Nicky Henderson: “The return to a stiff two miles will be in his favour”
IT is a terrible, terrible shame that Sir Gino will be unable to make Newbury tomorrow. It is infuriating, but thankfully nothing too serious; he just got a bang to the inside of his near hind, which is sore and has got slightly infected, so just needs cleaning up. Obviously the timing couldn’t be worse, but it’s a small setback, and I’m still hopeful of getting a run into him before the Arkle. Where that will be I can’t commit, but I’d say it’s more than likely to be at Kempton in the Pendil Novices’ Chase on February 22nd or Bangor on 26th, but that does come incredibly close to Cheltenham.
On a positive side, it was great to see Califet En Vol win the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon yesterday. He’s a lovely horse, but I shan’t be in any rush with him, and it’s highly unlikely he’ll be going to Cheltenham. He certainly has the ability, but he’s not quite grown up enough for a task like that, so we’ll probably look at Aintree and/or Ayr in the spring.
NEWBURY
1:15
Keintzheim (Nico de Boinville)
I was impressed with her winning debut for us at Kempton in a race that hasn’t worked out too badly, and I think she’s improved a fair bit since then, too. She has schooled and worked very well, and the ground will be perfect. I hope this is the right race, and if she is to be considered for the Mares’ Novice she’d need to be winning this really.
3:35
Joyeuse (Nico de Boinville)
She was a tad unlucky not to have won at Cheltenham, but she’s a nice mare with plenty of ability, although she has very little experience, especially for a race like this. I don’t see the drop back in trip being a problem; in fact, I think it will suit better, because they’re likely to go a decent gallop, and she comes into this off a nice weight.
Iberico Lord (Freddie Gordon)
We tried chasing, but I don’t think he really enjoyed it so we find ourselves back here off the back of a solid effort at Windsor last time, which was more to get his eye back in, and I’m not sure he fully stayed two and a half miles as well. He’s obviously much higher in the weights on this occasion, having won last year, but Freddie takes a few pounds off, and the return to a stiff two miles will be in his favour.
WARWICK
3:48
No Ordinary Joe (Callum Pritchard)
He’s gradually coming down the weights but is still plenty high enough, so Callum is taking 5lbs off which brings him down to a nice mark. Three miles was probably a bit too far last time, so he’s dropping back in trip, and on his very best form, he’s not out of it.
Shanagh Bob (Johnny Burke)
Chasing, I’m afraid, was not for him so we switched back to hurdles and I was very pleased with his run in a Pertemps Qualifier at Huntingdon last time. He’s dropping back in trip, so we’ll probably make plenty of use of him, and he’s in great form at home.
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