Radio
Url copied to clipboard.
Nicky Henderson will have had easier starts to a season. As one of his Grade 1-winning chasers - Sprinter Sacre - was retired on the Sunday of Cheltenham’s Open meeting in mid-November, Henderson lost another just moments later when Simonsig fell fatally at the third flight in the Shloer Chase on his much anticipated return. The racing world moves quickly, however, and though we have no Sprinter Sacre to look forward to in the Desert Orchid at Kempton (in which he was dramatically pulled up in 2014 but won in 2015) this year, Nicky Henderson is heading into the Christmas period in top form and has plenty of interesting runners over the next week or so. After a treble at Ludlow on Wednesday and a one-two in Ascot’s feature handicap on Saturday, Henderson has had five winners from his last 10 runners at the time of writing, and he looks set to saddle Jenkins in the novice hurdle on Kempton’s Boxing Day card (the race won by Altior last year). Henderson could also saddle Volnay de Thaix in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on the same day. Volnay de Thaix had run his best race over fences on his final start last season at Sandown (second behind Junction Fourteen), and he shaped as if he needed the run when well beaten in the Peterborough Chase on his return this term. His mark over the larger obstacles is still workable based on his hurdles figure (fifth in the Coral Cup from 8 lb higher) and he could run well.
As one door closes, another one opens. Henry de Bromhead had a particularly big door closed on him in early-September when it was announced that owners Alan and Ann Potts were to remove their remaining horses – including Grade 1 winner Sizing John – from his yard. The Pottses only had the likes of Gigginstown Stud, J.P. McManus and Rich Ricci in front of them in last season’s owners’ title in Ireland, and the decision to send their horses elsewhere would have been a big blow for any yard. However, de Bromhead had his string almost instantly re-bolstered by Gigginstown horses, after their decision to remove 60 horses from Willie Mullins in late-September. De Bromhead has already had plenty of success with his new recruits and he landed the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal with Valseur Lido in November. He has continued in top form since, having one winner and seven placed horses from his last ten runners, and it could be worth keeping his runners on side during the busy festive period. Valseur Lido is currently favourite for the Lexus Chase on Wednesday, but a little sooner than that we may see the likes of Capital Force, who looks a banker for a maiden hurdle after a good second on debut, and Grade 3-winning novice chaser Attribution, who both hold entries on Leopardstown’s Boxing Day card.
Under the radar: Johnny Farrelly
After a healthy start to the season over the summer, Johnny Farrelly has already beaten his total number of jumps winners from 2015/16 (already two ahead of the 17 winners he saddled that term). He is not just a summer jumps trainer, however, and is still enjoying plenty of success as we reach the depths of winter, with four winners from 17 runners (a strike-rate of 24%) in December. His highest-rated horse in training, Amore Alato, may feature in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Feltham) at Kempton on Boxing Day, and after running a career-best last time when winning a listed race at Sandown from the front, he could have more to offer. Yur Next, who won at Taunton last Tuesday, could be turned out quickly in the three-mile handicap hurdle at Wetherby a week later. She is now gradually going the right way, and should remain competitive from a fairly lowly mark.
.jpg&w=300)
.png&w=300)
