HENDERSON’S HIGH FIVE
NICKY HENDERSON will be hoping it will be high fives when he saddles five runners in Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
Henderson is the most successful trainer in the Betfair – Britain’s richest handicap hurdle with £155,000 up for grabs – with five winners.
However, the champion trainer was not going to nominate his best chance from his quintet – Jenkins, Verdana Blue, Charlie Parcs, Kayf Grace and Lough Derg Spirit.
“It would be unfair,” he said at his Lambourn stables. “Five horses with five different owners – they all have realistic chances. There all in good ® form, and, yeah four of them worked together this morning but that’s not to find out anything.”
Jenkins, Betfair’s market leader at 8-1 with Lalor, has been a revelation since he was equipped with blinkers this season.
“He jumped four hurdles at home with blinkers and it didn’t really make much difference,” said Henderson.
“But on the racecourse it certainly did. He was very keen on his last run at Ascot, I was worried that he was doing too much, but he did it well in the end.”
The lightly-raced Kayf Grace, a 10-1 chance, is clearly open to further improvement. I think she’s got a great chance,” he said.
“I like Lough Derg Spirit, I think he ran a very good race in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton (second to London Prize).
“He has not been anywhere since. This race has been his objective.”
Henderson, who won the race for J P McManus with My Tent Or Yours in 2013, saddles Charlie Parcs for the owner at the weekend.
“He ran a good race at Newbury the first time. The ground could be the worry for him if we got a lot of rain and snow.”
On home work, Henderson nominates Verdana Blue, a 14-1 shot, as the one who impresses. “She’s in the Champion Hurdle, and she’s going to win it too!” he jested.
“My five are all two-milers and they will travel well in the race.”
Henderson is yet to finalise riding arrangements but expects James Bowen to continue his successful partnership with Jenkins.
“It’s the most likely scenario that James rides. We have gone up to 11st 12lb, so the obvious thing is to have James using his allowance but as we have gone up in the weights, his allowance has gone down.”
Bowen, the riding sensation of the season, is held in high regard by Henderson, whose stable he is attached to.
“He’s a lovely lad, it’s frightening that he’s still 16,” said Henderson. “The next thing is that we have got to teach him to drive!
“He’s obviously got a lot of natural talent, like his brother, Sean.
“It’s an amazing thing what his parents have done to bring up these two boys, and they are lovely lads as well.
“I’m rather hoping he will be here and see me out!”
McManus is expected to have three runners in the race – Bleu Et Rouge, Charlie Parcs and Project Bluebook, and Henderson believes Barry Geraghty, his retained rider, will partner Bleu Et Rouge for Willie Mullins.