Nicky Henderson: “He handles this ground well, so I’m hopeful of a very bold show… he has lots in his favour”

AFTER the disaster that was Chelteham, we are all on a ‘de stress’ week or so which means there will be very few runners from Seven Barrows this weekend before we start to up the ante in the middle of next week and look towards the Aintree Festival. Apart from the few runners this week, they’ve all been cantering away steadily on our sand gallop which I hope has enabled them to recover and reach full health. This weekend will tell us an awful lot about where we stand.

It wasn’t all doom and glow, however, as Persian Time defied the odds to win at Kempton last Saturday, our only runner of the day, which at least tells us there is some light at the end of the tunnel. He’s a very likeable person with lots of ability and is now two from four over fences. The Handicapper put him up another 3lbs but there should still be plenty of fun to be had with him, possibly up at Ayr.

NEWBURY – SATURDAY

2:10

Break My Soul (Nico de Boinville)

She won her Point to Point in Ireland and has shaped with promise in both starts over Hurdles, notably last time when upped to this trip at Warwick where she finished behind Smiling Getaway who runs in the G2 Mares’ race. This is obviously a step up into Handicap Company for the first time and she does need to improve a bit, but we’ve tinkered with a few things since her last race, and we’ll learn more about her this time.

Unibet are BOOSTING the price of the favourite in this race!

 

ASCOT – SUNDAY

1:35

Old Time Chaser (Nico de Boinville)

He is a lovely, handsome looking chap who is very well named, because his future definitely lies over fences. This is his first run for us, and he was third in a Point to Point, but he’s been off for quite some time and might be best watched first time out.

Strutter (James Bowen)

We thought he’d run better than he did at Huntingdon last time, but he was very keen early on and stopped quite quickly which was disappointing. However, the step up in trip should suit and he’ll have a handicap mark after this.

 

2:45

Kado De Joie (Nico de Boinville)

I was impressed with him at Market Rasen last time where he knuckled down and put the race to bed in decent style. He’s improving all the time, and handles this ground well, so I’m hopeful of a very bold show. He has lots in his favour.

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