A SUPREME CANDIDATE
In-form Hendo eyes prizes
NICKY HENDERSON was upbeat about taking the two jewels – the King George VI Chase and Christmas Hurdle – at Kempton on Boxing Day after landing a double at Ascot yesterday.
Claimantakinforgan set the ball rolling for the champion trainer when taking the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle under Nico de Boinville.
For a competitive event, Claimantakinforgan was an impressive winner.
His jumping was faultless and he produced an electrifying turn of foot to come home with something in hand.
“We are on the right road and going the right way,” said Henderson. “I’m pleased as that is not his ground and he has got gears – he’s a two-mile horse.
“We will be looking down the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle road. He has got some scope. He has got a very good head on him and he is a very good jumper.”
Claimantakinforgan is 10-1 with Coral for the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival in March, the race Henderson most recently won with the brilliant Altior in 2016.
Henderson and De Boinville initiated their double when Divine Spear came home the fluent winner of the Stella Artois Novices’ Chase.
The Lambourn trainer is targeting the Close Brothers Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for this progressive young chaser.
Regarding Kempton on Boxing Day, Henderson reported all was well with Might Bite and Whisper, his two runners in the King George VI Chase and Buveur D’Air, his representative in the Christmas Hurdle.
“Somebody said Kempton will get 30mm of rain on Sunday, are you happy?” said Henderson. “Buveur D’Air is delighted but Might Bite is not.
“Everything at home is good with both horses and don’t forget Whisper. The handicapper has clobbered Whisper (twice beaten by Might Bite) but where else do you go?
“There’s a lot of place money and win money. The horses are ticking along nicely.”
Unlike Henderson, Colin Tizzard’s horses are not firing as well as expected.
Slate House finished a disappointing fourth behind Claimantakinforgan and then Finian’s Oscar, sent off the 6-5 favourite, was chinned by Benatar in the Mitie Noel Novices’ Chase.
It does not inspire confidence in Tizzard’s pair Thistlecrack and Fox Norton in the King George VI Chase, the race the trainer has won for the last two years.
The best performance of the day was by Didtheyleaveuoutto in the closing St Andrews NH Flat Race.
The Nick Gifford-trained gelding is now 10-1 favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March.