Nicky Henderson: “He has been the most remarkable horse for us down the years and is Mr Consistent”

THREE runners for us on the first day of the Open Meeting at Cheltenham, and now that the rain has arrived we should start getting more out. I would, however, like to give a mention to the news about State Man, who was sadly ruled out for the season yesterday. 

It definitely changes the picture, and I feel very sorry for Willie and Joe Donnelly because we all know what it’s like. We can only hope he makes a full recovery and comes back to his brilliant best, because we need horses like him.

I suppose it could be assumed that Lossiemouth will be their main Unibet Champion Hurdle hope, but the balls are now very much up in the air. We were undecided with regards to Lulamba, but that decision has now been made, and he will definitely be going chasing; in fact, he runs at Exeter on Monday, and this news isn’t going to change that plan.

We are making very good progress with Sir Gino, touch wood, and I couldn’t be happier, but we’ve still got a long way to go. However, this horse does have the ability to be a Champion Hurdle horse if, and I emphasise the word IF, we needed him to be one, God forbid anything should mean Constitution Hill couldn’t run in it. We’ve already lost our novice status over fences with Sir Gino, so the hurdling door is open if we need it, but let’s hope we don’t as I’m also very happy with Constitution, and he’ll probably go to Newbury on Tuesday for an away day in preparation for the Fighting Fifth. 

CHELTENHAM – FRIDAY

1:10

Bective Abbey (Freddie Gordon)

The idea is to go back chasing with him, and he will be going that way sooner rather than later, but I wouldn’t mind just giving him a run over hurdles. It looks the right race for him; the trip is right, and the ground should be ok, although we aren’t entirely sure what it will be until the runners head to post as there is still plenty of rain forecast. He has won on soft, at Ffos Las, but this will be his first run of the season, and the soft ground found out a couple of ours at Bangor on Wednesday so I wouldn’t be surprised if he might just need it. 

 

1:45 Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase 

Mister Coffey (Nico de Boinville)

We were looking at the Cross Country Chase, but that has been abandoned, so we find ourselves here, and it’s fantastic that Unibet have come to the rescue, as these Veterans’ Chases are a great initiative.

As you all know, dear old Coffey has never won over fences, but he’s posted some very good efforts in defeat, and while this trip may be on the short side, hopefully there will be plenty of pace on because he stays and jumps well and likes to come from behind. This will also put him spot on for the Cross Country Chase next month, as that has been the plan all along.

 

2:55 Shloer Chase

Jonbon (Nico de Boinville)

He has been the most remarkable horse for us down the years and is Mr Consistent. This race has always been his traditional starting point before, all being well, he heads back to Sandown for the Tingle Creek. We took him to Newbury a few weeks ago where he enjoyed a morning out which will have sharpened him up mentally and physically and I’m very happy with him coming into this.

 A lot of people say he doesn’t show his best form at Cheltenham but he’s won this race for the past two years, albeit when he might not have been particularly impressive, but he usually improves for his first run and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case here, especially if the ground is very testing. 

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