Breath test for Nicky

SUPREME Novices’ Hurdle favourite Angels Breath faces “a proper old test” when he warms up for Cheltenham by taking on five rivals at Huntingdon today.

The Nicky Henderson five-year-old, the winner of his sole start as a point-to-pointer, is big-race sponsor Sky Bet’s 5-1 market leader after a hurdles debut success at Ascot four days before Christmas.

But a low sun caused the omission of four of the eight hurdles and Henderson (left) is now keen to give the son of Shantou, who lines up for the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle, more practice over obstacles.

“There were two down the hill, two up the hill, and nothing in the straight, so he jumped four,” Henderson said.

“He jumps very well, but I’ve got to get some experience into him.

“There are some promising horses in there, and we’ve got to give them weight, so it will be a proper old test.” ■ BONZA GIRL won for the fifth time in succession in the R.m.agricultural Engineering Ltd Mares' Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow yesterday.

Jeremy Scott has worked wonders with the six-year-old, who began the season with a lowly rating of 90.

Now racing off 116, she has struck up a great partnership with jockey Rex Dingle who has been on board for all her wins.

While her last success came by a neck, this time it was even closer with Bonza Girl (7-2) getting the verdict by a nose in a photo with Dinos Benefit.