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Nicky Henderson Stable Tour

Nicky*Henderson*has remained at the top of his profession after almost 34 years with a training licence and he looks set to lay down his strongest challenge for the trainers’ championship in a bid to end the six-season dominance of Paul Nicholls.

Henderson was born in Lambeth, London, on December 10, 1950, and his late father Johnny founded Racecourse Holdings Trust, the Jockey Club subsidiary (and forerunner of Jockey Club Racecourses), which saved Cheltenham Racecourse and now has 14 courses under its umbrella.

He was educated at Eton and the*Royal*Agricultural*College*and spent time working for city stockbrokers Cazenove in*London*and*Australia, where he gained experience riding work at*Randwick, before devoting himself full-time to racing.

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

His 50th win as an amateur was Strange Love at Folkestone on October 3, 1977, and his final ride was aboard the victorious Rolls Rambler in the Horse & Hound Cup at*Stratford*in June, 1978, his 78th success.

He had become 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. He soon established himself as one of the leading members of his profession and landed the jump trainers’ title in both 1985/6 and 1986/7.

In 1992,*Henderson*moved his string to Seven Barrows stables, just to the north of Lambourn, in a straight swap with fellow trainer Peter Walwyn. That same year saw him added to the royal trainers’ list with the Queen Mother sending him three horses, including New Zealand Grand National winner*Nearco*Bay. The Queen is still among his owners.
 
Barry G on Tetlami = 2 miler

If Saturday’s meeting at Kempton told us anything, then it’s don’t take anything for granted.

I came away with two good winners from three rides but you’d have seen just how easy it would have been for both to have ended up as disappointments.

As you knew from last week’s blog, I was getting all the right messages about TETLAMI ATR Tracker for his chase debut over two miles but it could have gone wrong big style.

He’d been a little bit brave over the first two fences so I was anxious to get him in and pop the third.

He did get in and rubbed it a little bit then just nodded on landing and as he sprung back up he went left and I went right.

That made the saddle slip, and although it was only three inches it meant that I was three inches longer on the right and three inches shorter on the left. In effect, I was riding acey-deucy like Frankie Dettori does on the Flat - and that’s not ideal with fences to negotiate.

If you watch me going by the winning post I’m trying to get my foot back in and at the same time get the saddle level because it’s high on my left-hand side.

Once I got by foot back in the stirrup I was able to get the saddle level and it was business as usual.

In fairness to Tetlami, he was good after that and jumped well. He likes some nice ground and there are going to be good days for him over two miles.

He’ll definitely be improving for that first run and I have no doubt there are decent races awaiting him.
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Interesting view on Chatterbox from Nick Mordin

DON'T UNDER ESTIMATE CHATTERBOX

Most people seem to think that the recent win by CHATTERBOX (39) at Newbury was a fluke caused by a combination of heavy ground and a slow early pace. The numbers I see in front of me suggest something very different.

Yes the early pace was slow. But they picked up tremendously in the closing stages. Compared with the one hurdle that was strongly run throughout (the Juvenile race) they came home 3.27 seconds faster from the second hurdle and a monstrous 10.27 seconds faster from three out. Whether I rate the race from the second jump or invoke my sectional timing formula to combine ratings for the last three flights and the full distance I come up with the same big rating of 39. That equals the best rating earned by a novice hurdler in Britain so far this season.

The fact that the horse that the runner up previously earned the biggest rating I'd previously given a UK novice hurdler this second suggests my interpretation of the sectional times is correct. As does the fact that the 12.75 length fourth Hells Spirit had finished 12.50 lengths behind Puffin Billy on his previous two starts. Puffin Billy is regarded by many as the top UK novice hurdler.

The popular view is that the runner up and long odds on favourite MY TENT OR YOURS (37) was left with too much ground to make up in a race clearly run to suit those sitting close to the pace. However the furthest behind he ever got from a long way out was down the far side where he was only 1.2 seconds behind the leader. He closed to within 0.7 seconds of the leader two out but Chatterbox then got away from him again, crossing the line 1.1 seconds ahead.

I accept trainer Nicky Henderson's explanation that My Tent or Yours didn't like the heavy ground. He ran a couple of lengths a mile below his best according to my ratings. But he still produced a pattern class performance and continues to look a big player for the Supreme Novices and the other Spring Festivals when the ground should be more in his favour.

Chatterbox is now unbeaten in two starts. He won a Bumper on his sole previous outing in which he and the runner up pulled well clear of their rivals. Nicky Henderson says he's not as mature as his stablemate My Tent Or Yours and will therefore probably not be going to Cheltenham.

Chatterbox is the only foal of a dam whose sole win came in a two and a half mile steeplechase (she's a half sister to staying chaser My Will). His sire gets quite a few chasers too, mostly over at least that far. So it seems likely that Chatterbox will be switching to the bigger jumps next term. Meanwhile I'll be very interested in his chances in any decent novice hurdle he contests for the rest of this season. He looks likely to be massively under-rated.
 
Donn below ...would 135 get into the old William Hill ?

Mush Mir

Mush Mir did well to finish third in the three-mile handicap chase at Kempton on Saturday. A confirmed front runner, he was back on his heels when the tapes went up, with the result that he kicked off in behind horses, and he had to do a lot of running over the first three fences just to get to the front rank. Once there, he had consistent competition for the lead from On Trend, who also had the benefit of the inside rail, which wasn’t ideal.

Mush Mir travelled well in front, however, and he actually didn’t give best to strong stayer Brackloon High until the second last fence, after which his early exertions seemed to tell, and he actually gave up second place to the rallying On Trend close home.

This three-mile may have been a little far for Mush Mir, although he may get it if he breaks in front, or isn’t taken on for the lead, or back on better ground. He goes well on good ground, and he will be very interesting now in a good three-mile or two-mile-six-furlong handicap back on better ground, or if it looks like he will get an uncontested lead. The handicapper left him on his mark of 135 after this performance, which is more than fair. He is only six, he has raced just five times over fences, and it is probable that he can improve fairly significantly on this run now.
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What Conor did next ....

Murphy’s big leap of faith

Last March, West Corkman Conor Murphy scooped £1 million on an accumulator bet at Cheltenham and followed his dream of setting up his own stables — in the United States

In the depths of winter he’d hear the horn of his grandfather Mick’s jeep around half six in the morning and Conor Murphy knew it was time to go to work. He couldn’t wait.

Mick wouldn’t keep the horn blowing for long – not because he was worried about waking the neighbours in Derrygrá, just outside Enniskeane in West Cork, but because he didn’t have to.

Conor would be ready for road, his boots parked at the door and, sometimes, his work-clothes worn in bed to save time in the morning. He’d whip the curtains back and give Mick a wave as if to say, I’ll see you in five.’

The stable yard was more than that away, but such was Conor’s enthusiasm he’d leg it, eager to get there as soon as he could. Then he’d meticulously check the horses, one by one. Study their moods and personalities and make mental notes on their well-being.

The horses had to be perfect. His mother Carmel recalls a time he was left fuming after a trusted hand forgot to put the stable-collar around one of the horses.

Heck, there were point-to-points coming up and that meant nothing could be left to chance. It wasn’t for the money or glory but for the euphoria of victory. "You are either in this game or you’re not, no shortcuts," he would say.

After work, he’d race back home, grab a quick bite and jump on the bus to school in Bandon, where he’d spend eight hours thinking how he could improve the horses.

Some of his buddies would still be wiping sleep out of their eyes. Conor counted the hours ’til he could get back to the horses and implement his new theories.

Fast forward 20 years. It’s early September. He’s at the Keeneland Horse Sales in Kentucky looking for a bargain. He still has the smile on his face thinking of the circumstances that permitted him to be there in the first place. He didn’t strike oil or gold, didn’t inherit a fortune and certainly isn’t the offspring of Sheiks or Sultans. He won €1.2 million on an accumulator bet at Cheltenham and followed his heart to set up his own stable in the US.

He’s introduced to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani at the Sales or rather, the Sheikh had heard of his pedigree and wanted to know more about him, rather. They had a chat and the Sheikh, who runs a flourishing racing empire and is the son of the Sultan of Qatar, invited him to dinner.

Murphy, and his girlfriend Julia, were understandably nervous but knew a similar opportunity mightn’t arise again. He agreed, had drinks and dinner later that night and, by the morning, they’d agreed on Murphy training two of his horses. Fairytale stuff. Mick would be proud.
 
"Pretty busy now, thank God," is how Murphy, 28, describes life at present.

"It’s been a bit of a dream really, the last few months, you know. It was a bit of an unknown coming out here in the first place. I was hoping more than anything else that I’d get a few horses but it’s hard when no one knows who you are or where you’ve come from.

"Everyone knew everyone out here before I came so from their point of view, why back a fella when you don’t know anything about him? It’s hard to break into that. But it’s been very good so far, I’ve managed to get some good clients and some good horses," he enthuses.

Rewind a few months and Murphy’s story was the most talked-about topic at racetracks up and down the UK. Here was the stable lad who had won the inaugural John Durkan racing award from the National Stud in 2003 for showing "the most aptitude and enthusiasm for racing during their internment at the Irish National Stud". His reward for that was mucking out stables at Nicky Henderson’s yard in Lambourn outside London for four years but all the while accruing a deep knowledge of horse racing that would ultimately make him a millionaire.

And he had the foresight to place seven bets a week before Christmas for a festival three months away. His rationale: if the horses won a week later at any Christmas race-meeting, their odds would be slashed for Cheltenham and the pay-out wouldn’t be as lucrative.

Though he decided he was going to leave Henderson regardless, the money undoubtedly helped — but the life is certainly no easier. He still rises at 6.30am every day.

"Look, what I won was irrelevant, really," he explains. "Winning was great but as regards horse racing, it’s a different league I’m in here. I’m starting out on my own, I’m unknown. You have to try and make it happen yourself. This game doesn’t do handouts. Working for Seven Barrows (Henderson’s yard) the last four years, I had the best horses and I was working with the best trainers and best jockeys and we had the best of everything.

"We wanted for nothing there, neither did the horses. They had great owners ... but here, doing your own thing, is totally different because you are now the one responsible for everything that happens. Here, you start off on your own. I’m responsible for the lot. Getting the horse in shape, getting the horse to the track, how it runs, the jockey, it’s totally different. It’s a whole different ball-game."

Riverside Bloodstock is the name of his stable – derived in part from the horse which triggered his bounty at Cheltenham, Riverside Theatre, and though he’s in charge of 22 horses now, he still believes the pressure under Henderson was greater.

"There was a lot of pressure in the role I had back at Seven Barrows. But I’m on my own now and it’s funny because I don’t think there’s as much pressure. First of all, I had so many high-class horses in England and there was a lot of pressure there for them to win and have them in top shape. You treat every horse the very same, but I probably don’t feel as much pressure because I’m not working with the quality of horse that I was before, yet," he reasoned.

"Now, having said that, the competition is tough. I mean, there’s a lot of opportunity and the money is a lot better but it’s tough going. No question about it. The money, though, is just massive here. I mean if you can get a win in the likes of the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders’ Cup, you’re made. But they’re all tough tracks. You don’t get an easy race anywhere."

Indeed, the ride has been anything but smooth since he decided to try his luck in America. A visa that took 10 months to process was only stamped the Friday before he met the Sheikh at Keeneland. When he rings up jockey’s agents on several occasions, the response was, ‘Conor who?’ "That is one of the hardest things," he says. "It’s totally different to the National Hunt back home. Of course I miss that unbelievably but I’ve no regrets. Hopefully I can train a winner here soon. Then things will change. But don’t get me wrong — I’m loving it here. Louisville is a brilliant city, a brilliant place. There’s a good Irish community here. Molly Malone’s is the pub here where they show all the games on TV — you’d nearly get better coverage here than you would at home, and the Americans have been absolutely great.

"They’re very friendly and we get on great. They’re A1." When Henderson discovered Murphy was leaving, he told a journalist at a party for JP McManus it was "the worst day of his life."

However, Murphy’s mind was made up since the previous December. Regrets? Not a chance.

"Once I’ve my mind made up about something, that’s it. I decided before Christmas I wanted to do this. Don’t get me wrong, a million is a lot of money – a life-changing experience, but, at the end of the day, it’s a nice cushion. However, it’s not something you can live off for the rest of your life. I love racing so much and I love the game so much that I’d probably be lost if I ever left it. Besides, that kind of money is loose change to some of the guys here.

"Look, I’ve said it before that I’d love to train back in the UK, I’d love nothing more, but the money and the opportunity here is great, too great to resist. It just made sense to come out here and try and make it. There are a lot of Irish trainers out here actually. We’d all love to be at home, I love home as much as the next fella, but that’s how it is – there are more opportunities and that’s my way of looking at it. I have a better chance of making it here.

"I mean, to get a chance to train horses for the Sheikh is a privilege. I’d prefer a few more to train but it’s a good start. And it’s good to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of him."

Though he’s only in business five months, he’s already set some lofty goals. And the Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes — is something he’s always had his eye on.

"The build-up to the Kentucky Derby here is huge and that’s always held an appeal for me. To train a horse to win that would be a dream come true. But it’s not the only one. The Triple Crown would have always appealed to me growing up and to win one of them would be nice!"

Coming to the end of the conversation it becomes apparent that Murphy hasn’t spent his winnings on yachts and cars. His humble upbringing would see to that. But surely there were occasions when he loosened the purse strings?

"I went on a couple of holidays," he laughs, half-expecting the question. "It was nice to have some extra cash in the back pocket. I went to Antigua in the Caribbean for a week with Julia, and I went to Ayia Napa for a week with the boys! So a few sessions alright.

And were the drinks on him? "No way," he interrupts, "The boys were giving me stick for being mean!

"It’s in the past now though, to be honest. It’s in the back of my mind. It’s a week I’ll never forget but I don’t bring it up unless other people do. There’s a few here alright in Louisville that would’ve heard of me and seen me winning but I rarely think about it. There’s more to be made!"
 
Tistory hammersly lake and master of the game back in training after slight setbacks. Is t too late for festival ?
 
Catching Pigeons

Testing conditions won't be a worry for Captain Conan and he should complete his Cheltenham Festival preparations easily enough in the Betfred Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown.

Trainer Nicky Henderson actually has quite a quiet Saturday in store, but takes Tetlami on the stable's annual jaunt north of the border to Musselburgh on Sunday to take on Overturn. He has taken to fences with enthusiasm and even if he can't get on terms with the favourite should at the very least give his trainer a steer over his Arkle plans with Simonsig.

Henderson also runs Roberto Goldback in the three-mile Betfred Masters Chase at Sandown, but he may struggle to handle the testing ground and could be put away after this to wait for Aintree.
 
Can't see Tistory jumping a hurdle this season. Didn't Nicky mess up last season when he entered him in a bumper in Ireland without realising he didn't qualify? Some rule about French bumpers being regarded as Flat races in Irelend

After a set back so close to the festival he'd have to be stone mad to run him over hurdles unless he was very confident of winning a very good race with him.

The Aintree Bumper is where he'll be thinking of sending him IMO if anywhere that way he has a full novice hurdling season ahead of him in the Autumn,
 
Utopie Des Bordes makes her UK debut today but is pretty much unbackable.

I saw her race in France over 2m6f and a6f from home she was so far behind you'd have given her no chance.

In the end she won going away and has the stamp of a horse who would love a stamina test like Cheltenham.

She may be unbackable today but she could be a great back to lay at 33/1 for the Neptune or alternatively the Albert Bartlet
 
The Judge said:
Utopie Des Bordes makes her UK debut today but is pretty much unbackable.

I saw her race in France over 2m6f and a6f from home she was so far behind you'd have given her no chance.

In the end she won going away and has the stamp of a horse who would love a stamina test like Cheltenham.

She may be unbackable today but she could be a great back to lay at 33/1 for the Neptune or alternatively the Albert Bartlet
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Good info TJ Any chance he will skip Cheltenham with her this year ? Said after the race something about listed race at Sandown. Also a big mares race in Newbury after Cheltenham but not sure if she quailed for that ?
 
FWIW I would have thought she will go for something at the fez. She is his only entry in the Albert Bartlett and shortest price one in the Neptune. Was surprised Minellaforfitness had no Neptune entry.
 
Gallops reporter

Nicky Henderson exercised the posse of horses that will represent him on 'Super Saturday' at Newbury.

The performances of his team should have a bearing on markets for the likes of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Supreme Novices' Hurdle, RSA Chase, County Hurdle and the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.

SIMONSIG is very much the standard-bearer at Henderson's local course when he takes on more experienced horses for the first time in the Betfair Super Saturday Chase.

The spring-heeled grey bids to follow on from Sprinter Sacre's Newbury win last year as he takes a final step towards the Arkle Trophy.

He oozes class at home as well as on the track and looked in tremendous form in his latest piece of faster work at Seven Barrows.

Nothing has managed to get him off the bridle in novice chases at Ascot and Kempton, and it must be doubtful that anything will get within hailing distance of him in the old Game Spirit Chase, a recognised trial for the two-mile championship but one Henderson is exploiting to great effect with his novices.

Henderson will probably throw plenty of ammunition at the Betfair Handicap Hurdle, with MY TENT OR YOURS as short as 7-2 following a big ante post plunge on the JP McManus-owned gelding.

Should the ground get better, it will not be against this notoriously hard-puller, while easier conditions will ideally suit the ex-Irish CASH AND GO.

The latter has been in good form schooling and working at home since an annoying fall in The Ladbroke at Ascot, before he'd been asked to take closer order.

My Tent Or Yours is high up in the betting for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but for several weeks the plan has been to let him take his chance here.

From his seemingly bottomless pit of reserves, Henderson may also unleash RIVER MAIGUE and CHATTERBOX in the opening novices' hurdle on Saturday.

River Maigue has always worked like a class act and shone in his latest faster bit, suggesting he will take in this race as his prep for the Supreme.

Chatterbox floored My Tent Or Yours here earlier in the season and will clearly be happier with some cut underfoot.

Others to go well in some half-speed work included HADRIAN'S APPROACH and CAPTAIN CUTTER, the latter looking poised for a crack at the concluding bumper on Saturday.
 
Nicky did say they didn't have to go for the mares race as she's still a novice Mayo. Much will depend on how she goes at Sandown.

He did run Carol's Legacy against Quevega when she was a novice but probably just for educational purposes as Barry took the ride on Chomba Womba so I suppose he could run both her and Une Artiste against her this time.

Nicky seldom misses a chance to run them at the festival even if he doesn't expect them to win it gives them course experience, like he did with Sprinter Sacre and Grandouet knowing both would probably find it a bit too much as they really needed another year on their backs to cope with it.
 
A lot of twitter anger about Simonsig being a NR ..seems he drifted all day £9k ? matched. Needs to get his news out quicker.

Can't be ideal going to fez with Bobs Worth and Simonsig miss preps and both Captain Conan and Oscar Whisky run flat according to Barry ...
 
Cooper said:
A lot of twitter anger about Simonsig being a NR ..seems he drifted all day £9k ? matched. Needs to get his news out quicker.

Can't be ideal going to fez with Bobs Worth and Simonsig miss preps and both Captain Conan and Oscar Whisky run flat according to Barry ...
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Oscaradara and Tetlami both under performed too...
 
Cooper said:
A lot of twitter anger about Simonsig being a NR ..seems he drifted all day £9k ? matched. Needs to get his news out quicker.

Can't be ideal going to fez with Bobs Worth and Simonsig miss preps and both Captain Conan and Oscar Whisky run flat according to Barry ...
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The sympathy for Henderson didn't last too long after Darlan. If simonsig had a bad wash in the morning why did it take until 7 last night to get the news out. All he needs to do is get Camilla to show someone in the office to use twitter. :)

The 9k is the total matched on the race ....I don't have a lot of sympathy for backers in these situations either. If it looks too good to be true it usually is.
 
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from sporting life


The main danger looks to be Nicky Henderson's My Tent Or Yours whose work at Seven Barrows is of a truly high order. 149 isn't expected to be the ceiling of his ability by a long way - he works like a Champion Hurdle horse at home - but he will need luck-in-running though Henderson, JP McManus and AP McCoy surely deserve their slice after a harrowing week.

Cash And Go, going well when unseating in the Ladbroke, and Petit Robin, who settles nicely for the talented Nico De Boinville, are also in good health and are expected to go well.

Chatterbox will be out to give My Tent Or Yours' chance a boost in the opening novice hurdle and he will take plenty of beating. Although he may be more of a two-and-a-half miler, he does have a turn of foot and he has the edge in experience over Paul Nicholls' newcomer Lac Fontana. He is one of the premier league at Seven Barrows.

Simonsig's withdrawal gives Majala a real sporting chance in the Game Spirit. He is a young chaser very much on the up and his form is working out really well. Tom George remains in great form.

The Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Novices' Chase looks a proper RSA trial and Henderson's Hadrian's Approach deserves to win another race. His victory at Ascot has worked out unbelievably well. Just about everything has won, even the eighth home won a novices handicap at Newbury, while his Kempton second to Dynaste was a nice confidence booster following his fall at Newbury previously. Hadrian's has a chance, but here, he cannot afford too many untidy jumps against a high quality opponent in Unioniste.
 
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