Tag Archive for: Mister Coffey

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.”

Coffey on course for National service

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Trainer Nicky Henderson would love to see Mister Coffey fill the only significant gap on his CV with victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

Henderson saddled his first runner in the race 44 years ago when Zongalero was the runner-up in 1979 and has hit the crossbar again since as The Tsarevitch also came home second in 1987.

Whilst practically every other major National Hunt race has been claimed by the yard throughout Henderson’s career, the Grand National has remained elusive as the years have passed.

Asked what winning the race would mean after decades of trying, Henderson said: “Well I’m not going to suddenly leap up and say ‘that’s it’ and retire! But on the other hand it would complete the journey, if you like.

“It’s been a long haul and I haven’t finished yet. But that is the one obvious race I’d love to win – doesn’t everyone? I’m sure anyone who’s won the race once, twice, wants to go on and win it again because it’s very special. We’ve been knocking on the door a few times.

Mister Coffey (right) during the 2021 Ladbrokes Winter Carnival Gallops morning at Newbury racecourse
Mister Coffey (right) during the 2021 Ladbrokes Winter Carnival Gallops morning at Newbury racecourse (Adam Davy/PA)

“I love the place. The race is very special, it’s completely different to Cheltenham. Luckily we’ve been fortunate enough to have some of the best horses around and therefore you’re a player at Cheltenham at the highest level and that’s where it really matters, but this race is unique.

“It’s a completely different game. It would be a pity not to find one someday but the clock is ticking!”

Mister Coffey has yet to win a chase but was most recently seen finishing third in last month’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, with the gelding also in possession of some National-track experience having contested the Topham at the Aintree meeting last season.

“We ran him in the Topham last year and he enjoyed jumping round there then. He’s in good form and ran a very good race at Cheltenham,” said Henderson.

“He’s been placed in everything you can throw at him. He can’t win anything but that’s a bit like me in the National!

“He’s perfectly capable of it and it’s nice to be going in there with a horse that realistically does have a chance. It would be a surprise to all if I won it!”

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.”