CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – FRIDAY
2:10 County Hurdle
Adjali (Daryl Jacob)
I think it took him quite a while to get over the hard race he had in the G1 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow last Christmas and afterwards he never really showed when we know he’s capable of, but we’ve given him plenty of time and tinkered with his wind since Ascot in November and he’s really come into himself over the past month or so. His work has been good and this race has been the plan for quite some time.
Elusive Belle (Sam Waley-Cohen)
She can often run with the choke out which is why the hood is on, but the fast pace here will definitely suit and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her. She’ll have no worries with the ground and I can see her running a big race
Rathhill (Nico de Boinville)
We’ve always thought a great deal of him and he was very impressive winning at Newbury on his first start for us but went wrong after the Unibet Tolworth Hurdle and was forced to sit the rest of the season out which was a real shame as we had high hopes for him. He was very disappointing at Down Royal in November so has undergone a wind procedure and we took the decision to keep him fresh for Cheltenham. Winning County Hurdles isn’t easy but Rathhil is extremely unexposed and I’d like to think there’s a big race in him.
2:50 G1 Albert Bartlett Hurdle
The Cashel Man (Jerry McGrath)
He’s a lovely person to have around the place and is a solid horse who deserves to take his chance in this. The ground is right up his street and his work has been very good therefore I see no reason why he shouldn’t put up a decent performance.
3:30 G1 Magners Gold Cup
Santini (Nico de Boinville)
He’s had an ideal preparation coming into this unlike the RSA last year when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong! I was very impressed with his win in the Cotswold Chase and we’re putting the cheek pieces on which should help him travel more sweetly into the race. Billy, who rides him everyday, is really happy with him and he goes there in tremendous form.
Nicky Henderson Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour 2020 – Part 2
Santini
Click the link to watch Nicky discuss stable stars Altior and Santini in detail
https://t.co/rJVtYB2rop pic.twitter.com/mTSPR0Vcoi
— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) March 3, 2020
4:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Theinval (Jerry McGrath)
It wouldn’t be the Grand Annual unless Theinval was running in it (!!) and it would obviously be nice to win the race named in my father’s honour. The ground appears to be drying out and he’s come down the weights slightly which is a big help so I can certainly make a decent each way case for him. His form is there for all to see but he’s in fine form at home and will hopefully run a big race.
5:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle
Mill Green (Joe Anderson)
He was never really enjoying himself in the Betfair Hurdle last time and struggled to get into a rhythm so Nico pulled him up which was the right thing to do so we’ve freshened him up and he comes into this off a decent mark. It’s a very competitive race but he’s in good form and I expect him to put up a decent show.
