Nicky Henderson: “I think he has a very realistic chance off that weight”

KEMPTON

12:20

Arclight (Nico de Boinville)

She’s a new acquisition to us from Sir Mark Prescott’s who stayed well on the flat and did it well on her hurdles debut at Doncaster last month. As a consequence of that she has a penalty to carry but she has lots of scope and schooled well this morning. This looked the next logical step and if she handles the ground she shouldn’t be far away. We have very few juveniles so she’s definitely flying the flag for that division.

 

2:40

Rathmacknee (Nico de Boinville)

I was hoping to run him in a valuable race at Fakenham over Christmas but he was a pound out of the bottom of the Handicap so missed the cut by one which was rather disappointing because I’d had that race in mind for quite a while! He won nicely stepped back up to two and a half at Doncaster last time and is only three pounds higher here which seems fair and I think there’s a decent race in him this season. I wouldn’t say he’d want it that soft but he has to go on it and it’s the same for all of them. He’s a smart horse and I think he has a very realistic chance off that weight.

Pentland Hills (Nathan Brennan)

I was pretty disappointed with his jumping the other day and don’t think he really enjoyed himself jumping fences so we’re going back over hurdles, stepping up in trip and taking weight off with Nathan’s valuable 7lbs claim. I hope he’ll handle the ground because he’s in good form at home and there aren’t many opportunities for horses like him. I’m just hoping the switch to hurdles might rejuvenate him a little bit.

 

3:15

Quick Draw (Nico de Boinville)

The handicapper hasn’t taken any chances and whopped him back up another 6lbs after winning at Uttoxeter last time so there isn’t any room for manoeuvre and this is a competitive little Handicap. He schooled well earlier the week, this is his trip, and he also ran well at the track previously which is a plus.

 

WARWICK

3:35

The Bomber Liston (Paul O’Brien) – NOW A NON-RUNNER

The trouble is he is 3lbs out of the Handicap but I want to get him qualified for the Final so he obviously needs to go up and there are ways and means of doing it but I’m not sure if this is the right way or the wrong way.

Realistically though, he ran very well in a competitive race at Kempton on Boxing Day and might’ve finished a lot closer had he not made a horlicks of the second last flight, and I really think the step up to three miles will be a big help. Paul O’Brien has been in riding out, can do 10st, and is 25% when riding for me so let’s hope he enhances that here!

On The Blind Side (Sean O’Briain)

Dear old On The Blind Side has been a wonderful person to have around the yard and owes us absolutely nothing, but he’s just far too high in the Handicap so Sean’s 10lbs really does come into this and he almost ends up off bottom weight. He’s a very straightforward horse who always tries hard and as long as it’s not extreme going, he should handle the ground.