Nicky Henderson: “This is his final run before a crack at the Arkle”

WARWICK

2:05

Theatre Glory (Nico De Boinville)

She’s a very high class mare who had some very good form all last season and deserves to be here, but the big problem is of course Love Envoi who has been exceptional and will obviously be very hard to beat. Theatre Glory is, however, pretty talented in her own right and we’ve been pleased with her at home so she could easily make the favourite pull out all the stops.

 

2:40

Jonbon (Aidan Coleman)

He is undoubtedly the biggest contributor to our whole squad up and down the country today and hopefully this will be his final run before a crack at the Arkle. Historically this has been a good stepping stone to that race with the likes of Edwardstone winning last year before going on to Cheltenham success so it seemed the right decision to come here and he’s been in very good form at home. He’s extremely clever over a fence and if he meets one on the wrong stride he is very adept at correcting himself and getting over economically which is a big asset. Let’s hope he can come through this unscathed and have a smooth trip into Cheltenham.

Arkle favourite Jonbon returns this weekend. Here's the latest from Nicky Henderson on his charge 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/YsOgc1Wxej

— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) February 10, 2023

NEWBURY

3:35

No Ordinary Joe (James Bowen)

He was very good on his last start over two miles and has been working very nicely since then. This race has been the aim for a while and everything has gone according to plan and James retains the ride. I hope the ground doesn’t get too quick because he prefers to get his toe in and we all know that Newbury have had issues with not being able to water and then lots of frost so we’re going to be on tenterhooks slightly and if it is too fast I’m worried there will be an exodus of non runners which won’t be good. Keith Otteson has done everything he can to get the ground as good as possible so we’ll hopefully give it a shot and I think No Ordinary Joe has a decent chance in what is probably the most competitive Handicap Hurdle of the season.

 

4:10

Russian Ruler (James Bowen)

He has had a little tinkering with his palate since his last run at Chepstow having run very well at Newbury before that. He does like to make the running, but I don’t think we’ll be employing those tactics again here, and we’re coming back to two miles which I think is right, although he probably will stay a bit further in time. He’s in good form and while he does have to bounce back from a disappointing effort last time, if the wind op has worked he could well come into this.

Benefact (Adrian Heskin)

Two miles might be a little bit short for him at the moment but this experience is going to be important to him, and he would probably like the ground a little softer, but he’s a lovely horse who has lots of scope and is a nice prospect for the future.

 

4:43

Brave Jen (James Bowen)

She was fourth on her only run at Ludlow in a Bumper won by a horse that went on to beat Queens Gamble in a Listed race at Market Rasen on Tuesday so that is strong form. In fact after that race we discovered she had a trapped epiglottis so we have rectified that and hopefully it will help.

She is the only non- winner in the race, so it might be quite ambitious coming straight into a Listed contest, and she will no doubt improve for the experience, but we all like her and she’s quite a decent mare so won’t disgrace herself.

 

UTTOXETER

1:00

Park Hill Dancer (Sean O’Briain)

He’s a nice little fella; he’s not very big so I’m consequently going to claim off him and this trip and ground will suit him well. He’s not Mr Speedy but it’s certainly an opportunity for him and we’ll see how he gets on.

 

2:45

Mister Coffey (Mr Derek O’Connor)

We’re coming here because I’m hoping the ground will be softer at Uttoxeter than anywhere else because he doesn’t want fast ground but I need to get a run into him before going to Cheltenham where the National Hunt Chase is what we’d like to end up in. For that reason we have got Derek O’Connor over to ride because the intention is for him to do the same next month so this will be a good time for them to meet each other. The important thing with Mister Coffey is that he has to have cut in the ground and has to go left handed so this does seem a nice race for him and he’s been in very good form.

 

3:20

Kincardine (Paul O’Brien)

He was very, very disappointing on his last run at Ludlow and I have no explanation for it at all; so we are dropping him back slightly in trip here. I don’t think that’s the complete answer to the problem but I hope it will suit and the cut in the ground will help. He’s in extra good shape and worked very well on Tuesday and I really think he could go very well.

SUNDAY EXETER RUNNERS

We’ve got another big day ahead of us on Sunday at Exeter with a number of runners I like and we start off with a horse in the Novices’ Hurdle at 2:30 called The Carpenter who I have been dying to run for a very, very long time and I like him a lot. He’s had all sorts of issues and never got to the racecourse for us this year or last year and is yet to race in England having finished second in a Point to Point in Ireland. He’s a lovely big horse and two mile two furlongs round a stiff track like Exeter should be perfect and this is a good starting point.

Luccia is the most important runner of the day for us thee and she takes her chance in the Listed Novices’ Hurdle at 3:30. She is up against the boys for the first time but I’m not too concerned and it’s just a matter of getting another run under her belt before Cheltenham where I would expect the target will be the Mares’ Novice if all goes well on Sunday. She is ready for a run and this will put her right.

Walkingonair goes in the Pertemps Qualifier at 4:00 and he’s a horse I’ve always like a lot. However I’ve got to say I’ve been a little bit underwhelmed with his two runs this season, both of which I thought he’d win. But I think this is a nice race and I need him to finish in the first four, and hopefully win, to qualify for the Pertemps in March because I do think he would have a very realistic chance in that race.

Finally we have Love Bite running in the Newcomers Bumper at 5:00 and she is a Milan half sister to Might Bite and Beat That. She’s a very kind girl, and quite like her siblings is very laid back about life and in her work but I think, like they did, she’ll come to life on the racecourse. She’s actually a very good jumper and you could nearly go straight over hurdles but I think it’s a good idea to give her a run in a bumper and it will be interesting to see how she gets on. A stiff track like this will suit her well and she has a good chance.