Skelton retains maximum faith in Protektorat’s Gold Cup challenge

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Dan Skelton remains convinced his star staying chaser Protektorat will once again make his presence felt in next month’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old finished best of the British in the blue riband last season when third behind Henry de Bromhead’s pair of A Plus Tard and Minella Indo – and could hardly have been more impressive on his seasonal reappearance in Haydock’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

But his Gold Cup credentials were dented on Cheltenham Trials Day in late January as he could finish only fourth as hot favourite for the Cotswold Chase, with Skelton subsequently blaming himself for leaving his charge short in the fitness department.

Bookmakers inevitably lengthened Protektorat’s Festival odds off the back of that defeat, with Betfair offering 16-1 – but speaking at a press morning at his yard on Tuesday, Skelton said anyone writing off his Gold Cup chances does so at their peril.

“I hold my hands up after Cheltenham – I didn’t have him as fit as thought he was,” he said.

“If we’d gone into that race with me saying ‘this is a prep run’, I think everyone would have come out and said it was a lovely prep run, he blew up turning in and stayed on from the back of the last.

“That wasn’t the plan. I thought and hoped he’d win and we’d go on to the Gold Cup, but that’s not how it’s worked out.

“He was third in the Gold Cup last year and is a bigger, stronger, better horse this year. I think you all saw at Haydock when he’s at his absolute best how good he can be.”

The Alcester handler is confident a leaner and meaner version of Protektorat will show up in the Cotswolds in four weeks’ time, with a racecourse gallop at Southwell pencilled in as a key part of preparation.

Dan and Harry Skelton with Protektorat
Dan and Harry Skelton with Protektorat (Jacob King/PA)

He added: “We’ve just got to knuckle down, and we have knuckled down in the couple of weeks since the Cotswold Chase, and get him like he was at Haydock.

“If he goes into the Gold Cup like he was at Haydock, I think you’ll find his run in the Cotswold Chase will be significantly behind him and I think he’s got a real good chance.

“Drying conditions are a concern, but the only thing is the longer it stays dry, the more certain it will rain! Maybe it will all rain at once.”

The hot favourite for the Gold Cup is the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs, who proved his stamina over three miles in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier in the month.

But while Skelton respects the Irish challenger, he is not one to shirk a challenge.

He said: “Obviously Galopin Des Champs is the correct favourite. He got the trip the last day, (but) there is a small question mark over whether he’ll stay three-mile-two at Cheltenham, which Willie is convinced he’ll answer positive and I’m certainly in no place to doubt the horse or the trainer!

“But what I’m getting at is Galopin Des Champs aside, it’s a very, very open Gold Cup. Everyone has had a go at beating each other and there have been different results along the line.

“Our horse is a confirmed stayer and can get round the track and on our Haydock form, we’re right up there.

“He looks absolutely magnificent in his coat and hopefully he can go two places better than last year.”

Two days prior to Protektorat’s second bid for Gold Cup glory, his stablemate Nube Negra will have a second tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra
Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra (Jacob King/PA)

The nine-year-old was beaten just half a length into second place by Put The Kettle On in the 2021 edition of the two-mile chasing championship, but was withdrawn from last season’s renewal on account of the rain-softened ground.

The Spanish-bred gelding made the most of a gilt-edged opportunity when landing Cheltenham’s Shloer Chase in November, though, and while he was no match for Editeur De Gite in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas, Skelton is hopeful Nube Negra will show his true colours next month granted normal Cheltenham conditions.

He said: “The Champion Chase looks a very open race. Everyone has beaten each other and everyone has got reasons why they got beat.

“He won the Shloer, which he should have done at 1-10, and then I think he actually ran really well at Kempton on tacky ground, which is not perfect for him.

Horses on the gallops during a visit to Dan Skelton’s yard
Horses on the gallops during a visit to Dan Skelton’s yard (Jacob King/PA)

“I’m not making an excuse – we got beaten by a horse that was clearly superior that day (Editeur Du Gite) with those tactics and has gone on to frank the form significantly in the Clarence House.

“This horse is very effective when he’s very fresh, he’s effective at Cheltenham and the better the ground the better his chance.

“It’s a very unclear picture, but we’re very happy to have our hat in the ring and I think it’s a given we can have him better than he was at Christmas when the sun’s out and the ground’s better.

“We’re pretty positive. He was second in it before and we’d love to try and go one better.”

Saffron Beach retired after scope ends Saudi Cup hopes

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Jane Chapple-Hyam has had to abandon plans to take Saffron Beach to Saudi Arabia due to a setback and she has instead been retired ahead of a meeting with Frankel.

The five-year-old mare was a dual Grade One winner on the track, in the Sun Chariot Stakes and the Prix Rothschild, and her new connections will be hoping she can produce something of a similar ilk.

She raced in the colours of Ben and Ollie Sangster and James Wigan, and was also a Royal Ascot winner last year in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

The partnership sent her to Tattersalls in November where she raised a mammoth 3,600,00 guineas when bought by Najd Stud with the aim of winning the Saudi Cup.

However, that has had to be written off due to a dirty scope and her racing days are over.

Chapple-Hyam tweeted: “After a routine scope that was unsatisfactory for travel to the Saudi Cup, Saffron Beach has been retired from racing and will now visit Frankel at Juddmonte Farms.

“I wish to think Prince Faisal Bin Khaled and his team for entrusting me with her training and wish her all the best for her breeding career.”

‘All systems go’ for Algiers and Dubai World Cup bid

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Ed Crisford has given the go-ahead to a Dubai World Cup bid for Algiers following his back-to-back victories at Meydan.

Narrowly beaten by George Boughey’s Missed The Cut in the Churchill Stakes at Lingfield in November, Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge has since made a huge impression in two starts on dirt in Dubai – winning the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge in dominant style.

Connections had the option of taking in the Saudi Cup on Saturday week, while round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Super Saturday at Meydan on March 4 is an obvious stepping-stone to World Cup night.

However, Ed Crisford confirmed the six-year-old will instead head straight for the Dubai showpiece on March 25.

“He won round two very well and the step up in trip on the dirt was no problem, so it’s all systems go for the World Cup,” he said.

“We took him out of the Saudi Cup as we just felt we’d be better off staying in Dubai and aiming at the big one on World Cup night.

“Round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge is on Super Saturday, but I’d say we’ll swerve that and go straight to the World Cup. He’s had two quite good runs in quick succession, so we can freshen him up and ready him for the big night.”

Crisford expects to have a clearer idea of what Algiers will be up against at Meydan after the Saudi Cup is run in Riyadh.

He added: “I think we’ll find a lot out next weekend in Saudi in terms of what horses are coming. The Japanese and the Americans have some seriously good dirt horses and I think it’ll all come to light after Saudi.

“The World Cup will be a big step up for our horse, but he’s the best horse in the UAE at the moment on the dirt and it’s hugely exciting.”

Crisford added that James Doyle, on board Algiers the last twice, will keep the ride.

Aucunrisque may be back out quickly in Kingwell Hurdle

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Chris Gordon could attempt to strike while the iron is hot by running his Betfair Hurdle hero Aucunrisque in the Wincanton Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday.

The Morestead Stables handler, who saddled a double at Newbury at the weekend, is in a rich vein of form and operating at a strike-rate of well over 40 per cent for the last two weeks – with that hot streak well advertised by Aucunrisque’s game success in the prestigious handicap hurdle.

Having switched back to the smaller obstacles with aplomb and bounced out of his Newbury assignment in rude health, Gordon is now preparing another raid on a valuable hurdling pot while conditions remain to the seven-year-old’s liking.

“He’s come out of it like a lion,” said Gordon. “He’s taken it really well, he wouldn’t have lost a pound in weight. He looks exceptional and the handicapper is going to put him up 9lb.

“I was keeping an eye on the Kingwell at the entry stage and there was only about four in it at around 9.50am, but as soon as I put mine in it another two went in.

“But I thought, you know what, we go on this ground at this time of year, he’s come out of the Betfair in good form, the handicapper is going to put us up and it’s a £70,000 race. The next time after this could be either be the Grand Annual or County Hurdle carrying a bit more weight, so I thought we’d have a little look and see how the week goes.”

Aucunrisque ridden by Nick Scholfield (centre) before going on to win the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury
Aucunrisque ridden by Nick Scholfield (centre) before going on to win the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (Tom Goode/PA)

Gordon went on: “He bounces off ground like this, he broke the track record at Newbury and he’s just a wonderful little horse with a great constitution.”

Aucunrisque is disputing favouritism for the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival, but with his rating set to be identical in both disciplines, Gordon is keeping his options open with the possibility of sticking to hurdles to take on the challenge of either Sandown’s Imperial Cup or the County Hurdle at Prestbury Park.

“He’s going to go up 9lb over hurdles and 2lb over fences which takes him to 147 in both disciplines,” said Gordon.

“People always like to set things in stone, but I don’t like doing that and you’ve got to be fluid with horses as things change so quickly with them.

“I wouldn’t mind going Imperial Cup, if it was the right ground, County Hurdle or Grand Annual. We’ll see which one suits us best and which one we have the best chance in which is the most important thing.

“It’s not all about the Festival, something like the Imperial Cup is a wonderful race, the Kingwell Hurdle is a wonderful race and the Betfair Hurdle is obviously one which is close to me. I would like to give the horse the best chance of winning.”

Burke still full of hope for Queens Gamble at Cheltenham

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Jonathan Burke believes Queens Gamble should not be forgotten if she lines up in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.

Oliver Sherwood’s six-year-old headed to Market Rasen for last week’s Alan Swinbank Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race as the shortest-priced British contender for the Festival bumper following two emphatic victories at Prestbury Park.

However, she lost her unbeaten record when hunted down by Fergal O’Brien’s Dysart Enos and was subsequently eased out to 20-1 by the bookmakers.

The man in the saddle in all of her career starts has explained how he was expecting more of the mare but things did not go to plan in Lincolnshire, with the steady pace of the race against her.

“I was gutted initially,” said Burke. “With the way she has come up the hill at Cheltenham, when I let her down I was expecting her to take off, but she didn’t.

“I was kicking myself thinking should I have held her for longer maybe, but we had gone slow on a completely different track and she just wasn’t seen to her best I don’t think.

“Even at halfway I wasn’t happy, I had it in the back of my head things weren’t happening the way it did at Cheltenham. But she’s fine and if she goes well, I’m sure she will go straight to Cheltenham in March.”

The Listed contest was being run at the third time of asking having originally been scheduled to take place on January 20, before efforts to restage the race the following week also fell foul to the cold weather that played havoc with the racing calendar throughout January.

Burke admits the rescheduling could have played a part in the flat performance, but is backing the course and distance winner to show her true colours if returning to Cheltenham for the third time at the Festival.

He continued: “It probably didn’t help (rescheduling), but it was the same for the others and Paddy (Brennan) and Fergal are just brilliant in bumpers.

“I was gutted as I thought she would take off like she has done at Cheltenham, but maybe it’s just a case she is best seen at Cheltenham. With the mares’ allowance in the Champion Bumper, we’ll have a good go anyway.”

Dunwoody praise for Hobbs after landmark 3,000th winner

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Richard Dunwoody is strangely happy that Philip Hobbs, who achieved a remarkable milestone in saddling his 3,000th winner when Zanza scored in the Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday, still has that tea tray.

Of all the memories the three-time champion jockey has of riding for Hobbs, the two-mile Charles Dawson Retirement Novices Chase at Hereford on June 9, 1999, is etched alongside the highs of Grand National wins and partnering such equine stars as Desert Orchid and One Man.

Dunwoody was coming to the end of his illustrious career. His neck and arm injuries, which eventually caused him to retire the following year, were giving him grief.

“At the time, because of my neck, my balance wasn’t great. I was unseated off about four or five horses in a month. I thought, ‘What am I doing?’. But Premier Bay was the one that really tore at me,” said Dunwoody.

“He was a right little monkey, but the worst thing was, I’d ridden an absolutely brilliant race to get him there.

“It was one of his first times over fences. I’d got on AP’s (McCoy) inside at the second-last, I’m galloping down to the last, we’re well clear, and I saw the stride as soon as I turned into the straight.

“I’ve gone for that stride and Premier Bay said, ‘Absolutely no way am I coming up for that one’.

“He stuck the brakes on, jinked to the left and I fell clean off him. It was the most embarrassing thing ever. AP went on to win the race on Galix.”

Richard Dunwoody with One Man during his riding days
Richard Dunwoody with One Man during his riding days (Barry Batchelor/PA)

Dunwoody, 59, was brought up to learn his craft by David Nicholson, yet he considers his “two or three years” riding for Somerset handler Hobbs before retirement as “probably the most enjoyable of my whole career”.

He added: “I really enjoyed riding for him. He was extremely good to ride for, in that basically he left it to you.

“You’d know what to do, or he’d offer the advice you needed if there was a horse you hadn’t ridden before.

“He was always the same. If you came in after a big winner or came in on one that got beat, he was generally always the same.

“It took the pressure off. I was riding for owner Robert Ogden and had a retainer that ended just before I retired, but I would love to have kept going for another two or three years, just riding for Hobbsy, really.

“Mind you, I think Dicky (Richard Johnson) would have come along and jocked me off after a year anyway,” he laughed.

Richard Dunwoody and Dr Leunt win the Racing Post Chase at Kempton for Philip Hobbs in 1999
Richard Dunwoody and Dr Leunt win the Racing Post Chase at Kempton for Philip Hobbs in 1999 (Tony Harris/PA)

“To put it into context, I rode about 90 winners for him and Dicky probably rode well over 1,200 for him.”

Dunwoody was quick to pay tribute to the team at the Minehead yard after reaching the 3,000 winner landmark.

“They have a great team down there with Johnson White (assistant trainer) and Sarah (Philip’s wife) obviously helping.

“It was a long way away, but I enjoyed going down to school on the odd occasion and ride work.

“I rode a few good winners over those last few seasons, but he’s had a lot of good jockeys riding for him like Dicky, plus some of the younger lads now.

“To have 3,000 winners is a huge tally and obviously I’d like to offer my huge congratulations to Philip, Sarah and the whole team for this remarkable achievement.

“It is testament to their work ethic and ability. It is an incredible achievement – yet it should definitely have been 3,001.”

Dunwoody, who now resides near Madrid, Spain, with his partner Olivia and their daughter Milly, does visit England on occasion and chuckled at the memory of one particular visit to the yard.

“I went there about seven years ago,” he recalled. “Johnson was there, as Philip and Sarah were away racing.

“I walked into the kitchen and Johnson said, ‘I’ve got to show you something’.

“In the kitchen, there is a tray, with a picture of me, in sync, jumping the last fence at Hereford, alongside Premier Bay.

Richard Dunwoody/Premier Bay/Hereford
The Hobbs’ tea tray depicting Dunwoody and Premier Bay at Hereford in June 1999 (PA)

“I’d ridden all those winners and he’s gone and got a picture of me, on a tray, not just being unseated, but literally jumping off and flying through the air, with Premier Bay upsides.

“To think of the winners I rode for him – including one or two decent ones including Dr Leunt, who won the Racing Post Chase – and he has that.

“I would have been very disappointed if they hadn’t still got that tray – it is the only reminder he has got of me ever riding for him!

“When you talk about memories of rides, that one is pretty high. When I just look at my career, the day I fell off Premier Bay when 10 lengths clear of AP McCoy will certainly be one of the more unforgettable moments.

“I just hope Philip and Sarah celebrated with more than a nice cup of tea from that tray!”

Neville enjoys memorable day with Catterick treble

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Four weeks out from saddling The Real Whacker in pursuit of Cheltenham Festival glory, trainer Patrick Neville enjoyed a memorable afternoon by landing a treble in the first three races at Catterick.

The Real Whacker is the star of a team of around 20 horses Neville trains out of Ann Duffield’s yard in North Yorkshire, having made the move from Ireland in 2021.

The seven-year-old has already won twice at Cheltenham this season, having followed up a successful chasing debut at Cheltenham in November with an impressive front-running display in the Dipper on New Year’s Day, and connections are still considering whether to run in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival or have an ambitious tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Neville provided a positive update on his stable star’s well being after his Catterick hat-trick, saying: “The Real Whacker is in super form at the moment, I couldn’t be happier with him.

“We’re still in the Gold Cup and we’re still in the novice and we’ll just wait another few weeks and see where we are. It’ll depend on the weather and ground and things like that.

“There’ll be a few horses dropping out in the next few weeks, as we’ve seen with Allaho today missing the Ryanair.”

The Real Whacker was Neville’s only previous winner this season, but Fiston Du Mou put that right in Catterick’s curtain-raising Jumping For Joy On Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Ridden by Gavin Sheehan, the 15-8 chance made every yard of the running and had enough in the tank at the finish to see off Creative Control by three-quarters of a length.

Neville saddled two of the three runners in the Meetings That Matter On Racing TV Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and it was 9-1 shot Not Staying Long who emerged victorious under Brian Hughes, with her better-fancied stablemate Beauty To Behold last of the trio.

An excellent day’s work was completed in the racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle, with the Hughes-ridden Kavanaghs Cross leading home a one-two for Neville as Glentruan was a half-length runner-up.

“I had a double in Ireland, but I’ve never had a treble before, so we’ll take it. The horses are in good form and I’m delighted with the way they all ran,” the trainer added.

“The first race was a tricky enough race with only two runners and we had to make the running and do it the hard way, then in the mares’ race I was hoping there’d more runners to give Beauty To Behold some cover, but she ran very keen.

“The other mare did it well though and I’m happy enough with both of them. Hopefully we can keep them all in good form.”

Jonbon expected to improve for Warwick workout

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Nicky Henderson believes it would be dangerous to underestimate Jonbon in the Arkle Trophy at next month’s Cheltenham Festival following his workmanlike success at Warwick on Saturday.

Best of the rest behind his brilliant stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old pursued a career over fences this term and was hugely impressive in winning on his debut at Warwick and in landing the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

He was a 1-16 favourite to see off a solitary rival and make it a hat-trick in last weekend’s Kingmaker Novices’ Chase – but it was not as straightforward as expected, with Calico challenging and even passing Henderson’s charge racing down the back straight.

Jonbon reeled him back in on the home turn and eventually pulled clear on the run-in, but was nevertheless replaced as the Arkle favourite by Irish Arkle winner El Fabiolo.

While many were unimpressed, Henderson, who has won the two-mile novice chasing championship on a record seven occasions, has not lost any faith in his latest contender and is confident he will be at concert pitch for the day that matters.

“He’s a good horse. Constitution Hill beat him quite a long way, but after that he’s been very good,” said the Seven Barrows handler.

“On Saturday I think Aidan (Coleman, jockey) had just taken his foot off the gas going down the back, he’d just got into a nice rhythm and didn’t see any reason to go any quicker. Then all of a sudden this thing swooped like a buzzard, it caught him unawares and he was four lengths down.

“I think it will have done him good, personally. He had a right good blow, like he’s never done before, so I’m going to take positives.

“I wanted a lead, that’s the first time he’s ever jumped a fence behind another horse, which didn’t worry him but it just hurried him up a little bit.

“Warwick is sharp and going down the back straight flat to the boards just caught him out for two fences and he had to chase him round the bend.

“I’d better just get on and sharpen my own pencil and get a bit more work done.”

While Jonbon is very much the star of Henderson’s novice chasing team, two other horses for whom the trainer holds high hopes are City Chief and Mister Coffey.

City Chief impressed in winning the Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby earlier in the month, but looks set to sidestep Cheltenham, while Mister Coffey is in line for the National Hunt Chase despite suffering defeat under his planned Cheltenham rider Derek O’Connor at Uttoxeter on Saturday.

Mister Coffey (centre) in action at Sandown
Mister Coffey (centre) in action at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

“I don’t think City Chief is ready for it – I think he needs another year,” reasoned Henderson.

“He was great at Wetherby, and the time before. He’s learning but he’s got a bit more to learn and I don’t want him in there this year. He will be there, he’s going the right way all the time but no. He has an entry but I’d rather not.

“Mister Coffey will go for the National Hunt Chase. I was a bit disappointed he got beaten the other day, but we wanted to make the running, they had a false start and then a standing start and the trouble is he stayed standing!

“After that he got caught horribly wide the whole way round and personally I think he should have won, but we got a run into him and he ran a good race and the National Hunt Chase is what we’ve been aiming at all along – that was why Derek was there (Uttoxeter). The plan is for him to ride.”

No rush to commit to Cheltenham target with Marie’s Rock

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Nicky Henderson is likely to make a late call on whether Marie’s Rock runs in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle or steps up in trip for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Winner of the Mares’ Hurdle last season, she beat the boys on her only outing to date this term in the Relkeel, but she has yet to run over three miles.

“Marie’s Rock is in very, very good form. There is a question with Marie’s Rock and it is definitely possible she can move up and run in the Stayers’ Hurdle,” said Henderson.

“Tom Palin (of owners Middleham Park) and I have discussed it and no doubt we will discuss a lot more. It certainly won’t be a decision we’ll make in the near future and we’ll just have to wait and see.

“I know she hasn’t run over three miles, but she won very well in the Relkeel on New Year’s Day. She’s stayed well both times she has won at Cheltenham, she flies up the hill and I thought she was very impressive on New Year’s Day. She’s fit, fresh and well and all things are ready to go and we will have to consider.

“The horse who won yesterday (Blazing Khal), I don’t know the horse at all to be honest with you and there are a few around at the moment – Gordon’s horse (Teahupoo), he looks the best I’ve seen. You have got to always respect old Paisley Park. They are not bad but there is no standout.

“Now in the Mares’ you are going to have Epatante, you are going to have Honeysuckle, you might even have Theatre Glory. So there is a bit to be said for at least considering the Stayers’, but we can sit on that and the ground might have a good bit to do with it.”

Theatre Glory is also trained by Henderson and was very impressive at Warwick on Saturday.

Theatre Glory has improved markedly with each outing this term
Theatre Glory has improved markedly with each outing this term (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “Theatre Glory would want really good ground. She has to be supplemented as does Epatante, but you can take it they are intended runners.

“I’ve said from the beginning when it appeared Epatante hadn’t been entered, she should be treated as a runner for betting purposes because it’s 50-50 whether she goes Champion Hurdle or Mares’. Just because she’s not in the race, doesn’t mean she won’t run. She can be in the race and so could Theatre Glory.”

Epatante’s options are another crack at the Champion Hurdle which she won in 2020 or to take on her own sex.

“Epatante has run once over two and a half miles at Aintree and she stayed very well, she won very easily that day,” said Henderson.

Nicky Henderson and Epatante on Monday morning
Nicky Henderson and Epatante on Monday morning (David Davies/PA)

“It was great to see her win like that at Doncaster the other day, it was very impressive. I know she beat nothing but at least she has shown what Constitution Hill is beating.

“What she showed the other day is how good Constitution Hill is, given he keeps slamming her and then she can come out and beat her own playmates as easily as that. I thought she was superb the other day and she jumped excellently.”

Should she run in the Mares’ Hurdle she will face Honeysuckle, who has beaten her in the Champion the last two seasons.

“I can see their point to be fair. Both her runs this year would suggest she is just not quite where she was last year and I think an extra half a mile is going to help her, so I think it is the sensible thing to do,” Henderson said of the decision to keep Honeysuckle to her own sex.

“Having got a couple of mares of our own, I think I would have preferred her in the Champion Hurdle, but she’s been great and really great for the game.

“Most people would like to see her go out in a blaze of glory winning the Mares’. I’m afraid I’m probably one of the only people who wouldn’t find that so popular.”

Henderson is still leaning towards running Luccia in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle despite her impressive display at Exeter on Sunday.

She holds an entry in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, for which she would get a 7lb mares’ allowance, but Henderson would need convincing to roll the dice.

The fact she is around 10-1 for the Supreme and 7-4 favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ is also weighing on Henderson’s mind.

“Luccia ought to go for the Mares’. She was impressive yesterday. Nico (de Boinville) was tempted by the Supreme but the betting tells you what you’ve got to do, surely?” said Henderson.

“You don’t have to decide yet. We did put her in it, which I thought was ambitious at the time anyway. I would be in favour of sticking to the Mares’ I must admit.

“Paul (Sandy, owner) and I will have a chat nearer the time and if there was a forfeit stage tomorrow we’d leave her in, but I can’t believe you’d throw away the Mares’. I’m not saying she will win that, but at least you know you’ve a very good chance of having a winner.

“I do like having the winner of the Supreme because it sets you up for the rest of the week, but we haven’t anything else so we’ll see. I’ll have a look but I can’t believe it’s the right thing to do.

“In the years of Altior and Shishkin, we were heading to the Supreme with confidence. I couldn’t come out and say we thought we’d win, but I remember in Min’s year all we heard was Min, Min Min and I just thought ‘good luck because you won’t beat Altior’. I couldn’t say that about Luccia.”

Shishkin ready to step up in Ascot Chase test

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Shishkin is poised to make his eagerly-awaited step up in trip at Ascot on Saturday, with the nine-year-old amongst the seven five-day confirmations for the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Since pulling up when sent off favourite for last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, Nicky Henderson’s two-time Cheltenham Festival winner has only been seen once, when a well-beaten third in the Tingle Creek before Christmas.

That Sandown disappointment signalled a move up in distance and the son of Sholokhov now gets to test the waters over further, where his chief danger appears to be Joseph O’Brien’s defending champion Fakir D’oudairies.

Shishkin after defeat at Sandown
Shishkin after defeat at Sandown (PA)

A good showing at the weekend could pave the way for a tilt at the Ryanair Chase at Prestbury Park in a month’s time – a race that now has an open feel with Allaho ruled out of his hat-trick bid due to injury.

Although the Seven Barrows handler admits he should have entered Shishkin in the Champion Chase in case this exploratory move ends in disappointment, he is certain the 11-time winner is in need of a longer trip to showcase his best.

“He probably should have been in it (Champion Chase), but I was impressed with Gary Moore’s horse (in the Clarence House) to be fair and Edwardstone looked like he would come on for his race,” said Henderson.

“It does look more open this year, but Shishkin has been racing like a horse who wants further to me and I hope I’m right.”

Shishkin returns to the scene of one of his finest hours at Ascot – a place where he won an all-time classic against Energumene in the 2021 Clarence House Chase.

It was Shishkin’s stamina that helped him see off Willie Mullins’ Champion Chase hero and Henderson believes the writing was on the wall from that day regarding his charge requiring further.

He continued: “It was a tough race and you don’t really like to see horses racing off the bridle for so long the whole time.

“That’s what he’s had to do the last two times. I want to see him going round on the bridle and he’s got to be better for it.”

One slight concern for Henderson ahead of Saturday is the prospect of quick ground, but he is confident the Berkshire track will be able to water sufficiently ahead of the fixture to avoid a repeat of November’s Ascot Hurdle card where Constitution Hill was a non runner on the day of the race.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and Shishkin during a visit to Nicky Henderson’s stables at Seven Barrows in Lambourn
Trainer Nicky Henderson and Shishkin during a visit to Nicky Henderson’s stables at Seven Barrows in Lambourn (David Davies/PA)

“I want to talk to Chris Stickles and we’ll see,” continued Henderson. “It was quick, it was too quick for Constitution Hill that day. I’m sure they are watering, there’s only Newbury that can’t water, so I’m hoping Ascot will have done so.

“It is possible if it was that quick (he would go straight to Cheltenham). He would have to.”

Paul Nicholls is represented by Pic D’Orhy, who looks to extend a three-race winning run and the Peterborough Chase winner could have the chance to confirm Huntingdon form with Alex Hales’ Millers Bank (second) and Kim Bailey’s First Flow (third), with the latter another former Clarence House winner who could take his chance in the Grade One contest.

Musselburgh scorer Minella Drama could step out of handicap company for Donald McCain, while Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford’s popular 10-year-old Aye Right is another possible for the north.