We enjoyed a couple of winners last week and I was particularly pleased with Gallyhill who scored at Newbury on Wednesday. He would have definitely needed it and blew up going into the last, plus the trip was definitely too short, but I liked the way he got a second wind and galloped strongly to the line. I was hoping to run him at Cheltenham in December but a few things weren’t right and he scoped dirty so we gave him a bit of time and he came back to win nicely in a race where the first two pulled well clear. He could be very high class and looks and extremely exciting prospect for Mike Grech.

Patroclus got the job done at Exeter on Tuesday after an encouraging second at Warwick (over 2m5f) on his debut for us afterwhich Nico suggested he’d be better stepped back down in trip, which we did, but judged on that effort, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him go back up again because quite a few of the lads who’ve ridden him work have said he shapes like a horse who will be suited by further. He’s a lovely big strong horse who has a lot of talent and will be even better over fences but we’ll keep him to novice hurdle company for the time being and hopefully he’ll pick up a decent prize somewhere.

We’re unlikely to have too many runners at Cheltenham next week. Santini would be the obvious one and I think I’m swinging towards Doncaster’s Lightning Novices’ Chase for Shishkin while Floressa and Marie’s Rock could contest the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle up there.

I’d like to get a couple more runs into Ahorsewithnoname because the aim is the Mares’ Novice with her so she will run somewhere next week wherever I can find a suitable race, and I need to check on the conditions at Plumpton with regard to Ballingers Corner being declared.

Champ went away in the week for a serious piece of work and jumping session and was very good so the intention remains the Denman Chase at Newbury next month.

HAYDOCK

12:55 G2 Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Novices’ Chase

Allart (Nico de Boinville)

I thought he put up a good display at Ascot on his chasing debut where he got better as the race went on and it was very good education for him. He’s come out of that in very good form and has worked and schooled well since so this looks a good race for him and he goes there with an obvious favourite’s chance.

2:05 Unibet Extra Place Races Everyday Handicap Hurdle

Hijack (Nico de Boinville)

He’s plenty high enough in the weights but I liked the way he stayed on well to the line over two and a half last time so the step up in trip will really suit and he handles soft ground therefore I’m quite hopeful of a big run.

3:15 G2 The New One Unibet Hurdle

Buveur D’Air (Nico de Boinville)

This wasn’t the original plan but he was so well and came to himself much quicker than I anticipated so we decided to come here and it will be great to see him back on a racetrack. It was very much touch and go as to whether he’d even race again because he had to have his foot literally put back together, but we have changed the way he trains and he never sets foot on anything other than grass and everything has gone well. Yes there are only three runners and yes he receives weight but it’s still a horse race and he has to jump and gallop round safely so it’s certainly no ‘gimme’ but I couldn’t be happier with him and I think Kirkland Tellwright and all the team at Haydock, as well as Ed Nicholson at Unibet, deserve a big pat on the back for making sure the meeting went ahead.

ASCOT

1:50 Handicap Hurdle

Janika (Daryl Jacob)

He’s been off for a while and we’ve tinkered with his wind but he’s rated 13lbs lower over hurdles so this looked a very good place to start because we can always go back over fences. Daryl came and schooled him this morning and was very happy so he goes there in good shape and I’m hopeful of a very bold show. To be honest it’s an ideal opportunity for him.

Craigneiche (Tom Cannon)

He won his bumper and then bumped into The Big Breakaway at Newbury before winning at Doncaster last January so his hurdles form is rock solid and he could be interesting. It’s going to be very testing ground but he has won on soft which gives me some encouragement and he’s a horse I like but my only concern is his lack of experience. Hopefully he’ll end up better than a 127 horse, although whether he’ll be able to do it tomorrow, only time will tell.