Chaldean and Noble Style head top-class Greenham list

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Both Chaldean and Noble Style figure amongst the entries for what could be a red-hot Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

Chaldean is the shortest-priced British-trained contender for the Qipco 2000 Guineas having won four of his five outings as a two-year-old and will be putting his Classic credentials to the test in the seven-furlong event.

The Andrew Balding-trained son of Frankel is well accustomed to the Berkshire track having quickly made amends for his defeat on debut at the course when striking at Newbury on his second start. He then racked up three high-class victories in Group contests, culminating with a Dewhurst Stakes triumph at Newmarket in the autumn.

“It’s going to be good to see him back and hopefully the forecast is good for the weekend and it will be dry,” said Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon.

“Andrew and the team are very happy and his work has been good. He’s just about ready to go and as long as he runs a nice race on Saturday, that will hopefully lead us on to one of the Classics.

“It looks like it’s going to be a good race. There’s no one missing apart from the two Ballydoyle horses and it’s going to be a top-class renewal.”

Noble Style meanwhile went unbeaten in three starts during his juvenile campaign which was curtailed after a taking success in the Gimcrack at York.

It will be the first time the son of Kingman has raced beyond six furlongs, but trainer Charlie Appleby is hopeful the outing will provide him with plenty of clues ahead of a potential Guineas bid on May 6.

“We are going into the race completely open-minded regarding his trip,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told www.godolphin.com.

Gimcrack winner Noble Style is to tackle seven furlongs for the first time in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury as a trial for what trainer Charlie Appleby hopes will be a crack at the 2000 Guineas
Gimcrack winner Noble Style is to tackle seven furlongs for the first time in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury as a trial for what trainer Charlie Appleby hopes will be a crack at the 2000 Guineas (Mike Egerton/PA)

“This is the first time he has gone beyond six furlongs. He shows a lot of natural pace and stepping up to the mile of a Guineas could be a question mark.

“It will be his first time at seven furlongs, and after the dust settles later, we will make the call on whether it will be the English or the French Guineas, or whether he drops back in distance for the Commonwealth at Royal Ascot.”

There is a total of 16 entries for the Group Three contest with the Horris Hill one, two, three – Knight, Grey’s Monument and Ancestral Land – all in the mix, while also bringing course form to the table is Roger Varian’s Charyn, who was third to stablemate Sakheer in the Mill Reef before going on to taste Group Two glory in France in his final outing last term.

Other notable contenders include the Amo Racing-owned Indestructible, who could make his first appearance for Karl Burke, Richard Fahey’s Royal Ascot scorer The Ridler and John and Thady Gosden’s Theoryofeverything, who created a deep impression when winning on debut at Doncaster.

Alflaila pencilled in for June return

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Owen Burrows will not rush Alflaila back into action, with a late June return on the radar.

The four-year-old won four times for the trainer last term, scooping Group Three success in both the Strensall Stakes and Darley Stakes.

His planned international adventures over the winter were scuppered by injury, but he is now back with Burrows building up to his return later this summer.

“He has come back to me recently,” the trainer said. “He has been rehabbing with Shadwell and they have done a tremendous job with him and he looks magnificent.

“Angus (Gold, racing manager for owner Shadwell) and Richard Hills have been down and we were sort of thinking end of June at the earliest with him. I don’t think we will get him to Royal Ascot because it would just mean trying to press too much.

“The natural progression with him is to try to win a Group Two and I’ve always thought Dubai would suit him. My plan before he got injured was to go to the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday and if he did well, stay for World Cup night.”

Burrows also has Anmaat to look forward to this term, with the Tattersalls Gold Cup or the Prix d’Ispahan as possible starting points for the five-year-old.

The Shadwell-owned gelding went unbeaten in three starts last year, plundering York’s John Smith’s Cup on his return before adding the Rose Of Lancaster in great style then finishing with a battling victory in the Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp.

Having improved more than a stone during the course of 2022, Burrows is now keen to see if he can eke out further improvement from his charge this term – who could bid for top honours on reappearance.

“He’s well and there’s obviously the Tattersalls Gold Cup which comes soon enough maybe, but he appreciates getting his toe in a little bit,” said Burrows.

“He’ll also have an entry in the Prix d’Ispahan and we feel one of the the races will cut up. He’s not a definite for France on May 29, but that’s what we’re thinking, otherwise you will be starting in the Gordon Richards or something with a Group Two penalty.

“We’ll see and we managed to get him to win a John Smith’s Cup first time up, so he is a horse that can run well fresh.

Anmaat at Longchamp
Anmaat at Longchamp (Ashley Iveson/PA)

“He’s a gelding and he’s there to race. We would love to make him a Group One winner, obviously that would be great.

“He’s got to obviously step up because he’s 118, but he went from 103 and improved a stone last year. He only had three runs so he hasn’t got many miles on the clock and there is no reason why he can’t improve another few pounds to get up to Group One level.

“Both Anmaat and Alflaila are going to be in the similar sort of races but we should be able to keep them apart.”

‘Little setback’ scuppers Nostrum’s Guineas hopes

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Nostrum will not run in the Qipco 2000 Guineas having been ruled out of the early part of the season with a setback.

Sir Michael Stoute’s talented colt was unbeaten in his first two starts as a juvenile, including when impressing in the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket in September, and was last seen finishing third to fellow Juddmonte-owned Classic contender Chaldean in the Dewhurst Stakes.

Those performances saw Nostrum priced as short as 8-1 for opening Classic of the summer, but the son of Kingman will miss out on an early-season return to the Rowley Mile for the Guineas on May 6 and is also ruled out of appearing in the French and Irish equivalents – with connections tentatively highlighting a Royal Ascot date in June.

“Nostrum has had a little setback and he will not run in any of the Guineas,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“He’s had a little setback and he just needs a couple of weeks going easy, then hopefully we will have him back for the middle of the summer.

“We’ll just let him tell us. I suppose we will aim for Royal Ascot and if we get there great, but if we don’t, then we will just give him more time.”

Willie Mullins reports all will be well with Recite A Prayer

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Willie Mullins has revealed Recite A Prayer is fine after suffering a fractured eye socket while running loose during the Randox Grand National.

The 80-1 shot was a first ride in the Aintree showpiece for Jack Foley and the duo were one of the first to rise at the opening fence which was ultimately the only obstacle they would jump in unison in the contest.

Although Recite A Prayer cleared it perfectly, Cloudy Glen on the eight-year-old’s outer was less proficient, sprawling on landing and crossing the Closutton inmate’s path in the process – subsequently knocking Foley out of the saddle.

Runners and riders at the start of the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse
Runners and riders at the start of the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

Recite A Prayer continued to run loose with the remainder of the field until just before Valentine’s on the first circuit where the gelding leapt the inside running rail and made his way to the Aintree infield.

“Recite A Prayer fractured his eye socket,” said Mullins on Sunday afternoon.

“They have done a little procedure on him in the Equine Hospital in Liverpool and I just got news that everything is OK with him. He has a few little cuts and bruises, but nothing more.

“He got loose on the inside and had to pull up where all the barriers were. That’s something Aintree are going to have to look at.”

Mullins also reported all of the other Closutton National runners to be in full health following their exertions on Merseyside.

“Gaillard Du Mesnil ran a cracker yesterday and jumped well,” he continued.

“He was very tired after the race, but he is fine. The same goes for Carefully Selected. Capodanno pulled up after getting very tired, it was probably just the lack of a run.

Mr Incredible (pale blue, centre) jumps a fence during the Randox Grand National
Mr Incredible (pale blue, centre) jumps a fence during the Randox Grand National (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

“Mr Incredible was unlucky, his saddle slipped. I didn’t really get a chance to talk to Brian (Hayes, jockey) yet. It didn’t look like he was going great but that’s Mr Incredible, he never looks like he is going great until the business end.”

Similar, however, cannot be said for stable jockey Paul Townend who is set for a few days on the sidelines following a fall from the ill-fated Dark Raven in one the precursors to the big-race.

He added: “Paul is very sore. He is arm is very sore after his fall from Dark Raven yesterday. He is going to take a day or two off.”

Paddington more likely to represent O’Brien in Craven than Cairo

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Recent Naas winner Paddington may represent Aidan O’Brien in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

The Siyouni colt carried a big weight to victory to win the Madrid Handicap on his return to action and is on course to step up in class for the Guineas trial.

O’Brien also has Cairo entered, last seen finishing well down the field in the UAE Derby on dirt. But soft ground has made him a very unlikely runner.

“We left in two and I’m not sure as the ground has gone soft. Paddington is the one that might run. It might be a step too quick, but he’s in and we are thinking about it,” said O’Brien.

“Cairo would have been a possible only the ground has gone soft. He’s fine and just didn’t face the dirt over in Dubai.”

O’Brien currently houses two of the ante-post favourites for the 2000 Guineas in Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear and both are due to step up their work shortly.

“It’s so far, so good with the Guineas horses,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“Little Big Bear is a quick horse and has not been asked to do a lot. His work will get more serious over the next few weeks.”

Goldana sparkles on first start for Joseph O’Brien

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Goldana made a winning start for Joseph O’Brien in the Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.

The daughter of Galileo Gold was previously trained in Germany by Peter Schiergen and was an impressive six-length winner of a Listed contest at Hannover in October – her final start before transferring to the Owning Hill handler for €130,000.

Sent off at 17-2 for her Irish debut in this Group Three event, jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle kept the four-year-old hot on the tail of the pace-setting favourite Mea Domina throughout and although she looked in trouble with McMonagle getting serious inside the final quarter-mile, Goldana knuckled down gamely to soon assert her dominance and surge clear in the shadow of the post.

“I’m delighted for the owners. It’s their first horse with me and she looks a smart filly going forward,” said O’Brien.

“She had good form on slow ground in Germany and it’s nice to start off the season with a Group win for her.

“We bought her in Arqana last year and she is a sister to Love Reigns who is a smart filly for Wesley Ward. She has a pedigree and was a Listed winner already.

Goldana makes a winning debut for Joseph O'Brien
Goldana makes a winning debut for Joseph O’Brien (PA)

“She won her Listed race over nine furlongs so she’ll probably stay a bit further. It looked as though she got a little bit outpaced when they quickened up, but she came good in the last 100 yards.

“She has loads of options and there is a lovely programme for fillies. The Athasi back here may come a bit quick for her.”

Aidan O’Brien wasted little time getting on the scoresheet when Democracy landed the opening Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden in taking fashion.

Sent off the even-money favourite for the six-furlong content, the son of No Nay Never always looked to have plenty lurking under the bonnet and quickened away smartly from the opposition inside the final furlong.

He was the best part of three lengths clear at the line and with the full-brother to Richard Fahey’s Midnight Mile impressing the master of Ballydoyle, O’Brien indicated he could soon return to the Kildare track for the GAIN First Flier Stakes on May 1.

https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1647580585701830656?s=20

He said: “You’d have to be very happy with that on very deep ground. He travelled very well and when Wayne (Lordan) dropped him down to go he was a little bit lost on that ground but he would never have seen that ground before.

“It was a good education for him. He has plenty of speed and I’d say he’s a classy horse. He’s big and he’s strong and very laid back.

“There is a Listed race (First Flier) back here in a few weeks and we could look at that.”

Donnacha O’Brien is another eyeing Pattern company next following Porta Fortuna’s triumph at 9-2 in the Irish National Stud And Gardens Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh
Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh (PA)

He said: “She was our first two-year-old runner so it was good to see her do that. I thought she was a nice filly, but it’s hard to judge when you haven’t run one.

“Gavin (Lynch) said he followed the one that there was a bit of money for and he got the gap at the right time and she quickened up well.”

“We might have a look at a Group race for fillies at Naas next month. She has plenty of scope so is not just a five-furlong filly.”

Bright Legend showed huge improvement on his second outing to land a blow for Fozzy Stack in the Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Irish EBF Maiden.

Fozzy Stack's Bright Legend gets off the mark
Fozzy Stack’s Bright Legend gets off the mark (PA)

“He stays well and likes that ground,” said Stack.

“He’s a very big horse and still has a lot of maturing to do. He’ll probably be a better horse next year.

“We’ll probably try to find a winners’ race for him.

“He ran away from the whip and he did well to get him organised again. He gave him a good ride.”

Point well made by returning Lonsdale in Alleged Stakes

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Point Lonsdale showed the engine remains firmly intact to make a winning return in the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s Australia colt struck four times as a two-year-old, winning not only the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but also the Tyros Stakes and Futurity Stakes on home soil.

He lost his unbeaten record in the final start of his juvenile campaign, finishing second to Native Trail in the National Stakes, and then suffered his second defeat when unable to land a blow in last year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

That was his only start at three and he has since spent 351 days on the sidelines.

But he allayed any fitness doubts stepping up in trip in this 10-furlong Group Three and having shadowed Joseph O’Brien’s Visualisation on the front end, showed a tremendous attitude to reel in that chief market rival when hitting top gear in the closing stages.

“I’m very happy with that on his first run back on that ground. He’s going to stay further,” said O’Brien.

Curragh Races – Sunday April 16th
Point Lonsdale ridden by Wayne Lordan wins The SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes at the Curragh (Donall Farmer/PA)

“We thought as a two-year-old he would get further than seven furlongs, but he never went any further because we had other horses. Then we ran him in the Guineas and he got injured.

“There was nowhere to hide today. Joseph’s horse went a good gallop and none of the other horses were able to close.”

Set to be campaigned over similar distances to fellow high-class four-year-old Luxembourg, Epsom’s Coronation Cup could become the major summer target for Point Lonsdale as O’Brien shuffles his pack accordingly.

Point Lonsdale and connections after the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes
Point Lonsdale and connections after the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes (PA)

He continued: “We have Luxembourg in the same sort of bracket.

“At the moment we are looking at the Ganay for him and if not the Mooresbridge.

“This horse could go for something like the Coronation (Cup) and take in another race before that.”

Betfair shortened Point Lonsdale to 14-1 from 20s for that contest, while he is 10-1 from 16-1 for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Locals gather to salute National hero Corach Rambler

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Randox Grand National winner Corach Rambler returned to a hero’s welcome at his trainer Lucinda Russell’s Kinross base on Sunday.

Sent off the 8-1 favourite, the nine-year-old coasted through the Aintree showpiece to beat Vanillier by two and a quarter lengths.

He was partnered by Derek Fox, who suffered an injury scare in the days leading up to the race but returned in time to land a second National with Russell after One For Arthur in 2017.

Only three horses trained in Scotland have ever won the historic contest, and Russell is responsible for two of them.

Scores of people were on hand to welcome Corach Rambler and Apple Away, a Grade One winner on Friday, back to Russell’s Arlary House Stables, in Milnathort, north of Edinburgh.

Corach Rambler parades during his Homecoming
Corach Rambler parades during his Homecoming (Steve Welsh/PA)

Russell said: “It is just amazing. We were coming up the M6 last night… what Corach does is very important to us because we know him so well and you just wonder whether other people feel the same way.

“It was just amazing driving in today, the number of cars and people and the support he has.

“I know he was favourite in the race the but it is just lovely, how important he is to the community, not just the racing community.

“It is pretty overwhelming I have to say.”

Russell admitted she did not see much of the race itself having been overcome with emotion.

Corach Rambler poses in front of his fans
Corach Rambler poses in front of his fans (Steve Welsh/PA)

“I didn’t really see very much of it because I was crying so much,” she said.

“I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to lie up with the pace, but Derek managed to bounce him up quite handy,

“I wasn’t sure he would take to the fences, he hadn’t jumped round there before and he jumped the first two or three and I wasn’t sure.

“But he jumped Becher’s Brook and suddenly he was like ‘I love this’ and you could see his body shape and stuff and after that he just loved it and I thought we had a right chance.”

The race itself was delayed by around 15 minutes due to a group of animal rights activists, and Russell feels education is the way forward if the two sides can ever sit around a table.

“I have always said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” said Russell.

Owners and stable staff with Corach Rambler
Owners and stable staff with Corach Rambler (Steve Welsh/PA)

“I would like them to be a little bit more educated in their opinion.

“If they could come and see the horses, understand that we are doing everything that we can. We can’t reduce risk to zero, you just can’t.

“I get that some people don’t like racing, that is fine, but I would like them to come and see how well they are looked after.

“Any race yard would gladly let people come and see them but I suppose for a lot of the stuff they don’t want to be educated, they are quite happy making the decision that it is not their thing.”

Russell’s partner and assistant, eight-times champion jockey Peter Scudamore, rides Corach Rambler every morning and his pride shone through.

“I am so pleased now that the world gets this wonderful horse,” he said.

“I could use all the words and try and explain what a wonderful horse it is, he has gone and shown it. There is an immense, smug satisfaction of a job well done. I will have a drink, but I don’t feel party-ish, it’s a job well done.

“He hit the front sooner than we expected but that is the genius of Derek Fox, he allowed it.

“He is a remarkable horse but he is not an elaborate jumper. He is Red Rum-ish in his efficiency. He now goes up to another grade. He has done everything I have asked of him.

“He might not run until late autumn. He will spend the summer in the paddock.”

Corach Rambler gets a heroes reception
Corach Rambler gets a heroes reception (Steve Welsh/PA)

As if proof were needed of the reach of the National, Scudamore revealed they had received a congratulatory message from a very famous person.

“We have some lovely owners and we had lunch with them one day and they said ‘we have a guest coming’ and Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad) from Abba turned up,” said Scudamore.

“She was just the most beautiful person, as a human not just in her beauty itself. Unbelievable, just so kind. I felt really humbled. She was kind enough to ask me about horses and stuff.

“We were driving up the motorway yesterday and the phone went ‘ping’ and it was the owners, she’d said tell Scu and Lucinda ‘well done’.

“After the lunch we had said, who is the most famous person we had ever met and we couldn’t come up with anyone more famous – the Queen, well that didn’t count I don’t think.

“That is the Grand National. We live in this bubble of racing that doesn’t really step outside but that makes  you realise, Frida from Abba – as big as it gets!”

Thomas Kendall is one of ‘The Ramblers’ – the seven-strong syndicate lucky enough to own the winner.

Corach Rambler with owner Thomas Kendall
Corach Rambler with owner Thomas Kendall (Steve Welsh/PA)

“Yesterday was life-changing in terms of that moment when he crossed the finish line,” he said.

“You never think you are going to have a Grand National winner when you start buying into horses, but here I am with a double Cheltenham winner and a Grand National winner. It is the stuff of dreams really, isn’t it?

“I am not sure where I go from here because it is probably not going to get better than that. Absolutely amazing.

“We have not actually worked it (prize-money) all out, but I definitely know we have nudging over £500,000 between us. So clearly that works out pretty well.

“I haven’t worked out what I am going to do with it, but it is going to be there for the spending – I am not going to save it, put it that way.”

Roi Mage team disappointed with exposure given to protestors

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Connections of Roi Mage have questioned the amount of publicity given to animal rights activists in the coverage of the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

James Griffin, assistant to his father Patrick, who trains the 11-year-old, said he felt the near 15-minute delay ahead of the race, caused by the protestors, affected several runners, including the Hill Sixteen, who suffered a fatal injury when falling at the first fence.

“There were a couple of horses that were a bit upset, but I said to our owners that we were blessed that our lad had no headgear or a tongue-tie on, because it is a hell of a long time to have blinkers or cheekpieces on horses,” said Griffin. “They are on to do a job. It is an education thing.

“But these protestors should not have been given any credit on the TV.

“They don’t show streakers, why should they show people like that (protestors)? Fine, show it if you are anti-racing, but don’t show it if you are pro-racing. Don’t give them the publicity.”

Roi Mage followed up his good run behind Longhouse Poet at Down Royal with a cracking seventh-placed finish under Felix de Giles, who stepped in when intended partner James Reveley failed in his bid to recover in time from a broken leg.

“I said beforehand that I felt he had the class to travel in a race like that and if he ran as well as he looked, he would cross the Melling Road with a chance – and that is what he did,” added Griffin.

“He didn’t let us down. The ground wasn’t an excuse. Felix had a good chat with James Reveley before the race on how to ride him and he rode him to the letter of his instructions.”

He added: “I felt justified in my jockey booking, because I have no doubt that would have raised an eyebrow or two along the way somehow.

“It worked. The fact he had ridden in that race before meant a great deal.

“Felix gave him a kick in the ribs before the fourth last and he winged it, then he gave him a pat. I thought that stood out. It was the mark of a good horseman. He got no mention on TV.

“To cross the Melling Road heading for home in the Grand National with your horse still travelling was an unbelievable thrill for the owners and everyone here. The horse ran a hell of a race.

“He was going so well. I already had the parade planned, knew what I was going to say – but anyway, we’ll have to keep it on hold for 12 months!”

Roi Mage’s participation was in doubt in January, when he suffered a nasty cut during the cross-country chase at Cheltenham.

It was only the excellent care he received from the veterinary team at the track that meant he could continue his career.

“Ian Camm, who spent two hours on his hands and knees under the horse, with his finger tip, cleaning the wound, texted me on Saturday morning, wishing us luck – that meant a great deal.

“We can’t thank Ian and his team enough for what they did,” added Griffin, who is targeting the National with Roi Mage next season.

“He hasn’t a cut or blemish on him. He is 100 per cent this morning and really enjoyed himself,” Griffin said.

“The National will be the plan again. He’s rated 149 and I don’t think the handicapper will be dropping him too much, too fast,” he added.

“He’s lightly raced since he came to this holiday camp, and he will be similarly campaigned again next year without going to Cheltenham.

“He will start off in France. He’ll go on his holidays and we’ll work back from this day next year and he doesn’t owe us anything.

“For those owners to have been given a thrill like that from him, was incredible. We fired one dart yesterday from a small yard and he didn’t let us down.”

National field size should stay as it is, says Henderson

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Calls for the number of runners in the Grand National to be reduced in the aftermath of Saturday’s big race at Aintree have been given a firm thumbs down by Nicky Henderson.

The master of Seven Barrows, who has yet to break his duck in the big race, thought for a brief moment that long-time leader Mister Coffey was going to win the first chase of his career when three lengths clear at the penultimate fence, only to tire and finish eighth under Nico de Boinville.

“There was a moment,” laughed Henderson. “The only thing you could say, is if people are going to protest about what horses do, have you ever, ever, ever seen a horse not enjoy himself more?

“He absolutely loved it, didn’t he? It is absolutely living proof that this is what these horses want to do.

“There is the odd one that gets a bit sulky at times, but watching most of these horses, that can only tell you one thing – they love their job.”

The start of the four-and-a-quarter-mile handicap was delayed by almost 15 minutes as animal rights protesters got on to the Liverpool course and attempted to secure themselves to railings and fences.

The delay meant that horses, who were already saddled and in the parade ring, were removed for a time, returning to the saddling boxes and pre-parade ring.

When the race was eventually given the go-ahead, Hill Sixteen, who had never before fallen, suffered a fatal injury at the first fence and five others were unseated. Two more fell at the second fence, although none fell thereafter.

Henderson scoffed at suggestions that the field size – 39 horses lined up from a maximum of 40 runners – is too big and hinted that the delay caused by protesters may have affected some horses more than others.

He said: “It doesn’t do them any good, but to be fair, everybody did their best and did as good a job as they could to get the race going.

“They did well to get wind of what was going to happen and what they (protestors) were planning. I think we all expected it to happen. They were going to have a go, but it was a pretty pathetic show.

“There are certain horses that it would affect. With Mister Coffey, it didn’t worry him.

“I just let his girths out after they went back to the top paddock. That is a reasonable thing to do, because once you tighten their girths, they know what they are doing.

“He was very good, but if it had been Jonbon, it would have been a shambles. It would have been game over. He couldn’t have taken that (delay).

Jonbon recorded a facile win in the Magull Novices' Chase under Aidan Coleman
Jonbon recorded a facile win in the Magull Novices’ Chase under Aidan Coleman (Mike Egerton/PA)

“But as to suggestions we need to reduce the field size, no. We should have had a reserve.

“It is part of the spectacle. That is what the race is all about. The start is always going to be difficult with 40 horses – everyone wants to be up there, of course they do.

“But it’s the essence of the race. We are not fiddling around with some little gymkhana, you know.

“The race wasn’t helped by the protesters and it depends on your horse, but Mister Coffey is not someone who is going to get himself in a fuss.

“Had it been Jonbon, it would have been a different ball game.”

Eight-year-old Mister Coffey will be campaigned with the National in mind next season, following his excellent showing.

Henderson with Marie’s Rock, who was overhauled in the Liverpool Hurdle
Henderson with Marie’s Rock, who was overhauled in the Liverpool Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

Though he has yet to win in nine starts over fences, he has been running in very good company. Runner-up in last year’s Kim Muir at Cheltenham, he has twice finished as bridesmaid in two decent handicaps this season before finishing placed in the National Hunt Chase on returning to the Festival meeting last month.

Henderson added: “Of course we are going to build around the National next year.

“Mind you, I’m going to try to win a race with him first.

“He has been a bit unlucky, but it is not as if we have gone down to the bottom level to try to win a maiden chase.

“He’s been to the Cheltenhams and Aintrees and I would have thought we’d go to the same route to the end, but maybe the sensible thing to do is to try to win a couple of little races before Christmas then put him by for Cheltenham and then the National. He is improving.”

Though Jonbon gave Henderson and jockey Aidan Coleman an easy success in the Magull Novices’ Chase to open Saturday’s card, the trainer was still scratching his head after Marie’s Rock was overhauled by Sire Du Berlais in the Liverpool Hurdle.

The Stayers’ Hurdle winner looked well held turning for home, but came with a remarkable rattle to outstay his rivals, with Marie’s Rock having looked all over the winner under De Boinville when leading on the bridle jumping the penultimate flight.

Henderson, who also saddled eventual fifth Champ, added: “No one saw that winner coming. I knew where the winner was because he was in the JP (McManus) colours upsides Champ at the back the whole time.

“I was always looking back to see where Champ was and the winner was going worse than Champ. Quite a lot worse!

“You couldn’t believe it. When we arrived on the bridle two out, you could not believe that was going to happen.

“She’s fine this morning. She will go three miles all year now.”