Nicky Henderson: “I think Brave Eagle has a very good chance”

Chepstow

1:50 H’cap Hurdle

French Crusader (Nico de Boinville)

He’s got some decent form to his name and is gradually coming down the weights but this looks an incredibly hot race and if he can finish in the money I’ll be very happy.

2:25 H’cap Chase

Brave Eagle (Nico de Boinville)

He’s been off a long time and we haven’t seen him since he departed in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November, but I have to say he’s been training very well at home and we’ve all been very pleased with him. He loves good ground so fingers crossed the rain stays away for him and he ran well enough in this race last year of a six pounds higher mark so is more than entitled to be thereabouts and I think he has a very good chance.

3:30 G3 Silver Trophy

Hooper (Ben Ffrench Davis)

He’s enjoyed a very fruitful summer and been ultra consistent all the way through. I’m not quite sure his jumping of fences was quite up to scratch and he was doing some silly things so we’re switching back to hurdles and putting the cheek pieces on to sharpen him up a little bit. He’ll be off on his holidays after this anyway so we might as well have one last roll of the dice.

We run Buzz in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday which is a race we’ve won twice before with Caracciola and Landing Light and this lad would be every bit as good as them. We’ve had this race in mind for quite some time but unfortunately there is no rain forecast so I am very worried about the ground. But he’s been been in very good form at home and we’re obviously delighted to have secured Oisin Murphy who has ridden him before.