Cheltenham
1.30pm
Angels Breath
There is no stand-out going into the race and you can clearly make a case for a few of these, but I’d be very keen on his chances. He did his last piece of work on Friday and we are all set now. We have always liked him ever since he joined us after winning his only point in Ireland, and he was smooth and very professional when winning on his hurdling debut in a Grade 2 at Ascot. To win first time up in that grade takes some doing. His run-up to Kempton last time wasn’t ideal, as we had that period of deep snow in Lambourn and he was one of the horses that had to have an unexpected flu jab. And I am sure that was a factor in his defeat in the Dovecote though, as I have said previously, I was pretty delighted by his run there. He was a bit keen early on and definitely took a blow when I asked him to go about his business up the straight, before getting his second wind and finishing off his race really well. I don’t want to sound over-confident, as that would be misleading, but I expect him to be placed at least and I think you will see a different horse from the one that you saw at Kempton. He has definitely come on appreciably for that, and a stronger-run race on softer ground will suit him a lot better. You need a tough sort for this race, and he fits the bill, all right, for all that this is just his third hurdle start.
2.10pm
This looks an average Arkle – going into the race at least – but I was pretty taken by Glen Forsa’s defeat of Kalashnikov at Sandown. He will love the ground and is my idea of the horse to beat. When a horse jumps as well as he does, it makes a jockey’s life so much easier, though there is a lot of pace on here, which may not be ideal for him if they want to go forward again.
2.50pm
O O Seven
We haven’t seen him since he ran well below par in the SkyBet Chase at Doncaster in January, and the disappointment was compounded when the handicapper ignored the run and left him on the same mark. But he is clearly a lot better than that, and his earlier defeat of the SkyBet winner Go Conquer at the same course clearly reads very well. So hopefully he is still competitively weighted off a 5lb higher mark here, and he has won at Cheltenham. He would definitely prefer the ground to dry out, for all he finished second in a Tolworth on heavy, and we try him in blinkers for the first time. He schooled in them the other day, and he went well.
3.30pm – Unibet Champion Hurdle
Brain Power
I probably give Brain Power better each-way claims than most. I love Verdana Blue to bits but it does seem like the ground has really turned against her, and I think it will suit Brain Power. It is true that all his best hurdling form to date has come on better ground but I am convinced – in my own mind at least – that he wants it soft now, as he hits the ground so hard. Hopefully, he put to bed the thought that he doesn’t act around Cheltenham with his win for me in the International back in December. I know he was getting weight from the runner-up Silver Streak that day, but he was pretty damn impressive with the cheek pieces re-fitted, and he comes here a fresh horse and one who should love the pace and tempo of the race. The front three in the betting all look very good, but he has place claims all the same.
Just four days until the @UnibetRacing Champion Hurdle and I can’t wait! Full stable tour here https://t.co/SDI6i1R5yf #ad pic.twitter.com/K8cu3L4MMc
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) March 9, 2019
4.50pm
Lough Derg Spirit
I think he would probably prefer decent ground but the facts are that he has won on soft and finished sixth in a Martin Pipe and a Betfair Hurdle in testing conditions, so perhaps he is not one to pigeon hole on that front. He made a few mistakes when winning well on his reappearance at Wetherby before disappointing behind Glen Forsa at Kempton, but he bounced back to form when winning well in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow. He has gone up 7lb for that victory, and this is obviously a far more competitive race, but this is just his fourth start over fences, so hopefully there is plenty more to come. And going back left-handed over fences could suit him, too.
@bennicholls1987
Nico, apart from Altior which ride are you most looking forward to at Cheltenham?
ANSWER: Angels Breath., My Unibet column for Tuesday's racing explains why in detail.
@wbahalesowen7
Will you let might bite tear it up like his novice days?? Let the scorpion be a scorpion
ANSWER: Let's see the opposition and we will decide from there!
@AlexB76209096
Do you still get nervous before a race, at the festival? If so, how do you cope with the nerves.
ANSWER: You get used to the pressure the more you have been exposed to it, and I have been lucky enough to ride him in some big races, and win some of them. You just embrace it.
@funkyaol
If you could ride any horse other than for @sevenbarrows who would it be & why? #AskNico
ANSWER: I am very happy with my ride but it would probably be Buveur D'Air. You'd be part of history if he went and won a third successive Champon Hurdle.
@tomconnors4
What do you think of Bright Forecasts chance in the Ballymore Nico?
ANSWER: If he finishes in the first six, he'd have run a great race. Anything more is a bonus.
