NICKY PACKS HIS TENT AWAY
MY TENT OR YOURS, the perennial Champion Hurdle bridesmaid, has been retired by trainer Nicky Henderson.
The 11-year-old was last seen at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April, finishing fourth to stablemate L’Ami Serge.
Owned by JP McManus, he was twice a Grade One winner, claiming the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle in 2013, and in total won nine of his 25 starts under rules. But he failed to shake off the perpetual runner-up tag in the Festival’s hurdling showpiece.
McManus’s horse came closest to winning the race in 2014 when going under by a neck to Jezki, also owned by McManus.
He tried again in 2016 when he was runner-up to Annie Power and again in 2017 when he was beaten into second by stable companion Buveur D’Air.
Henderson said: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce we have decided to retire dear old My Tent Or Yours.
“He has been a really special friend to all of us here at Seven Barrows, but his old joints were starting to get a little bit rickety.
“He deserves an honourable retirement and he can now join all his old friends like Binocular and the rest of the JP pensioners at Martinstown Stud.”
Twenty four hours earlier, Henderson welcomed Altior back to the winner’s enclosure at Sandown after maintaining his unbeaten record over fences with a clear-cut victory in the Tingle Creek Chase.
Henderson reported Altior pulled off a shoe in victory and was slightly unsound yesterday. “It will be poulticed and he’ll be fine,” Henderson added.