Nicky Henderson Stable Tour

Form profile

138 rated hurdler. Made a winning debut for the stable in a maiden hurdle at Newbury (2m 1/2f) in November when beating Sinnatra two and three quarter lengths before failing by three quarters of a length behind Minella Yoga in an Introductory Hurdle over the same course and distance in December. Returned to winning form in the Listed Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon (2m 3 1/2f) this month when scored by three and three quarter lengths from Glance At Midnight.

Trainer says

I think he is pretty smart and is a lovely horse. We are going to go for the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle, and it is a race that is predominantly won by the Irish, but it is a race the English can win with Paul’s horse and us. We found out he stays two and a half around Huntingdon and I would be surprised if stamina was the issue. We will see how we go.

Form profile

170 rated hurdler. Winner of 11 of his 15 starts and the emphatic nine-length victor over State Man when landing the Champion Hurdle (2m 1/2f) at Cheltenham in March 2023. His recent efforts over hurdles have been blighted by falls, four out in the Champion Hurdle won by Golden Ace 12 months ago, two out when bidding to win the Aintree Hurdle for a second time at Aintree (2m 4f) last April in the race won by Lossiemouth and fell at the second in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m 1f) in November. Made a winning debut on the Flat at Southwell (1m 4f) last Friday night when slamming Square Necker nine and a half lengths.

Trainer says

It has been staggering and that was one of the most astounding nights at Southwell last week. It was something surreal and I think it is wonderful as horse can create this impression and we are very lucky. I’m sitting on this guy that is causing the biggest headaches of my life and a lot of it is because he is not straightforward. He has now even got predictable at falling over and we are going to do something tomorrow and Michael and I will have to sit down. I appreciate the interest and we have to make a decision. Everyone has an opinion and I have two great piles of paper - I promise you 50-50 - and we have to choose one way or another which way we go and that will be before the weekend. The one thing he did the other night was to open up a Flat career and why didn’t his idiotic trainer realise this five years ago and then it would be simpler. He has to bend his knees eight times if he did go for the Champion Hurdle, he has got the speed and he has the stamina and he has to jump.

Form profile

148 rated hurdler. Winner of the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) last March when beating stablemate Jeriko Du Reponet four and a quarter lengths off a mark of 131. Has performed consistently without adding to his score this season and finished third, beaten 11 ½ lengths, to Ma Shantou in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in January.

Trainer says

He really enjoyed his gallop this morning and he has only one mission this season which is prize money. He has been running in all the graded race to win as much money as he can for the Doddie Weir Foundation. Kenny gives everything to the charity and we are just hoping one of these graded race will fall in and he goes for the Stayers’ Hurdle. He is a star.

Form profile

137 rated hurdler. Ran his best race this season when runner-up, beaten a neck, to Listentoyourheart in a handicap hurdle at Windsor (2m 4f) on New Year’s Day off a mark of 133.

Trainer says

He will go for the Martin Pipe and he’s made for it. Freddie (Gordon) rides him all the time and he is the most experienced conditional jockey in the yard. He was so unlucky not to win his last race at Windsor.

Form profile

134 rated chaser. Returned to winning form with a 14 length from Knight Of Allen in a novices’ handicap chase at Newbury (2m 7 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

She is in the National Hunt Chase, but she loves it soft and if it was soft she could well run. She is a funny mare, and we can’t work her out. The race a handicap and she could squeeze in.

Form profile

143 rated chaser. Finished fourth, beaten a length and a half, to Deep Cave in the Howden Silver Cup at Ascot (3m) in December off his current mark.

Trainer says

I was pleased with him this morning and I haven’t had him right all winter. He would have a chance in his choice of the Kim Muir or the Ultima. Three weeks ago, he had no chance but he is coming to himself.

Form profile

144 rated hurdler. Returned to winning form with a four and a half length win from Double Powerful in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton (2m 5f) in January off a mark of 136.

Trainer says

He will go for the Coral Cup. The step up in trip appeared to help him enormously in the Lanzarote but don’t forget he won a Betfair Hurdle. The Coral Cup is going to help him too. I can’t say he has improved the 8lb he has gone up but he’s in good form.

Form profile

159 rated hurdler. Has made good progress in the staying hurdle division this season beating Chasing Fire in a handicap hurdle at Aintree (3m 1/2f) in November off a mark of 148. He then landed the Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m 1/2f) in November by half a length from Strong Leader and confirmed the form when beating that rival a length and a quarter in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (3m 1/2f) in December. Finished runner-up, beaten seven lengths, to Ma Shantou in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in January when conceding 6lb to the winner.

Trainer says

I would like to think he would have leading claims in the Stayers’ Hurdle, but he would want good ground. He did very little wrong on Trials Day, it was very soft and he was giving 6lb and Nico has always said he would be a better horse on good ground. If we get that he can be very competitive. He was the one I said on Trials Day we should have been taking out, and he was a lot better horse in the Long Walk. It was great to see him working so well today as at home I can go home have a coffee and watch him finish. He just isn’t a good work horse.

Form profile

167 rated chaser. Made a winning reappearance in the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot (2m 5f) in November when scoring by nine lengths from Gidleigh Park and subsequently fourth, beaten half a length, to The Jukebox Man in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton (3m) on Boxing Day.

Trainer says

He is entitled to be given a real realistic chance in the Gold Cup. It was a real great run in the King George, and everything has gone well. We thought of running in the Denman for a bit but in that ground, and having watched Dublin the week before and those horses getting hard races in very bad ground, slightly put me off. We would be better off coming in fresh rather than getting a race like that. Lulamba went to Newbury that day for a different reason he needed the experience, but Jango Baie didn’t need either and came to Kempton to gallop today. He has had two runs this season and he was very good at Ascot the first time and he was good in the King George. The only thing I can say is in the King George for a horse that had won the Arkle he just appeared to get a little flat footed turning up the back. There was a sudden injection of pace after they had slowed down a bit and there was kick and just for a moment he got caught and then finished really well. We know he comes up the hill, and he has the pace to win over two miles and I would be very disappointed and surprised if he didn’t stay in the Gold Cup. We have that bit of tactical speed he has as well which will hold him through the race. I think he ticks most boxes and he is pretty talented. Nico was very happy with his gallop today, and he just kept on at the end.

Form profile

145 rated chaser. Finished runner-up, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to stablemate Doddiethegreat in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) last March off a mark of 135 before reversing the placings in a listed handicap hurdle at Punchestown (2m 7 1/2f) in April. Hasn’t excelled over fences as yet but finished fair fifth, beaten 13 lengths, to Salver in a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Windsor (3m 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

The plan is the Kim Muir. Nico thought he was our Arkle horse last year and we had to move him up in trip and he finally got there when finishing second in the Pertemps and then he won at Punchestown. He is not the easiest and he has to jump better. We would probably have to put some cheekpieces on as we did last year and he is not the most obvious one to me, but we will have to see. You would hope in a race like that they would go half a stride slower, at Windsor he was alright but just needs to sharpen up a bit.

Form profile

151 rated chaser and 144 rated hurdler. Finished runner-up, beaten five and a half lengths, to Kabral Du Mathan in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) on New Year’s Day.

Trainer says

He has been difficult and he didn’t enjoy jumping fences as well as he should have done and he’s had back problems, surgeries and all sorts of things. He’s still a talented horse and he ran a very good race in the Relkeel Hurdle.

Form profile

166 rated chaser. Remarkable gelding who hasn’t been out of the first two in 27 starts and has won 15 times over fences. Returned to winning form when beating Thistle Ask three lengths in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot (2m 1f) in January and followed up with a length and a half victory from Pic D’orhy in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase at Ascot (2m 5f) this month.

Trainer says

Jonbon could go for the Ryanair, but it depends on a lot of things. He had two quick racse and tough races and he will have had four weeks between Cheltenham. He had big battles on his hands tough battle and bounced back for the second round. He would have to do it again and last year he did Cheltenham and did Aintree before he did the Celebration Chase. Il Etait Temps was fresh that day at Sandown and Jonbon was coming at the backend of a long season. I won’t say we would have beaten him, but we were a bit flat. We are sure he is a better horse on better ground but there are a lot of horses in the melting pot for the Ryanair, and we will have to see where they go. He is still in the Champion Chase but never say no and if you take them out you haven’t got the option of changing your mind. It would be my dearest wish for him to win at the Festival after all his races and he has still finished second (three times) at the Festival and won two Shloers. He certainly deserves one and I think he has just been unlucky. We will see how he is and he could come into Aintree fresh or go to Punchestown.

Form profile

127 rated mare. Gaining her second success over hurdles when beating Charisma Cat a length and three quarters in a mares’ novices’ hurdle at Market Rasen (2m 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

Khrisma and Joyeuse will run in the County Hurdle. They are both JP’s, but they would both go for it. When she got beat at Huntingdon, which she shouldn’t have done, she got a horrible overreach and we had a massive rush to get another run into her the other day at Market Rasen. I don’t think she is good enough for the Mares’ Hurdle, so she is running in a handicap. Joyeuse likes small fields and I can’t possibly see that happening in the County Hurdle.

Form profile

163 rated chaser. Has won his three races over fences in impressive fashion beating Fingle Bridge 10 lengths in a Beginners’ Chase at Exeter (2m 1 1/2f) in November, scoring by nine and a half lengths from Be Aware in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) in December and having six and a half lengths to spare from Saint Segal in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury (2m 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

“Lulamba was good and we were all happy with Newbury. I think what is important is that visibly it wasn’t perfect and that was what everyone would want to see but he was learning on the job. What I did like was that he was locked away on the fence and there was a strip of ground down the inside, Nico and I walked it in the morning, and you had to go down there. You had to go down it and everybody else had to go there and he was shut in behind good, experienced horses going a good gallop. That got him thinking a bit and he got a couple wrong and has nowhere to run and Nico had to bustle him along. Soon as he got that bit of daylight he winged the second last and was gone. He was proper class - he is going back to novice company in the Arkle, but I think we will see him on the Jango Baie route next year. He just got beaten in a Triumph Hurdle which he could have possibly won but he just didn’t know enough on the day. The first two fences in the Arkle come a bit quick and he has just got to jump those two and settle down and then he will be fine. He is a big horse and fast but doesn’t have that instant acceleration. Kopek Des Bordes is a mighty quick horse, and I am sure he is going to be up there and we will be trading blows quite quickly by the sound of it.

Form profile

130 rated hurdler. Opened his account for the stable when beating Pourquoi Pas Papa two and a quarter lengths in the Victor Ludorum Hurdle at Haydock (1m 7 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

She will go for the Fred Winter. She is one of those that doesn’t show you a great heap in the morning and she loves soft ground. We took her out at Chepstow on Finale Day as it was too quick. She is probably better than we thought at the beginning and she improved the second time again.

Form profile

126 rated hurdler. Finished third, beaten three and a half lengths, to Klub De Reve in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton (2m) this month.

Trainer says

He will probably end up in the Fred Winter, we wouldn’t be frightened to run two. We had to get a third run in and find out what he was. He ran at Doncaster before the Dovecote and if we are happy, he would run in the Fred Winter.

Form profile

151 rated hurdler. Has won his three starts since joining the stable beating Un Sens A La Vie three lengths at Kempton (2m) in November, Glance At Midnight 12 lengths at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in December and Hurricane Pat 18 lengths in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock (1m 7 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

Just tell our friends across the Irish Sea that he is flying and that to stay at home! He’s lovely but he is still a big baby, and this is a horse for next year and the year after. He has a lot of filling out to do. I remember when we were doing our Press Day at Seven Barrows that day when all the talk was of Min in Ireland and that was as confident as I have been in my entire life that I couldn’t see Altior being beaten and nothing was going to get to him at that stage of his life. I can’t say the same thing about Old Park Star at this particular moment, but I think he’s just great in what he has done in his last two runs. It’s been extraordinary and he must travel at some pace as he gets them all in trouble from a long way out. We rode him in behind in his gallop this morning and he was quicker of three and it was nice to see him behind some horses as he hasn’t seen that in his life. We haven’t got to discussing tactics of yet for the Supreme Novices’, but I am sure he is going to be handy. I think he has the technical speed to be in that position; he definitely stays well and definitely has a gear. Around Haydock, which is a speedy track, it was extraordinary how one minute there was some horses on his tail and the next minute he was just gone. He has done everything right since and is a very clean winded horse and very uncomplicated. He would be a Shishkiny sort of horse and Altior was completely different and wasn’t beaten for three years. I can’t believe this fellow won’t be jumping fences next year. Gordon and Sue have Act Of Innocence as well that will be hopefully going for the Turners’ Novices and early in the season I would maybe have said he was the quicker of the two but they have flip flopped and this horse looks the quicker. I only inherited them at the beginning of the season, and they had been well minded and came to me in their prime. My job has been to get them where we wanted and so far, so good.