WE made a few entries for the early closing races at Cheltenham in a couple of weeks time and I’m rather hoping the ground is better than last time because I’d like to run Mister Fisher in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup after things completely went against him last month and he had absolutely no chance once the ground turned but we all know he’s much better than that. Mengli Khan schooled over fences this morning and was great so there’s a possibility he could also head to Prestbury Park but I have to admit I really don’t know what we’ve got with him! He’s an entertaining individual and obviously very talented but Gordon’s team said he can be a bit unpredictable when he runs so a change of scenery might help; we’ll see.
Buzz was absolutely electric at Ascot last week and is obviously an improving person. We always thought he used to pull himself up on the running so I was rather hoping he wouldn’t get there quite so soon but he literally took Nico to the line which probably isn’t the cleverest thing to do in a Handicap like that because he’s now been hiked up another 11lbs to a mark of 148. There’s a £100,000 Handicap at Ascot on 19th December which is where he’ll go next. On the subject of recent winners Mister Coffey will head to Sandown next week for the Listed Handicap Hurdle.
There is only one word to describe Shishkin at Kempton on Monday and it is ‘perfection’. He was absolutely brilliant and let’s hope it stays that way. He’s come back bucking, kicking and quite full of himself which is great to see. He’ll head to Kempton on December 27th for the G2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase. Chantry House was also very good and once Nico woke him up, he asserted nicely and won as he liked. He’ll definitely want further but I haven’t got a race in mind for him just yet.
Altior schooled this morning with his usual brilliance and all roads still lead to Sandown for the Tingle Creek next Saturday.
NEWBURY – FRIDAY
12:15 Maiden Hurdle
Flinteur Sacre (Nico de Boinville)
We are very pleased with him, everything has gone right and he’s always looked a very talented person so we’ve just got to get in with it and hope he can translate everything we see at home to the racecourse. This looks a hot little contest with the likes of My Drogo in it, who is out of My Petra who I used to train, and he was second behind I Am Maximus at Cheltenham, plus I know a little bit about Sir Sholokhov but I’m still not overly worried and with the conditions and trip in his favour I shall be making no excuses. He’s a very sharp horse and his schooling has been excellent.
NICKY HENDERSON STABLE TOUR 2020/21 – PART 4
Novice Hurdlers#RoadToCheltenham
Click the link for the full videohttps://t.co/peqtJ62ORb
— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) October 23, 2020
12:45 Novices’ Handicap Chase
Elusive Belle (Sam Waley-Cohen)
She’s had one run over fences and actually ran very well for quite a long way but needed it badly so she’ll definitely have come on for that. It’s often difficult to find 2m novice chases for horses like her, because she is a proper two miler, but her form behind Epatante at Newbury last year is obviously very good and she’s a very capable mare who should run a very big race.
1:15 Novices’ Hurdle
Bothwell Bridge (Nico De Boinville)
I hope the ground doesn’t dry out too much for him because he likes to get his toe in but he’s a very smart horse and Nico was really impressed with him after Warwick last time and he’s a promising horse we are all quite excited about.
1:50 G2 Novices’ Chase
Caribean Boy (Daryl Jacob)
The reason he is running on Friday is because Daryl has to go up to Newcastle on Saturday although to be honest I have no qualms going in this and he is a horse I have quite a lot of time for. He’s another that wouldn’t want it too quick but he’s a nice free going horse so we’ll jump him out upfront and if they want to go with him they’ll be going quite quick!
2:25 Handicap Chase
Whatswrongwithyou (Nico De Boinville)
To be honest he really loves soft ground but he’s in such good form at home that I’m just inclined to run him and hope he’ll cope with it. He’s coming down to a decent little mark and this is the right race over the right trip on the right track so it makes sense to give it a go.
3:35 Handicap Hurdle
The Cashel Man (Jerry McGrath)
He’s just so badly handicapped that it’s hard to find a decent opportunity for him but he likes the track so we’re giving it a shot. He seems very fresh and well at the moment but he’s a real character and you wouldn’t know what you’re going to get from one day to another.
