SATURDAY – CHELTENHAM

1:40 G2 Novices’ Chase

Fusil Raffles (Daryl Jacob)

He’s done everything we’ve asked in both races over fences and we were looking at going two and a half and he could easily end up go further but he’s doing everything beautifully over this trip and to be honest I thought this race looked a little bit easier and he’s already won over course and distance. Quel Destin is obviously the one to beat, and we are giving him a bit of weight, but our horse is in good form and his experience around here is a major asset.

 

2:15 Handicap Chase

Mister Fisher (Nico de Boinville)

He has always been a very high class horse and I was looking forward to taking him to Aintree after his excellent effort in at Cheltenham but as we all know that didn’t happen. He’s come back in excellent shape and this race has been on the radar for quite some time. He’s already won over course and distance and should handle the ground, although I wouldn’t want much more rain and it turning into a slog because that isn’t what he wants. He’s in very good shape and I’m hopeful he can run extremely well in a race which you only ever really get one decent shot at.

Trainer Nicky Henderson earlier this morning on the chances of MISTER FISHER at Cheltenham tomorrow pic.twitter.com/dKLgnC4b2o

— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) November 13, 2020

 

2:50 Listed Handicap Hurdle

On The Blind Side (Nico de Boinville)

This is more of a confidence booster, really,  but Nico was keen to come here and on his day he’s a very high class horse and as long as it doesn’t turn into a bog, he’d have a fair chance.

 

3:25 Handicap Hurdle

Son Of Camas (Nico de Boinville)

He’s about to go chasing but I have a big inkling there is a decent hurdle race in him and an Intermediate Novice over the right trip on the right ground gives me lots of confidence that he’s well up to making his presence felt. He’s a big, big burly horse and if he needs the run, he needs the run but he’s as straight as I can get him at home and I’d like to pick this up on the way before going over fences.

 

UTTOXETER

11:52 Maiden Hurdle

Buttsbury Lady (Jerry McGrath)

She won her bumper but is quite a weak filly so we gave her some time off to freshen her up and get her ready to start over hurdles, of which she’s schooled well. The step up in trip will suit and she  should go well.

 

3:50 Bumper

Moonlight Flit (Jerry McGrath)

Yes, I like him. He’s a big strong horse by Getaway who goes well and is ready to run over hurdles but I thought a run in a bumper wouldn’t do him any harm at all.

 

YOUR QUESTIONS

 

Q. Could Santini be given an entry in the Grand National?

I would have thought the answer to that would possibly be ‘yes’

 

Q. Have you decided on any future plans for Dusart?

No, I haven’t. We are going to go very quietly. He’s come out of Newbury ok and we’ll just wander on quietly for the time being.

 

Q. Given you have two Unibet Champion Hurdle contenders in the same ownership, I assume one will go over to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Hurdle?

Don’t forget that Buveur D’Air has miles to go and it’s very unlikely he’ll be seen before Christmas and Epatante will make her seasonal debut in the Fighting Fifth and then, all being well, the Christmas Hurdle. We won’t be rushing Buveur and something like the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown would be a possible starting point IF things go to plan up until then.

 

Q. Have you made plans for Chantry House’s Chase debut?

Not yet but everything is going very well and it would want to be over two and a half miles.

 

Q. How is Dickie Diver doing?

Waiting for some very, very, very soft ground. He has terrible knees so was forced to sit out last season but he’s got a lot of talent and if we can keep him sound, he could still be very exciting.

 

Q. What’s the plan for Flinteur Sacre?

He’s about a fortnight off a run and we’ll go somewhere nice and straightforward with him – places like Ascot, Newbury, Kempton but we won’t be jumping straight into graded company.

 

Q. When will we see Shishkin?

He’s two to three weeks off a run and we’ll be looking for a novice over two miles. Oh, actually! Kempton – on a Monday – 2m2f – the same race Altior won on his Chase debut.

 

Q. I was impressed with I Am Maximus winning his bumper at Cheltenham, how is he and what are the plans for him?

Very, very slowly catchy monkey with him. He’s a big raw horse who is actually on holiday now because that one run was enough for him for the time being and we’ll probably look at bringing him back for something around Christmas time. I wouldn’t think he’s a horse for the Champion Bumper but I like him a lot. We’ve got him and No Ordinary Joe who are two very good horses.

 

Q. When is the good ole boy Altior back?

We’re going the tried and tested route of starting off at Sandown in the Tingle Creek. He’ll go to Newbury on Tuesday for a gallop.

 

Q. When will Pipesmoker be making his seasonal return?

He had a bit of a hiccup and was lame before he was due to run at Cheltenham last month but he’s back cantering again now. It has delayed us, but don’t panic because he a good horse.

 

Q. What’s your favourite Brandy?

They don’t sponsor it anymore but you can’t beat good old Hennessy!

 

Q. Do you have any new ‘double green’ horses this year to mention?

We have a nice one called GIPSY DE CHOISEL who will be running in an Introductory Hurdle at Ascot next weekend. He’s won his only start in France and is very exciting.

 

Q. Hi Nicky, will Mister Coffey be kept hurdling this season and is the Betfair Hurdle the main target?

The trouble is, I have rather exposed him, but I had to because he’d only had two runs therefore couldn’t run in a class two or class one Hurdle until I had given him another run and I tried to find a small race somewhere but couldn’t find anything suitable so he went to Sandown and we all saw what he did there so, yes, something like the Betfair Hurdle would have to come into the equation now. Maybe you can come to the yard and do my race planning!

 

Q. I see you may have had a change of heart, re Champ for the King George. How is his jumping and have you ironed out the jumping to the left, which obviously wouldn’t suit Kempton?

May I say you have summed up the horse very well. He does jump to the left and yes I have ironed out his jumping to the left, well I’ve tried to anyway! He’s been to Henrietta Knight’s place to have some intense jump lessons which has hopefully done the trick but I don’t know If it has worked because we haven’t schooled him since he arrived back and we’ve also hobdayed him which meant he had a short time off for that. He is ONLY in the King George as a complete back stop because he’s much more likely to go to Ireland for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown if I can get him ready for that in time, but he’s only just back cantering now and there is only one day that matters and that’s Gold Cup day in March. It’s going to be difficult for him and Santini because neither are suited to Kempton but I rang up JP and said if for some reason we can’t go to Ireland we should put him in the King George purely as back up plan but at this stage we have absolutely no intention of running.