (FR) - Expoville (FR) (Video Rock (FR))

      Form: -141 Owner: Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Breeder: Jacques Cypres

      Summary
      *Irish point-to-point graduate, finishing in the frame in his two starts.
      *Made a winning debut for current connections in an extended two-mile novice hurdle at Sandown Park on December 7, finishing powerfully to score by a length and a half.
      *Beaten favourite in warm novice hurdle at Kempton Park over Christmas, but bounced back when stepped up to just short of two and a half miles at Doncaster on February 6, scoring impressively by 12 lengths.

      Jump race record: Starts: 3; Wins: 2; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £10,765

      Entries at The Festival
      Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
      Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
      Last edited by Old Vic; 25 February 2014, 04:47 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Novice Chasers

        Grandouet (FR)

        7 b/br g Al Namix (FR) - Virginia River (FR) (Indian River (FR))

        Form: 331/52113B/1F11/2F6-U22 Owner: Simon Munir Breeder: Dominique Le Baron

        He was another one who went through a bit of a blip at the end of the winter and he ran a disappointing race last time having run a couple of good ones. There wasn't much between him and Hinterland and those other good horses. He just seems to be bouncing back a little bit at the moment. A bit of good ground and a bit of sunshine and he's in the mix. He was a genuine Champion Hurdle contender last year when he fell and the year before, so he's got the speed and the last couple of times he's jumped very we
        ll.

        Summary

        *Top-class hurdler; raced in France before coming to England finished third in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival in 2011, before winning a Grade One contest at Punchestown. Also captured Grade Two StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, 2011 & second in the same race after a year off in 2012.
        *Fell four out when travelling well in last year's Stan James Champion Hurdle.
        *Unseated rider at the last when held on chasing debut at Sandown in November, but bounced back with a fast-finishing neck second to Hinterland in the Grade One Racing Post Henry VIII Novices' Chase at the same course on December 7.
        *Proved no match for Dodging Bullets in Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton Park over Christmas, beaten 10 lengths.

        Jump race record: Starts: 19; Wins: 6; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 3; Win & Place Prize Money: £245,676

        Entries at The Festival
        Racing Post Arkle Chase

        Oscar Whisky (IRE)
        9 b g Oscar (IRE) - Ash Baloo (IRE) (Phardante (FR))

        Form: 1/1114/1131/F11151/112P4-2111 Owner: Walters Plant Hire Ltd Breeder: Stephanie Hanly

        If you'd had a two-and-a half-mile hurdle at previous Festivals, he'd have been odds-on. Because two and a half miles around Cheltenham is what he absolutely loves. We've switched him to fences a little bit later in life than you'd possibly expect but he's jumped very well, he's won twice round Cheltenham already and he finally gets his Festival opportunity over the right trip.

        Summary

        *Won 10 of his 17 outings over hurdles, including the Grade One Aintree Hurdle over two and half miles in 2011 and 2012.
        *Effective from two miles to three miles.
        *Went down by a neck on chase debut by Taquin Du Seuil over two and a half miles at Cheltenham in November, but got off the mark at the same course in December, beating Wonderful Charm by a half-length.
        *Reversed form with Taquin Du Seuil in Grade Two Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase on New Year's Day, finishing three quarters of a length ahead, and completed a hat-trick in the Grade One Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown Park on February 1.

        Jump race record: Starts: 24; Wins: 16; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £472,998

        Entries at The Festival
        JLT Novices' Chase
        Last edited by Old Vic; 25 February 2014, 04:43 PM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Hurdlers

          My Tent Or Yours (IRE)

          7 b g Desert Prince (IRE) - Spartan Girl (IRE) (Ela-Mana-Mou))

          Form: 122/121121-111 Owner: J P McManus Breeder: Frank Dunne

          He does (compare well to his Champion Hurdlers of the past), favourably. He's got a lot of very natural talent and I think what he has done is learn how to use it better. He's been very good all year, he's won two Grade Ones already in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle and a rather insignificant Flat race the other day that was an important part of his preparation. He was very impressive in the jumpers' bumper, winning in a very quick time and it was what we wanted. So far, touch wood, he's had an uninterrupted preparation. He's got speed, probably more than stamina and some people will say the Newcastles and the Kemptons suit him better than Cheltenham, but I don't think that necessarily. The New One came to challenge him at Kempton and couldn't get by him, he wasn't stopping. I think good ground helps him and very slow ground would be against him. I think if you get good ground he can use his speed, but I'm not worried about stamina, I'm more worried about the other horses. It's going to be a great race and let's hope it's properly run with no incident and it's exciting. He can pull quite hard, and that's why we ran him at Kempton the other day on the Flat, just to try and take a little bit of the fizz out of him and that worked really well. Hopefully AP will get him to settle without having to hang out the back. The one thing he can do is travel well throughout a race, and though you've got the hill to fight again - Bobs Worth loves that hill, we don't know that he does - but, I'm hopeful.




          Summary

          *Classy bumper performer, finishing second to The New One in Champion Bumper at Aintree in April, 2012.
          *Won four of his six starts over hurdles last term, including the Grade Three Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and a Grade Two at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
          *The half-length runner-up to Champagne Fever in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at last year's Festival.
          *Won two Grade One hurdles this season, capturing the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November before edging out The New One by half a length in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
          *Latest start resulted in an easy win in a two-mile jumpers' bumper on Polytrack at Kempton Parkon February 16.

          Jump race record: Starts: 12; Wins: 8; 2nd: 4; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £295,545

          Entries at The Festival
          Stan James Champion Hurdle


          Rolling Star (FR)

          5 b g Smadoun (FR) - Lyli Rose (FR) (Lyphard's Wish (FR))

          Form:1165-100 Owner: Michael Buckley & the Vestey Family Breeder: Laurent Deniel

          Summary
          *Won a maiden hurdle at Auteuil in October, 2012, for Tatiana Puitg.
          *Scored on British debut for new connections in Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in January, 2013, but was beaten favourite in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival and at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
          *Made winning return in intermediate hurdle over two miles at Haydock Park in November, before finishing 11th in Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot on December 21.
          *17th of 20 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 8.

          Jump race record: Starts: 7; Wins: 3; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £68,377


          Entries at The Festival
          Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
          Last edited by Old Vic; 25 February 2014, 04:40 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Chasers

            Bobs Worth (IRE)

            9 b g Bob Back (USA) - Fashionista (IRE) (King's Theatre (IRE))

            Form: 21/1111/1321/11-61 Owner: The Not Afraid Partnership Breeder: Lois Eadie

            Everything's gone well and he was very good in Ireland in the Lexus. Coming off the back of that it was exactly what we wanted, when we wanted and he's a great character. He hasn't got the greatest constitution, but he tries and tries and tries and he loves what he does. He'd die for you and that's his strength, there's nothing flashy about him. Sprinter is this gorgeous, flashy horse that shows off all the time. Bob just gets on with it and he's very genuine and honest, with talent. And he loves coming up that hill. It is a hard race to win and to do it twice you've got to be at the top of your game for two years and there's always young horses coming along. This year it looks much the same line-up without one or two, but Silviniaco Conti, who fell late last year, was definitely going to be in contention and he was our main danger and will be again. We've got a line on the Irish horses that we've beaten before, but he's the defending champion and he's going to have to fight very very hard to retain his crown. He's in good form.

            Summary

            *Unbeaten in five starts at Cheltenham.
            *Extended winning sequence at the course to five with a gutsy seven-length success in last year's Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. Also enjoyed success at The Festival in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle in 2011 and the RSA Chase in 2012.
            *Disappointed on seasonal return in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on November 23, when beaten 40 lengths into sixth.
            *Bounced back with a one and a half length victory over First Lieutenant in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

            Jump race record: Starts: 14; Wins: 10; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £656,503

            Entries At The Festival
            Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup

            Captain Conan (FR)
            7 b g Kingsalsa (USA) - Lavandou (Sadler's Wells (USA))

            Form: 3411622/11151-3 Owner: Triermore Stud Breeder: Woodcote Stud

            I think he probably is a two-mile horse. We tried him over two and half, principally last year to try and keep out of Simonsig's way. We haven't run him since the Tingle Creek and he really looked as if he'd come to win the race two out and he didn't get home, but we've had a few issues and things that hopefully we've corrected. Things have gone quite well since then and though he hasn't had a race, he'll have a racecourse gallop over the weekend and if everything goes good then he comes in with a fighting chance. Sire De Grugy is now the horse to beat and this fellow has got the ability to do so.

            Summary

            *French import; captured Grade One Tolworth Hurdle on his British debut in January, 2012.
            *Won four of his five starts in novice chases last season, including two Grade One contests at Sandown and the Grade One Betfred Manifesto Novices' Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree in April.
            *Third on only outing this season to Sire De Grugy in the Grade One BetVictor Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on December 7, beaten seven and a quarter lengths.

            Jump race record: Starts: 13; Wins: 6; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £178,352

            Entries at The Festival
            BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase
            Ryanair Chase

            Riverside Theatre
            10 b g King's Theatre (IRE) - Disallowed (IRE) (Distinctly North (USA))

            Form: 13/12114/3115F/121/11P/646-1U6 Owner: Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership
            Breeder: Goldford Stud

            Summary

            *Classy hurdler; finished third behind Hurricane Fly in a Grade One novice event at Punchestown in April, 2009.
            *Top-class chaser, annexing back-to-back renewals of the Grade One Ascot Chase over an extended two miles and five furlongs in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
            *Captured the Ryanair Chase at The Festival in 2012, getting up in the dying strides under an inspired ride from Barry Geraghty.
            *Struggled in three starts last season, but returned this term with a gutsy victory in the Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on December 12.
            *Unseated Barry Geraghty in a first-time hood and blinkers in the Grade One King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
            *Sixth but well beaten in the Ascot Chase on February 15.

            Jump race record: Starts: 23; Wins: 11; 2nd: 2; 3rd 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £486,471

            Entries at The Festival
            Ryanair Chase
            Last edited by Old Vic; 25 February 2014, 04:42 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Nicky Henderson's entries for The Festival, 2014, except in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the OLBG Mares' Hurdle and the CGA Foxhunter

              11Mar14 1:30 Stand To Reason CHELTENHAM (Early closer), Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              11Mar14 1:30 Josses Hill CHELTENHAM, Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              11Mar14 1:30 Cup Final CHELTENHAM, Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              11Mar14 1:30 Vaniteux CHELTENHAM, Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              11Mar14 2:05 Grandouet CHELTENHAM, Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase Grade 1

              11Mar14 2:40 Hadrian's Approach CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 2:40 Triolo D'Alene CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 2:40 Ma Filleule CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 2:40 Une Artiste CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 2:40 Shakalakaboomboom CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 2:40 Top Of The Range CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 2:40 Hunt Ball CHELTENHAM, Festival Handicap Chase Grade 3

              11Mar14 3:20 My Tent Or Yours CHELTENHAM, Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Grade 1

              11Mar14 5:15 Ericht CHELTENHAM, Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race)

              11Mar14 5:15 Lough Kent CHELTENHAM, Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race)

              11Mar14 5:15 Top Of The Range CHELTENHAM, Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race)

              11Mar14 5:15 Une Artiste CHELTENHAM, Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race)

              12Mar14 1:30 Cup Final CHELTENHAM, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              12Mar14 1:30 Cocktails At Dawn CHELTENHAM, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              12Mar14 1:30 Captain Cutter CHELTENHAM, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              12Mar14 1:30 Oscar Hoof CHELTENHAM, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              12Mar14 1:30 Royal Boy CHELTENHAM, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              12Mar14 2:40 Une Artiste CHELTENHAM, Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              12Mar14 2:40 Whisper CHELTENHAM, Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              12Mar14 2:40 Lough Kent CHELTENHAM, Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              12Mar14 3:20 Sprinter Sacre CHELTENHAM, BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase Grade 1

              12Mar14 3:20 Captain Conan CHELTENHAM, BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase Grade 1

              12Mar14 3:20 Kid Cassidy CHELTENHAM, BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase Grade 1

              12Mar14 4:40 Kentucky Hyden CHELTENHAM, Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              12Mar14 4:40 Dawalan CHELTENHAM, Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              13Mar14 1:30 Oscar Whisky CHELTENHAM, JLT Novices' Chase Grade 1

              13Mar14 2:05 Utopie Des Bordes CHELTENHAM, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race)

              13Mar14 2:05 Mister Dillon CHELTENHAM, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race)

              13Mar14 2:40 Rajdhani Express CHELTENHAM, Ryanair Chase Grade 1

              13Mar14 2:40 Riverside Theatre CHELTENHAM, Ryanair Chase Grade 1

              13Mar14 2:40 Hunt Ball CHELTENHAM, Ryanair Chase Grade 1

              13Mar14 2:40 Kid Cassidy CHELTENHAM, Ryanair Chase Grade 1

              13Mar14 2:40 Captain Conan CHELTENHAM, Ryanair Chase Grade 1

              13Mar14 4:00 Kid Cassidy CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Rajdhani Express CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Une Artiste CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Ma Filleule CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Triolo D'Alene CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Hunt Ball CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Top Of The Range CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Giorgio Quercus CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Ericht CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:00 Nadiya De La Vega CHELTENHAM, Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3

              13Mar14 4:40 Roberto Goldback CHELTENHAM, Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders)

              13Mar14 4:40 Shakalakaboomboom CHELTENHAM, Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders)

              13Mar14 4:40 Ma Filleule CHELTENHAM, Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders)

              14Mar14 1:30 Kentucky Hyden CHELTENHAM, JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1

              14Mar14 1:30 Royal Irish Hussar CHELTENHAM, JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1

              14Mar14 2:05 Cash And Go CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Master Of The Game CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Lough Kent CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Gibb River CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Nesterenko CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 First In The Queue CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Vasco Du Ronceray CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Snake Eyes CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Lyvius CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Makari CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Stand To Reason CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:05 Rolling Star CHELTENHAM, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

              14Mar14 2:40 Captain Cutter CHELTENHAM, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              14Mar14 2:40 Royal Boy CHELTENHAM, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Grade 1

              14Mar14 3:20 Long Run CHELTENHAM, Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Grade 1

              14Mar14 3:20 Triolo D'Alene CHELTENHAM, Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Grade 1

              14Mar14 3:20 Bobs Worth CHELTENHAM, Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Grade 1

              14Mar14 4:40 Mister Dillon CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Kentucky Hyden CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Full Shift CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Golden Hoof CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Beat That CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Snake Eyes CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Une Artiste CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Oscar Hoof CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Vaniteux CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Lough Kent CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Volnay De Thaix CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 One Lucky Lady CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 4:40 Master Of The Game CHELTENHAM, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

              14Mar14 5:15 Ericht CHELTENHAM, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap Grade 3

              14Mar14 5:15 Kid Cassidy CHELTENHAM, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap Grade 3

              14Mar14 5:15 Tanks For That CHELTENHAM, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap Grade 3

              14Mar14 5:15 French Opera CHELTENHAM, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap Grade 3

              14Mar14 5:15 Anquetta CHELTENHAM, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap Grade 3

              Comment


              • #8
                Everybody worked great this morning. Bobs Worth worked great, My Tent worked great. Everything's gone smoothly."

                Comment


                • #9

                  Comment


                  • #10

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Bobs Worth will gear up for his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup defence with a spin on the Lambourn gallops on Sunday.

                      Nicky Henderson had been considering the possibility of sending the reigning champion to Newbury for a racecourse gallop, but testing ground at the Berkshire venue has forced the trainer into a rethink.

                      Bobs Worth, leading Crabbie's Grand National contender Triolo D' Alene and Tolworth Hurdle winner Royal Boy will instead be in action on the Mandown gallops.

                      Henderson said: "I don't think we want to be galloping on this ground, so we're allowed to go to Mandown instead."

                      The Seven Barrows handler took 16 inmates to Kempton for a gallop on Friday morning, with BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase contender Captain Conan and JLT Novices' Chase fancy Oscar Whisky among the party.

                      "It all went well, there were no dramas. A couple had a good blow and there were some good times," said Henderson.

                      "Oscar Whisky went well, and Captain Conan went well."

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Big Hands Harry, his easy winner in the second race on the card, will not be up to Festival standard this year, but Royal Boy, who beat him comfortably back in December, is also in the Henderson yard, and remains a solid 8-1 third-favourite for the Neptune Novice Hurdle ahead of a scheduled racecourse gallop on Sunday.

                        Royal Boy is one of seven horses from Seven Barrows who will have their final serious exercise before the Festival this weekend, but not as originally intended at Newbury, where the ground is simply too deep. Instead, Henderson will send Royal Boy and horses including Bobs Worth, last year's the Gold Cup winner, to Mandown, near his base in Lambourn, early on Sunday morning.


                        "I want to put them in a box, so I'm going to drive them round and round the village [first] to get the adrenalin pumping," Henderson said. "There won't be any horses at Newbury, if anyone comes here they will be bored. It's fine for racing here, but I don't need to be galloping on it."

                        In addition to Bobs Worth and Royal Boy, the remaining five horses who will be driven around in circles on Sunday morning are the novice hurdler Captain Cutter, the juvenile hurdler Kentucky Hyden, the Hennessy winner Triolo D'Alene, Ma Filleule, who holds entries in three Festival handicap chases, and Vaniteux. The last-named had been thought unlikely to run in the Supreme Novice Hurdle, the first race of the meeting, but may now be back in the reckoning. "It's crossed my mind over the last fortnight," Henderson said. "I'm going to put him in [the gallop] and see what happens."


                        Henderson also took a big team – 14 horses in all – to exercise on the Polytrack at Kempton on Friday morning, including Captain Conan, a possible contender for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in the absence of his stablemate, Sprinter Sacre.

                        "The times were quite interesting this morning," Henderson said. "They worked over two miles, but we timed the last circuit, which is a mile-and-a-quarter, and there were some good times. Barney [Clifford, Kempton's clerk of the course] says that the time [should be] about two minutes and six, and some of them were doing two minutes and 12 or 13 on harrowed ground when they had already done six furlongs.

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X