Henderson relishing pressure

Heading to the Cheltenham Festival as the envy of every trainer comes with an increased level of pressure, but it is a position Nicky Henderson would not swap for the world.

With Altior (Champion Chase), Buveur D’Air (Champion Hurdle) and Might Bite (Gold Cup) all topping their respective markets, the weight of expectation for the Seven Barrows handler to succeed is arguably the greatest he has ever faced up to.

While such a challenge may overface some, there are few better equipped than the 67-yearold to ensure each individual delivers on the big occasion.

He said: “There is going to be pressure as everyone wants a bit of it and that’s fair enough, that is the position we are in.

“There is anticipation and it is exciting as you know you have got good horses and they are not the only ones, there is a cavalry going there. They are all as important as each other.

“I would rather be in this situation, though, with everybody knocking on the door every day. The day when nobody is knocking on the door is probably the day to give up.

“You always say you would settle for one, and you would in a funny way, but when you have got these sort of horses, you don’t get that many chances of winning a Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase in the same year.

“There is still a long way to go and a heap of opposition out there, nobody is going to give anything away and it will be tough.”

Nicky Henderson: has three festival favourites.