IT'S been a particularly sad few days for racing so I’d like to start this week’s blog by paying tribute to Robert Alner who sadly passed away on Monday. Robert was a lovely man and a great friend who was an extremely talented horseman and person of many talents. He achieved so much before I even knew him and it was very sad that he was left paralysed after a car accident in 2007. He was a fantastic trainer and my thoughts and condolences go out to Sally and all his close friends and family.
On a torrid week for racing, I was desperately sad to hear the news about James Banks who was a great friend to many of us here at Seven Barrows. He never actually had a ride for me but rode out here last season for a few months and was a great asset to the yard and his passing is particularly hard to take, and on behalf of my staff and I, we all send our deepest sympathies to his close family and friends
NEWBURY
1:15 Novice Hurdle
Chantry House (Barry Geraghty)
We’ve always thought a great deal of him so have given him plenty of time and he’s flourished. I thought his win on hurdles debut at Cheltenham was very good and this looks a good opportunity to gain some more experience. He’s in the Supreme and Ballymore and this will tell us a lot more about which route we need to take. I’ve been very happy with his work and he schools beautifully so I’m extremely hopeful.
1:50 Handicap Hurdle
Versatility (Nico de Boinville)
I think good ground is the key to him and the step up to three miles will be in his favour. This is quite a close-knit race but he’s in great form and looks reasonably well handicapped so I am pretty confident he can run a nice race.
2:15 G2 Game Spirit Chase
Altior (Nico de Boinville)
There’s nothing more I can add that hasn’t already been said but I would like to clarify a few things as there has been plenty of incorrect reporting and headlines this week concerning Altior, all of which are completely ludicrous. The Racing Post came up with this ridiculous headline the other day which suggested that he’d done this wonderful gallop when no horse in England could have gone with him but what they forgot to mention was that this was jumping just five fences which was a fact left out completely and it read as though Shergar wouldn’t have been able to keep up with him. I thought it was a completely farcical statement and it seems they’ve only taken out what was convenient and suited them for a ‘story’. All I said was that over five fences I don’t know if there was a horse who could keep up.’ That was it!
He’s only in the Champion Chase so has no other options at Cheltenham but depending on the outcome of his next two runs, and how he comes out of each of them, we may consider going over 2m4f at Aintree.
All systems go at Seven Barrows this morning. The highlight was watching Altior and @NdeBoinville back in full swing. pic.twitter.com/Jqf9TLG31h
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) January 30, 2020
3:00 Denman Chase
Might Bite (Nico de Boinville)
It was rather a late decision to run here as I had a Media morning on Monday when everything was going on and my secretary, Carolyn, came out to the yard to say that just two horses were entered in the Denman Chase and did I want to enter Might Bite so I thought we might as well put him in and then just before entries closed we noticed that there were several more entries, but that’s irrelevant as we’ve got to run him because he’s in great form at home and the ground should be absolutely perfect.
The important thing is that he goes out there and enjoys himself and he’s been doing plenty of different things at home to keep him fresh and happy and we’re taking the cheekpieces off as well. There will come a time when the question of retirement will start to enter our heads but that is certainly not on my mind at all at the moment as he still enjoying his work and is enthusiastic as ever so hopefully he can run a solid race.
3:35 G3 Hurdle
Never Adapt (Barry Geraghty)
She can be extremely free so it’s a case of trying to get her to relax which Barry should be able to do in a race like this as he should be able to get plenty of cover and there will likely be plenty of pace too. She got put up to 140 after scoring at Kempton, which I thought was absolutely absurd for what she did there, so she’s off a career-high mark but we’ve always thought a great deal of her and hopefully, she can emulate My Tent Or Yours who was our last winner in the race and carried the JP silks.
Mill Green (Nico de Boinville)
I was very pleasantly surprised with his win at Sandown as I thought he’d really need the run but he put up a good performance and I still think there could be more improvement. He’s up to 142 which brings him nicely into this and he’ll love the ground. I don’t know what price he is but I certainly wouldn’t put you off having a few quid each-way on him.
4:10 Handicap Chase
Post War (Nico de Boinville)
I actually thought he ran a very solid race on his first run back after a zillion years last time when he would have desperately needed it and the Handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds which is really rather nice of him! The step up to this trip won’t be a problem and he has a solid chance.
WARWICK
2:05 G2 Novice Chase
Precious Cargo (Jerry Mcgrath)
He was entered at Exeter tomorrow over 2m4f and he will get further in time but 2m suits for the time being. I thought he was unlucky not to win at Newbury last time as he did all the donkey work but just got touched off on the line. Any give in the ground will help and he deserves to take his chance.
UTTOXETER
12:48 Mares Hurdle
Daphne Du Clos (Connor Brace)
We tinkered with her wind after Wincanton on Boxing Day which will hopefully help and we’re into Handicap class for the first time. She’s had lots of little setbacks which have kept her off the track more than we’d like but she’s in very good form at home and I think she has a great fantastic chance under Connor Brace who takes a very valuable 3lbs off her back.
SUNDAY – EXETER
1:55 Novices' Chase
Champagne Mystery (Nico de Boinville)
He was very impressive on chase debut at Aintree in November but probably didn’t handle Haydock last time. This looks a very good Novice Chase and he’ll have to improve a fair bit.
