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Nicky Henderson Stable Tour

^ Hard to wade through all these threads but that was spot on Navanman. Wont be backing OW now.
 
Hurdler plans ...

"Darlan is going to the Fighting Fifth, Grandouet will go to the International at Cheltenham and Binocular will be looking to the Christmas Hurdle and if we run two in the Christmas Hurdle so be it," Henderson said on Sunday.

"Oscar Whisky at the moment would stick to two and a half because he is so good at that distance. There's not many horses going to beat him at that.

"There are a couple of options at Cheltenham, then the Welsh Champion Hurdle, then Aintree, they are all on the agenda. Dai Walters [owner] and I talked about it all summer and decided we'd might just skip Cheltenham but the only thing is if it did come up soft at Cheltenham you'd have to think about it and go two miles.

"When you see him skipping round like that you wonder how he can't stay three miles. He finished very distressed at the end of Cheltenham (after the World Hurdle over three miles in March) so it goes through the mind was it as simple as not staying? You can't believe he doesn't when you see what he did yesterday. He annihilated them.

"We don't have to make a decision now but if it was very soft you'd have to seriously think about going two miles. He'd have beaten them at two yesterday."
 
Found it ...

Henderson said: “Simonsig is a little bit behind. He had a splint which annoyed him for a couple of days. He definitely won’t be in action next weekend but may go to Newbury.”
 
Simonsig still going chasing according to this had been drifting ( a bit) for Arkle on betfair

Will Hayler swoons over Sprinter Sacre after a trip to Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows yard in Lambourn.

I've never had a poster of a racehorse on my wall, but if I did it would be Sprinter Sacre. If Nicky Henderson seemed a little prickly at first, the result of bossy photographers and freezing temperatures, a cuddle with Sprinter Sacre certainly seemed to perk him up.

If he was mine, I doubt he'd ever race again. I'd just go and stand at the entrance to his box and sigh.

He has the biggest, blackest front feet that I have ever seen on a horse and a handsome face that was made for posing. Long Run won't stand still when the photographers want him to. Sprinter Sacre, on the other hand, coyly turns his head and pricks his ears as if to say 'Would you like me from this angle?'.

These kind of promotional press trips get short shrift from some members of the media, but I could never tire of looking at Henderson's brilliant beasts.

The photographers ask him to pose with his possible Christmas Hurdle runners and Grandouet, Binocular and Darlan appear for a group shot. "Will Darlan run in the Christmas Hurdle?" asks one of them. "I don't even know if he will run this week," snaps back Henderson, the first of many times his exasperation with the weather becomes evident.

And so to the news. Bobs Worth will probably run in the Hennessy although he has been given an entry in Leopardstown's Lexus Chase over Christmas as a fall-back option.

Darlan probably won't run at Newcastle and probably wouldn't run even if the Fighting Fifth was moved to Newbury. He could run at Cheltenham a fortnight on Saturday against Grandouet, who is fine, but wouldn't run in the Christmas Hurdle against Binocular. If he doesn't run at Cheltenham, or Newcastle, or Newbury, he could run at Leopardstown over Christmas. Or not.

Riverside Theatre is on course to make his reappearance in the King George along with Long Run, who has come out fresh and well from Haydock, and Finian's Rainbow, who has given little clue as to what exactly went wrong when last of four at Ascot on Saturday.

The others? Simonsig worked well this morning and will be ready to run over fences in a fortnight's time. Sprinter Sacre, other than being generally magnificent, will run in the Tingle Creek Chases even if the ground is testing. Roberto Goldback is more likely to run over two and a half miles at Newbury on Friday than wait for the Hennessy 24 hours later.

The names of very good horses drip from his tongue, but the truth is that it hasn't been a tremendous start to the season for Henderson, trainers' title rival Paul Nicholls having already stolen a not-inconsiderable march in the standings.

"For whatever reason, our horses by and large don't seem to act on soft ground and as a result there is a lot of juggling to be done," reflects Henderson, in between chasing his Labrador dog away from a large plate of sausage sandwiches, an episode which makes me think about the dog who used to say 'sssausages' on That's Life.

"The least likely to go [to Kempton] for the Christmas Hurdle is Grandouet because the race comes too soon after Cheltenham and although anything is possible I don't think anything would stop me from running him at Cheltenham even if the going is soft," he says. As he talks, it's hard not to feel that to some extent, he is still getting it all sorted out in his own mind.

"Darlan could go for the Christmas Hurdle, but I can't see that JP would want two in that, so I've put him at Leopardstown as they sometimes get decent ground there.

"Binocular is the one we had in mind for Kempton and if all's going well he'll have a racecourse gallop and go there.

"There's Cash And Go to think about too but he'll probably go for the Ladbroke [at Ascot] while he still has half a chance in handicaps."

After a slightly hesitant start, Henderson is by now in full stride and apart from the weather it's all good news. Long Run has come out of his reappearance "fresher" than when second to Kauto Star at Haydock 12 months ago. Riverside Theatre, oblivious to the weather-related woes of his stablemates, gets a particularly positive bulletin as he is summoned to pose with his trainer for yet more photographs.

"Are you there, Riverside?" he shouts, but the horse doesn't answer. Not that good a trainer then. The original plan had been for Riverside Theatre to canter to Newbury on Sunday morning, but with the likely state of the ground being 'bog to frozen' that idea is likely to be shelved in favour of a spin around Kempton's Polytrack.

Finian's Rainbow remains a likely starter in the William Hill King George VI Chase too, despite his flop behind Captain Chris.

"It was always the plan and our first reaction is 'Yes, that is still what I would rather do rather than anything else'," says Henderson. "If you wait for something else on better ground, how long would you be waiting? When you have these kind of short days, it's not going to start drying up suddenly. We're stuck with it."

Ah yes, the weather. And the resulting soft ground. It had been at least 90 seconds since we last mentioned it. Poor Nicky. He was off to Newbury to walk the course. "I don't really know why, I can imagine what I am going to find."

Let's talk about something more positive. Sprinter Sacre takes on Sanctuaire in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday week. What a race that should be. Henderson lights up at the topic.

"We spent most of last season bemoaning the fact that we'd struggle to find something to give him a lead, then finally when a horse comes along, it's one like Sanctuaire who should not only give him a lead but prove hard enough to pass," he beams.

"It could be one of those great races and although he'll be keeping to the novice division for the time being, you can see Overturn making the two-mile division even more interesting when he joins in as well. These two-mile chases are going to get exciting."

And then we go back to the weather. It's time to go. Just one more look at Sprinter Sacre?
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Hokey Cokey with Bobs Worth today

Nicky Henderson has relied on the evidence of his own eyes and has appeared to confirm that Bob’s Worth is to take his place in the Hennessy Gold Cup at the Racecourse Newbury on Saturday.

The trainer walked the track in person on Tuesday afternoon after issuing a caveat at his media morning that last season’s RSA Chase winner would not run in the Grade 3 handicap chase.

All week Newbury has avoided the heavy rains that has resulted in so many abandonments and Henderson confirmed the synopsis of Richard Osgood, the clerk of the course, that the going was only soft, heavy in places.

"It's soft ground with some heavy patches but taking it with the balance of the last two weekends at Cheltenham and Ascot I'd say it's not as tough as those. It's quite difficult to read. Some patches will ride very soft and others won't be too bad,” Henderson said, having spoken to the Not Afraid syndicate that owns the seven-year-old.

"I have spoken to Malcolm Kimmins, who heads up the owners' syndicate and the gut feeling is we probably will run, all things being equal," he added, in an interview with the Racing Post. "I put out a warning this morning because I wanted there to be one.”

In a topsy-turvy ante-post market, Bob’s Worth was cut across the boards from a high of 9-2 on Tuesday back down to as short at 3-1 with Coral. Skybet remain a standout 4-1.

Conditions at Newbury ahead of the three-day Sportingbet Winter Festival meeting that starts on Thursday remain reasonably good considering the recent wet spell that has caused waterlogging and even flooding in some parts of the country.

Osgood left the going unchanged as soft, heavy in places at the rebranded track on Tuesday afternoon.

While drier weather is forecast for the rest of the week, he is turning his attention to protecting the course from the possibility of overnight frosts.

"We're still the same - soft, heavy in places. We've just had some odd light showers today but it's starting to dry. We've had a nice wind," Osgood said.

"We've covered all take-offs and landings for the weekend plus a little bit down the back straight where it doesn't see the sun that much.

"The forecast looks like we're going to get a frost so that's why I've done that.

"Apart from that, it's all coming good. We've had various people walk the course today and they are all quite happy with how it is."
 
Celtus put up as one to follow by Ian Ogg

The one horse in the line-up who didn't win last time out was Celtus and he was beaten over 14 lengths.

At first glance there's nothing too promising about this effort or, indeed, the profile of Nicky Henderson's charge who has proved hugely disappointing since arriving from France.

However, this rates a significant improvement from his reappearance at Ffos Las and there was enough in this run to suggest that it's too early to give up on him just yet.

He looks dangerously well handicapped if connections have found the key to him and his progress is worth monitoring for the remainder of the season.
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BARRY’S DE-BRIEF

SPIRIT RIVER ran a good race in the three-mile beginners’ chase at Kempton on Monday but just got a bit tired having looked the winner. He jumped brilliantly and I’m very happy with him.

KELLS BELLE made a bad mistake at the second-last in the listed mares’ hurdle and lost her action so I pulled her up. The ground was a bit too soft for her; she needs it better, good to soft at worst.

HADRIAN'S APPROACH was still travelling well when we came down four out in the novice chase at Newbury on Thursday and he was probably unfortunate to fall as one came in from the outside and partially blinded him. He’d jumped well up to then and you’d have to say he’d have been involved.

LYVIUS r showed that he’s grown into himself with a very good performance winning the Gerry Fielden which is usually a decent guide to the future. Travelled great, jumped brilliantly and was the winner everywhere. He’s much more of a horse this season.

It was too frosty to school on Friday but I worked quite a nice horse that Nicky bought from Sam Curling in Ireland, COCKTAILS AT DAWN. He was highly touted as a four-year-old pointer and the feel he gave me on Saturday morning backed up that opinion.

GLORIOUS TWELFTH just needed the race in the two mile five mares’ novice hurdle on Friday. She’d been held up for a week and gave a blow turning out of the back straight and I couldn’t pick up with them turning for home but she finished very strongly.

MA FILLEULE was a little unfortunate not to win the listed mares’ novice hurdle on Saturday because the leader went pretty quick and mine raced after her. If we’d gone a bit slower then I think she’d have won. She's a filly I’m mad about, size and scope that will be better in time.
 
Galops Report ...

Nicky Henderson worked the majority of his weekend runners, with several horses put through their paces on the Seven Barrows gallops this morning.

As long as Sandown survives a frost scare, SPRINTER SACRE be back to wow jump racing's cognoscenti in the Tingle Creek.

Not since the days of Tingle himself has a horse lit up the two-mile scene in quite the way Sprinter Sacre has - and that is before the unbeaten novice even fully embarks upon a career in conditions chases.

There is tremendous pressure from the media and a public hungry to see the six-year-old resume from where he left off last season.

Sprinter Sacre side-stepped his intended return in the Schloer Chase at Cheltenham last month on account of unsuitably testing ground, but has subsequently shown himself to be in tremendous form at home, giving connections confidence that he can shake off the attentions of Sanctuaire in Saturday's feature.

FRENCH OPERA holds the Tingle Creek engagement and has been moving well in his own right.

Good ground would suit him at Sandown.

He showed when chasing home Sprinter Sacre in last season's Game Spirit Chase in February he retains much of his ability.

CAPTAIN CONAN a perfect start to his career as a chaser when winning at the Paddy Power meeting and has also done well.

He looked in great order in his latest breeze and will be a major threat to Overturn if turning up for the Henry VII Chase.

MY TENT OR YOURS an exciting prospect for novice hurdles and has schooled well either side of his comeback win at Ascot.

He was a tad too keen for his own good that day but has looked more settled in his work.

Henderson believes he could be near top class.

BEAR'S AFFAIR be an interesting runner if going to Aintree for the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

He has been ready to rock and roll for a while and only missed the "Fixed Brush" race at Haydock because of the very testing going.

His novice status over fences was preserved last season and Henderson plans one run over hurdles before returning to chasing.
 
"Punjabi has been great. He's been off a long time but he didn't have a major problem, he just had a year off, a sabbatical would be the word," Henderson told At The Races.

"He'd been on the go a long time on the Flat before he came jumping.

"He's obviously not going to be a top-notch hurdler at his age, so we're going to switch to chasing. He's not very big and possibly lacks a little bit of scope.

"I was actually going to run Simonsig at Bangor but Barry (Geraghty) sat on him yesterday, he schooled and worked and we've decided he'll go to Ascot on the 22nd, so Punjabi could easily reappear there."
 
Ben Aitken likes Royal Boy...cant see Henderson has many/any for the Neptune :confused: but that was how it used to be...

http://www.narrowing-the-field.co.uk/2975/ntf-1-to-follow-from-the-weekend-royal-can-be-the-boy/
ROYAL BOY (Nicky Henderson) – Friday 3.40 Cheltenham – 2nd in the 2m1f Novices’ Hurdle

This was an extremely pleasing debut from the 5yo against race-fit rivals after a 628 day lay-off (since his Point-2-Point run). He travelled well just off the leaders in this 17f contest and although taking a few flights to get his jumping together he did improve as the contest progressed. He is a deep chested sort who looks like he will stay a trip in time and his pedigree suggests that he will improve for further.

The winner on Friday, MELODIC RENDEZVOUS, is probably a well above average type and it was no disgrace for ROYAL BOY to go down by only 3/4 of a length. MELODIC RENDEZVOUS actually finished 2nd behind the classy CHAMPAGNE FEVER in the Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown last term and only narrowly lost out on his hurdling debut at Exeter to a well-backed Paul Nicholls horse.

ROYAL BOY is from the same sire (Lavirco) as the likes of MIKAEL D ‘HAGUENET, ROI DU MEE, SO YOUNG and TARLA so it is not hard to imagine him making an impact at trips around the 2m4f/5f distance.

A quick look at his Dosage figures would also back up that assessment -

ROYAL BOY Dosage figures – 2-1-5-4-0 (12) | 0.85 | 0.08

If we take a look at the ground stats associated with the Lavirco offspring we can see that ground with plenty of cut in it will be preferable for ROYAL BOY -

*Figures from 2006 – Present and sourced from the excellent Proform Database

Good to Firm – 4/19 | 21% S/R (small-ish sample size)

Good – 5/76 | 7% S/R

Good to Soft – 7/73 | 10% S/R

Soft – 21/94 | 22% S/R

Heavy – 19/62 | 31% S/R

There should be plenty of opportunities for him over the winter on ground with juice in it and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are also plenty opportunities in the spring as well!

From watching his run on Saturday I would expect improvement went sent over further but at the same time he could well have plenty to say over shorter in his novice season.

I would be shocked if he doesn’t pick up a couple of victories this term and he could well develop into a contender for one of the end of season festivals, providing the ground isn’t too fast.
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Nicky Henderson's candidates for the King George VI Chase have been in action on the Faringdon Road grass over the past 24 hours, including LONG RUN who has firmed up into a strong favourite for the Boxing Day highlight.

The gelding showed he was as good as ever when giving best to Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase and is thought to have progressed from that Haydock race.

With rivals falling like swotted flies for Kempton this magnificent chaser looks to have a great chance of recapturing the crown he surrendered to Kauto Star last year.

He moved with his customary aplomb on the gallops.

There were some negative vibes on the exchanges about FINIAN'S RAINBOW but the Cheltenham and Aintree Festival scorer worked satisfactorily and at this point is on course for Kempton.

Tests on the gelding after his comeback flop at Ascot have shown nothing to be untoward.

He is due to tackle three miles for the first time next week, but is ridiculously weak in the market.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE has been kept back for a comeback run in the King George because he is lethal fresh.

Placed in the contest two years ago, the Ryanair Chase hero has been giving off strong signals that he will be an effective force on December 26.

SIMONSIG has worked with his customary élan ahead of his eagerly awaited debut over fences at Ascot on Friday.

He looks a natural jumper in his schooling.

RIVER MAIGUE goes for the Kennel Gate Hurdle and he looked in good heart in some strong midweek work.
 
Gallops Reporter...

Nicky Henderson mounts a strong challenge to day two of the Kempton Christmas meeting and his horses engaged in light work this morning including FRENCH OPERA who looks ready for his belated return to the fray in the Peterborough Chase.

Although he can only be a bit-part player to stablemate SPRINTER SACRE in the two-mile conditions chases, the nine-year-old tackles two and a half miles in the race rescheduled from Huntingdon and seems in very good order.

ONE LUCKY LADYM shaped well on her reappearance three weeks ago and is a name to conjure with in a mares' handicap hurdle where the emphasis is on stamina.

PRINCE OF PIRATES was a beaten favourite on his own reappearance but has worked and schooled satisfactorily since then.

VASCO DU RONCERAY is poised for a return to the track after he seemed to empty at the end of a race at Doncaster.

SIMONSIG has taken his Ascot exertions in his stride although such was his supremacy on that spectacular chasing debut that he could happily have gone round again and sauntered home on the bridle.

His attacking style was a joy to watch and connections have a red-hot Arkle favourite on their hands if he can follow up at Kempton on Thursday.
 
Henderson said of third Royal Boy: "It was only the second time on a racecourse and he didn't really jump well enough."


Une Artiste

The five-year-old looked to be in trouble when fleetingly headed by Alasi (20/1) between the last two hurdles but was soon back in command.

A fluent leap at the final flight sealed the win and Geraghty drove her out to score by a length-and-three-quarters in a time eight seconds above standard.

10/11 favourite Kentish Grey Lady travelled strongly at the rear of the field but could never reach the leaders after being asked for her effort from the second last and finished third.

Sky Bet cut the winner to 7/1 (from 10s) for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Alasi was introduced into the market for the same race at 25/1 while Kentford Grey Lady was pushed out a point to 8/1.

"Barry made the most of her in the soft ground, and there was nothing else the rest could do," said Henderson.

"We are getting to the point where we are going to have to go for (the David Nicholson), unless Quevega goes for the World Hurdle instead. I think there's another two-and-a-half (mile) race here later in the season too."
 
Gallops reporter

Nicky Henderson worked and schooled some of his horses at Seven Barrows midweek, with his weekend runners in action including BEAR'S AFFAIR.

The gelding, winner of a competitive handicap on his return to action at Aintree, has risen in the ratings for that success but that hasn't stopped him being the one early birds have 'wanted' for the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.

Bear's Affair was the early mover in the ante-post market for Saturday's race and has hardened as favourite.

Having dispelled any lingering doubts about his ability to handle testing ground at Aintree, the gelding should act on any going come the weekend and he looked in excellent form doing some half-speed work.

OSCARA DARA was in no way disgraced to run Cantlow close on his chase debut at Plumpton but connections are undecided whether to stick to the fencing route or revert back to hurdles.

He is also in the Lanzarote but has the alternative of a novice chase on Friday at Huntingdon.

Whichever way connections decide to tread he seems in very good order.

RIVER MAIGUE has been given a rating of 136 ahead of his probable handicap debut at the same Kempton meeting.

This fellow was the smoothest of scorers on his second run back, having been just in need of the run when second on his Cheltenham reappearance.

A willing worker, he seems in good heart and looks one to follow closely through the remainder of the campaign.

FORGOTTEN VOICE is now on a mark of 140 and is another that could go down the handicap route at Kempton, although he has the ability to go a long way as a novice. The former Hunt Cup winner is waiting for better ground, having had a couple of opportunities wiped-out by the inclement weather.
 
Barry Blog

Of the three the standout looks to be TETLAMI (12.55) in the williamhill.com Novices' Chase over two miles where he’s only got two to beat and the danger, Kie, has got to give us 1lb because he’s already won a chase but is only five.

Over hurdles Tetlami was around 10lb superior and although Kie has the benefit of that public experience over fences, I’m really looking forward to getting a feel of my horse in a chase.

It’s just transpired that I haven’t been on him when he’s schooled but I’m getting a lot of positive feedback about how he’s been going at Seven Barrows so I’m keen to see what he can do.

This is a track that takes a bit of jumping but I’m very optimistic that he will be more than up to the job.

When it comes to jumping my first ride of the day for Nicky, ALEXANDRE SIX (12.25), doesn’t look overly inspiring in the opening juvenile hurdle.

He’s fallen on his last two starts in France but in fairness to him, he’d quite likely have won on the last of them at Auteuil in October and was travelling like a winner the run before that at Compiegne in September when he tipped up at the last.

He’d won his previous start on good ground and I’m certain that he’d have had some comprehensive work done on him since he came over.

He’s got the one 7lb penalty for winning and it could have been two more so I’ve got good expectations of him against some interesting opposition, not least L’Unique who beat the subsequent winner Cockney Sparrow very easily at Aintree last time and as a filly gets 7lb off my lad.
 
Catching Pigeons


Forgotten Voice has been towards the top of the work charts for weeks at Seven Barrows, mixing it with the very best in the yard and never looking out of place as he strode out alongside the likes of Champion Hurdle candidates Darlan and Grandouet.

On the face of things, he looks anything but thrown-in off an official mark of 140 for his handicap debut in the two-mile William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

However Jerry McGrath takes a valuable 5lb off and on the basis of his homework he ought to go very close on his first start for nearly five months. He's been ready to go for ages now, but Nicky Henderson has been absolutely determined to wait for some better ground.

With the pacesetting Laterly in the line-up, he ought to get a decent pace to track in the early stages and that's another positive as he has been known to take too keen a hold for his own good in the past.

McGrath has a big day in store as he also rides the well-fancied Bear's Affair in the Lanzarote Hurdle earlier on the card.

Again his conditionals' claim is the all-important factor here as Henderson doesn't like his horses to run under top weight if it can be avoided.

Connections feared the soft ground first time out having always thought of him as a good-ground horse but he hosed up despite those worries and may simply have progressed again this season. There isn't much between him and stablemate Oscara Dara though.

One three-runner novice chase was scrapped at Sandown last week, but a reminder that such events can prove interesting ought to come in the second race on Kempton's card when Kie tackles Tetlami.

Kie made an impressive start to his novice chasing career at Musselburgh in November, attacking his fences with relish. But the irrepressible Henderson could also get on the scoresheet here as Tetlami has also shown great alacrity in his home schooling.
 
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