TOP TENT HIT IN INTERNATIONAL

Veteran rolls back years at Cheltenham

NICKY HENDERSON fought back the tears after veteran My Tent Or Yours secured an emotional success at Cheltenham.

The horse is best known for coming second in three renewals of the Champion Hurdle.

Yesterday he finally secured his day in the sun with a gritty victory over old foe The New One in the International Hurdle.

Henderson said: “There were three in line going to the last. What a great horse race it was, one of the great races, with him and The New One again.”

The New One tried to make all the running in his bid to claim this prize for a fourth time, with My Tent Or Yours and the Willie Mullins-trained 7-4 favourite Melon waiting in the wings.

The big three came to the final flight together, but My Tent Or Yours forged clear to win by a length and a quarter.

Henderson said: “He is special and we have had him since he was three.

“We are not retiring. We’ve got to map it out and find somewhere to go. I’m sure he will run in the Champion Hurdle as he has to. He is no spring chicken – a bit like me – and joints and things are quite creaky.”

The New One’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said he was thrilled with his stable star, adding: “He has run a superb race, probably the race of his life conceding 6lb.

“He beat the favourite and battled on up the hill having to make his own running.”

He said The New One will be aimed at the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

David Mullins, who rode Melon, said: “Those seasoned horses were probably a bit tougher at the finish.” SUNDAY SERVICE WHEN Willie Mullins (below) keeps a horse in training following injury you have to take notice and the potentially smart KOSHARI (12.30) gets the nap vote for his comeback run at Thurles.

An impressive winner of a bumper at Punchestown 18 months ago, he was injured on his hurdling debut at Naas last year.

But the brilliant Mullins has nursed him back to full fitness and his schooling has reportedly been very good over the larger obstacles.

Back him to land the best bet of the day against Gordon Elliott’s Fire In

His Eyes.

Southwell holds a very competitive card over the sticks and SILVER KAYF (2.05) is taken to land a classy novice hurdle.

The five-year-old stayed on well to land a fair event at Huntingdon last time out and he can take care of Bangor winner Shannon Bridge.

KALANITI (2.35) has been aimed at the big mares’ hurdle final for some time by Chris Grant and her opening run

45 days ago should have put her spot on for this nice prize.

There will be some long faces in the Jane ChappleHyam yard if WICKER

(12.45) fails to land the opener at Chelmsford but a better value bet at the Essex venue could be the old boy OUTLAW TORN (1.50).

He ran too freely at this venue on Friday and as long as young Ben Sanderson can settle him, the eight-year-old looks cracking each-way value to go close here.

HOT TO TROT HIGHLY APPROVED was a huge eye-catcher at Dundalk on Friday night and must be kept on the right side.

This lightly-raced filly came from miles back in the nursery, finishing a never nearer fourth and is one to be on when stepped up to a mile.

NEXT WEEK

The Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase is the big betting race on Saturday at Ascot and GO CONQUER can complete a hat-trick by making all in this valuable three-mile event.