Nicky Henderson: “The step back up in trip is in his favour. I like him…”

IT’S great to be back for another season with Unibet and we’re all looking forward to what lies ahead. While many have said we had a didn’t have a great previous season, it’s worth pointing out that our horses ran to a 21% strike rate, we had six Grade One winners and earnt over £2.2 million in prize money, so apart from Cheltenham, I think we had a very good year.

As usual, we don’t have too many runners at this stage of the season, but it was good to have a winner at Southwell on Wednesday and we’ll really start to get going in the next few weeks.

CHELTENHAM – SATURDAY

1:10

Will Carver (Nico De Boinville)

We kept him going through the summer, where he took to chasing quite nicely, before giving him a break and getting his wind done. He actually jumps very well, and I hope we’ll have plenty of fun with him this season, but he is up to a career high mark.

 

2:20

Captain Morgs (James Bowen)

We tinkered with his wind over the summer and he’s come back in good shape at home. We were able to get on the grass for the first time last week and he worked very nicely. He tends to run well when fresh, good ground suits him perfectly, and he gets on very well with James.

 

4:05

Hyland (Nico De Boinville)

He won on Chase debut at Southwell in the summer and may have found the ground a little too soft at Uttoxeter after that, so we gave him a short break but wanted to get him back early enough before the ground goes too soft. He won at this meeting last year, over hurdles, but jumps very well and the step back up in trip is in his favour. I like him.

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