nicky henderson stable tour tickets

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Nicky Henderson Stable Tour

The master of seven barrows has another strong squad for the grand national festival, led by the likes of jonbon, shishkin and sir gino..

Nicky Henderson had to wave the white flag at his beloved Cheltenham Festival when so many of his runners ran way below expectations, but it is, hopefully, all guns blazing as the Seven Barrows maestro looks to plunder another of his favourite meetings.

Henderson had to endure returning to Lambourn from the Festival winnerless for the first time since 2008 and the mystery ill health that swept through his stable left a bitter pill to swallow for someone we all are proud to say shows his emotions in magnums when meeting with success.

After the early sorties of his team at Cheltenham, the risk of going there was too great for Sir Gino, Shishkin, Jonbon and Shanagh Bob for their intended engagements and they head a strong team that was given an easy ten days after the meeting but are raring to go now.

Nicky said: “We just hacked them around on the deep sand and they seem to have come back fine and are in good health and ready to go to Aintree. They are fresh horses and every horse we have galloped has performed to our expectations.”

Henderson kindly talked to Tony Elves of attheraces.com about his main contenders for what he hopes can prove a lucrative three days at Aintree.

Champ (IRE)

• 12-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: King's Theatre (IRE) - China Sky (IRE) (Definite Article (UK))
• Trained by: N J Henderson
• Last Race: Aintree, 13 Apr 2024 15:05
• Result: PulledUp/10, held up in touch, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
• View full form

Form profile

Winner of 11 of his 24 starts and currently rated 156 over hurdles. Finished third, beaten three and a quarter lengths, to Noble Yeats in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in January.

Trainer says

He would run in the three-miler on Saturday. He seems very well, and he will enjoy it. He has won at Aintree and run well there on two other occasions and let’s hope he can put another good show in the Liverpool Hurdle on Saturday.

Fantastic Lady (FR)

• 9-y-o; bay mare
• Breeding: Network (GER) - Latitude (FR) (Kadalko (FR))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 14:25
• Result: Won/7, waited with in rear, good headway out wide 4 out, closer on inside home turn, angled out before 2 out, went 2nd between last two, led approaching last, ridden and came readily clear run-in

Winner of four of her 15 starts and currently rated 144 over fences. Creditable effort when fifth, beaten six lengths, to Gesskille in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the National fences at Aintree (2m 5f) in November off a mark of 145. Pulled up on her only other start in a listed Mares’ Chase at Doncaster (2m 4 1/2f) in December.

She runs in the Topham and was second in it last year. We toyed with the Grand National but with the ground as slow as it is going to be the Topham was the better option. She ran another good race around here the Sefton Chase and she loves jumping those fences.

First Street (GB)

• 7-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Golden Horn (UK) - Ladys First (UK) (Dutch Art (UK))
• Last Race: Bangor-on-Dee, 28 May 2024 19:25
• Result: 5/5, chased leaders, went 2nd before until 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out

Winner of four of his 18 starts and currently rated 143 over hurdles. Placed in his three starts this season and finished third, beaten 10 ½ lengths, to Lossiemouth in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in January when last seen out.

He will wait for Ayr.

Jango Baie (FR)

• 5-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Tiger Groom (UK) - Tenessee (FR) (Kapgarde (FR))
• Last Race: Aintree, 12 Apr 2024 14:20
• Result: 2/19, in touch, pushed along when hampered and carried left 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on strongly run-in, went second final 110yds, not reach winner

Winner of two of his 4 starts and currently rated 139 over hurdles. Finished runner-up, beaten half a length, to Personal Ambition in a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Kelso (2m 2f) in March on latest start.

He will run in the two and a half mile novices’ hurdle on Saturday. He and Peaky Boy would run in that Mersey Hurdle. Both of them have rock solid form and they are similar horses. Peaky Boy’s form at Cheltenham is very good and Jango Baie won the Tolworth around Aintree and I think two and a half will help him. He was second in the Sydney Banks and second in the Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso, both times giving away a Grade 1 penalty, but at least he doesn’t have to give that away this time.

Jonbon (FR)

• 8-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Star Face (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 15:00
• Result: Won/7, mostly jumped well, led, hit 3 out, ridden between last two, over 4 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged

Winner of 12 of his 15 starts and currently rated 170 over fences. Winner of his first two starts this season beating Edwardstone two and a quarter lengths in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham (2m) in November and followed up with a two and a quarter lengths defeat of that rival in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) in December. Subsequently runner-up, beaten a neck, to Elixir De Nutz in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase run at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in January.

Jonbon runs in the Melling Chase on Friday. He is in good form and it’s a great shame he couldn’t go to Cheltenham especially as the race worked out with El Fabiolo failing to get round. It opened the race up so much and you can’t help feel he would have been close to the front of it but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. He is in good shape and has won around here a couple of times and we hope he can do it again.

Luccia (GB)

• 6-y-o; chestnut mare
• Breeding: The Gurkha (IRE) - Earth Amber (UK) (Hurricane Run (IRE))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 15:30
• Result: 4/8, mid-division, not clear run when looking to close after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, no impression before last, went 4th flat

Winner of five of her 10 starts and currently rated 149 over hurdles. Gained her last success when beating Impose Toi a neck in a handicap hurdle at Ascot (1m 7 1/2f) in December off a mark of 136. Subsequently highly creditable third, beaten three and a half lengths, to State Man in the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in March.

The two and a half mile Aintree Hurdle looks a very competitive race, but we would run Luccia. She put up a great performance in the Champion Hurdle, but I have never been two and a half with her. This seems the obvious place to do it because the only alternative would be to wait for Punchestown and go and chase Lossiemouth. I would think we would only be chasing Lossiemouth, so I thought we would go and try over two and a half.

Marie's Rock (IRE)

• Breeding: Milan (UK) - By The Hour (IRE) (Flemensfirth (USA))
• Last Race: York, 25 May 2024 15:20
• Result: 5/10, towards rear, pushed along 3f out, stayed on steadily, never threatened

Winner of nine of his 19 starts and currently rated 146 over hurdles. Returned to winning with a length and a half success from You Wear It Well in a Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster (3m 1/2f) in January but weakened quickly before three out when pulled up in the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle won by Lossiemouth at Cheltenham (2m 4f) in March.

Marie’s Rock is entered in the Aintree Hurdle, but we have also put her in the three-mile Liverpool Hurdle on Saturday.

Peaky Boy (IRE)

• 6-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Kayf Tara (UK) - Joanne One (IRE) (Vinnie Roe (IRE))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 17 Apr 2024 13:30
• Result: Won/7, tracked leaders, ridden to lead at last, ran on

Winner of two of his 3 starts. Made a winning start for his stable when beating Champagne Twist five lengths in a maiden hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) on New Year’s Day.

“Peaky Boy would join Jango Baie in that Mersey Hurdle. Both of them have rock solid form and they are similar horses. Peaky Boy’s form at Cheltenham is very good and the runner-up Champagne Twist went onto win the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown. He is in good form at home, and we will let him take his chance.

Shanagh Bob (IRE)

• Breeding: Mahler (UK) - Exit Bob (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
• Last Race: Aintree, 12 Apr 2024 16:40
• Result: 4/8, held up behind leaders, outpaced when mistake 3 out, soon weakened

Winner of both of his starts over hurdles and currently rated 134. Scored by seven lengths from All The Glory in a novice hurdle at Plumpton (2m 4 1/2f) in November and followed up with a length and a quarter success from Destroytheevidence in a Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in December.

He will run in the three-mile Sefton Novices’ Hurdle on Friday and didn’t go to Cheltenham for the Albert Bartlett which he one of the favourites for. He looks good on Trials Day at Cheltenham, and he is a very straightforward horse.

Shishkin (IRE)

• 10-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Sholokhov (IRE) - Labarynth (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 14:55
• Result: 4/7, chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd before 8th until next, mistake 13th, not much room before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, not much room before 2 out, no impression on leaders before last

Winner of 14 of his 20 starts and currently rated 173 over fences. Returned to winning form when beating Hitman four and a quarter lengths in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury (2m 7 1/2f) in February.

Shishkin is in good order, and he missed the party last time at Cheltenham as well. Before that we don’t know if you have to say he was unlucky in the King George, we don’t know. He probably should have won that and won the Denman nicely and he was coming into the Gold Cup on a good line. He has won around Aintree before, and we hope he can do it again in the Bowl.

Sir Gino (FR)

• 4-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: It's Gino (GER) - Anzi Star (FR) (Anzillero (GER))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 14:20
• Result: Won/5, chased leader until before 4th, not fluent 6th, mistake 3 out, switched right and went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led last, ridden flat, stayed on, won going away

Winner of his three starts over hurdles and currently rated 145. Made a winning debut for his stable when beating Royal Way in a conditions hurdle at Kempton (2m) in December and most impressive when slamming Burdett Road in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in January.

Sir Gino is in very good form and, I couldn’t find anything wrong with him, but he just couldn’t go to Cheltenham under the circumstances. We left him at home and now he has got to come out and prove he is the best one in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle on Thursday. He has been in super form, he was at Cheltenham too, but I just didn’t dare.

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Nicky Henderson Stable Tour

Seven barrows is home to unbeaten superstar constitution hill, other huge names in shishkin and jonbon plus plenty of untapped talent..

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Nicky Henderson had to settle for second place again behind Paul Nicholls in the 2022/23 National Hunt trainers’ title but for pursuers of excellence he possessed the star of the season in Constitution Hill who gave him his coveted Cheltenham Festival winner when routing the opposition in March.  

Constitution Hill will once again be around to delight his fan club over hurdles with the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle at beginning of December the likely starting point again and the Christmas Hurdle and Unibet International Hurdle (now on Trials Day in January) steppingstones to his repeat bit for the Champion Hurdle crown.

The Seven Barrows trainer was able to notch up eight Grade 1s with Shishkin and Jonbon chipping considerably to the stable over £2.5 million in prize money and looking at the wealth of untapped talent from the Irish point-to-point and bumper division there could well be a few futures champions lurking in the mist.

Nicky kindly talked to Tony Elves of attheraces.com about some of the contenders he hopes can make it another great season for him and his team.

Adrimel (FR)

• 9-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Tirwanako (FR) - Irise De Gene (FR) (Blushing Flame (USA))
• Trained by: N J Henderson
• Last Race: Newcastle, 29 Mar 2023 15:00
• Result: 4/6, pressed leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed when mistake last, weakened into 4th towards finish
• View full form

Form profile

134 rated chaser. Restricted to two outings for Tom Lacey last season when finishing fourth, beaten 20 lengths, to No Risk Des Flos in a handicap chase at Wetherby in November and when finishing fourth, beaten three and a quarter lengths, to Miah Grace in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle in March.

Trainer says

He had some high-class form as youngster and won the Leamington at Warwick. We have attended to his wind and two and a half miles on soft ground could prove ideal. He is a nice horse to have in the stable and let’s hope we can find some openings for him.

Aston Martini (GB)

• 5-y-o; bay mare
• Breeding: Getaway (GER) - Gabriella Rose (UK) (Kayf Tara (UK))
• Last Race: Sandown, 15 Feb 2024 14:30
• Result: 4/7, held up in last pair, headway into 4th after 3 out, pushed along and weakened before next, tailed off

Easy winner of her bumper at Southwell in June.

She made a successful debut in her mares’ bumper at Southwell in June, and she has summered exceptionally well. She will go straight over hurdles and hopefully has a bright future.

Bective Abbey (IRE)

• 6-y-o; chestnut gelding
• Breeding: Mahler (UK) - Sizing Kimberlite (IRE) (Flemensfirth (USA))
• Last Race: Warwick, 25 Apr 2024 13:30
• Result: Won/14, close up, tracked leader 2 out, led next, ridden and ran on

Winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland in January.

He was an impressive winner of his point-to-point in Ireland in January, and he came to us in the spring, and I was delighted with his work and his schooling. He might take in a bumper to start with, but he looks tailor made for jumping and is an exciting prospect.

Between Waters (IRE)

• 6-y-o; bay mare
• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Clear Riposte (IRE) (King's Theatre (IRE))
• Last Race: Newbury, 23 Jan 2024 15:10
• Result: PulledUp/16, close up, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up approaching last

Short-priced favourite for her bumper at Ascot in February but only sixth, beaten nine lengths, to Politacus.

She was an impressive winner of her point-to-point in Ireland, and she is a lovely looking mare. She didn’t run too badly in her bumper at Ascot, but I would probably have been wiser to have gone straight over two and a half miles over hurdles. That is what she will be doing this season and I am hopeful she can prove something to look forward too.

Bold Endeavour (GB)

• 8-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Fame And Glory (UK) - Araucaria (IRE) (Accordion (UK))
• Last Race: Haydock, 11 May 2024 13:35
• Result: 13/16, prominent, mistake 1st, headway to join leader after 9th, pushed along 3 out, soon weakened

145 rated chaser and 143 rated hurdler. A winner twice over fences last season beating Ashington 10 lengths in handicap chase at Leicester in December and followed up with a seven-length success from Baron De Midleton in a novices’ handicap chase at Doncaster in January off a mark of 139. Had his attentions switched to hurdles after finishing runner-up, beaten seven and a half lengths, to Oscar Elite in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot in February and creditable fifth, beaten 11 lengths, to Langer Dan in the Grade 3 Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March off a mark of 140. Finished runner-up, beaten two and a quarter lengths, to Willaston in a handicap hurdle at Haydock in May when last seen in action.

He joined us last season and we switched him to fences and he won his first start at Leicester and followed up at Doncaster. He didn’t jump as well as he can when runner-up in the Reynoldstown at Ascot and we decided to send him back over hurdles where he ran an excellent fifth in the Coral Cup. I would like to go back over fences with him as he is normally a very good jumper, but we always have the option over going hurdling if necessary.

Break My Soul (IRE)

• Breeding: Doyen (IRE) - Ayleoola (IRE) (Presenting (UK))
• Last Race: Fontwell, 16 May 2024 17:10
• Result: Won/13, made all, not fluent 5th, went clear after 3 out, eased flat, unchallenged

Winner of her point-to-point in Ireland in February.

She was the impressive winner of her point-to-point in Ireland, and she could possibly start in a bumper or go straight over hurdles. She is a lovely looking filly and clearly has plenty of ability.

By The Grace (GB)

• Breeding: Blue Bresil (FR) - Handmaid (UK) (King's Theatre (IRE))
• Last Race: Stratford, 09 May 2024 17:50
• Result: PulledUp/11, in touch, pushed along 5th, weakened 3 out, pulled approaching last

Runner-up, beaten a length and a quarter, to Hot Fizzy Lizzy, at Southwell in May.

She was bought as a store at Doncaster with Middleham Park and she has always shown us plenty of ability. She was still on the weak side when she finished runner-up in her only start and can only improve. She had an excellent summer with Ann Duffield in the north and she has come back in great shape. I think she could be pretty exciting when we send her over hurdles.

Call Me Lord (FR)

• 11-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Slickly (FR) - Sosa (GER) (Cape Cross (IRE))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 16:10
• Result: 6/8, close 3rd on inside, went 2nd before 3rd until before next, chased leaders, flattened 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out

144 rated hurdler. Gain his only success last season when beating stablemate Captain Morgs three quarters of a length in a handicap hurdle at Kempton in November but several commendable efforts after.

He has been an absolute legend for us over the years and consistency has been one of his greatest assets. In 32 starts over hurdles he was won seven and been placed in 22 starts. He may be getting a little older, but he has come back looking as well as ever and he will be contesting his usual events. He is a lovely horse to have around the place.

Call The Dance (GB)

• Breeding: Kayf Tara (UK) - Hora (UK) (Hernando (FR))
• Last Race: Huntingdon, 25 Apr 2024 18:45
• Result: 4/9, in touch, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace, lost 3rd close home

Winner of one of her 2 bumpers. Off the mark at Southwell in April when beating Sunday Soldier three lengths.

She is a lovely home bred mare of James and Jean Potters out of Hora who we trained, and she was a good staying mare herself. Call The Dance finished fourth in what I think was a good race at Ludlow in January and then won very nicely at Southwell in April. She has come back looking a picture, has school very well before going out to grass, and I hope she will take high rank in the mares’ novice hurdle division.

Champ (IRE)

• 12-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: King's Theatre (IRE) - China Sky (IRE) (Definite Article (UK))
• Last Race: Aintree, 13 Apr 2024 15:05
• Result: PulledUp/10, held up in touch, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out

157 rated hurdler. Made a winning reappearance last season in the Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury where he scored by a neck from Paisley Park and then finished four and three quarter lengths behind that rival when third in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle run at Kempton on Boxing Day. Subsequently fifth, beaten 20 lengths, to Sire Du Berlais in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at AIntree in April.

He is the most wonderful character to have around even though he has tested us with his various ailments. He obviously won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in 2020 but, due to his re-occuring back issues we felt he was happier over hurdles. He beat Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his return last season before losing no caste when third to that horse in the Long Walk at Kempton and he has won over £450,000 in prize money. He will once again follow the same path and let’s hope he can meet with further success.

Chantry House (IRE)

• 10-y-o; brown gelding
• Breeding: Yeats (IRE) - The Last Bank (IRE) (Phardante (FR))
• Last Race: Punchestown, 02 May 2024 18:35
• Result: 5/25, rear of mid-division, headway into 5th 2 out, went 3rd travelling well entering straight, ridden in 2nd before last, no impression on winner when mistake at last, no extra run-in

155 rated chaser. Gained his last success in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January 2022 when beating Santini two and a half lengths. Unseated rider and fell in two starts last season at Aintree and Wetherby in December.

His season was brought to a premature halt when he suffered a horrible fall at Wetherby over Christmas. He has won six of his 11 starts over fences and he has had a great Summer out at Martinstown so let’s hope that has done the trick for his confidence. He is a very high-class horse at his best and I think we can get him back to the top.

City Chief (IRE)

• 7-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Soldier of Fortune (IRE) - Galant Ferns (IRE) (Bob Back (USA))
• Last Race: Uttoxeter, 18 May 2024 19:03
• Result: PulledUp/8, prominent, pushed along and lost place 8th, dropped to rear next, pulled up before 3 out

135 rated chaser. A winner twice over fences last season scoring by five and a half lengths from Coconut Splash in a novices’ handicap chase at Hereford in January and following up with a five-length win from O’Toole in the Grade 2 Towton Chase at Wetherby in February. Subsequently third, beaten 11 ½ lengths, to Sail Away in a valuable novices’ handicap at Ayr in April.

He did well for us last season winning a couple at Hereford and the Towton at Wetherby but I have to admit I was disappointed with his third to Sail Away at Ayr. He is a good jumper who stays well, and I think he has a bright future.

Constitution Hill (GB)

• Breeding: Blue Bresil (FR) - Queen Of The Stage (IRE) (King's Theatre (IRE))
• Last Race: Kempton, 26 Dec 2023 13:55
• Result: Won/5, raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd at 4th, angled out home turn, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, canter

175 rated hurdler. Unbeaten in seven races over hurdles and was crowned Champion Hurdler for the first time at Cheltenham in March when slamming State Man nine lengths. Had previously carried on his victory march with a 12-length success from stablemate Epatante in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November and followed up with a 17-length defeat of the same mare in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Ended his second season over hurdles with a three-length victory from Sharjah over two and a half miles in the Aintree Hurdle in April.

It has been well documented that we are staying over hurdles this season with the aim to retain his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown. I am pretty sure we have made the right decision as both Michael, myself and Nico all know that with his speed and pace that he is unlikely that he would stay extreme distance at this stage of his career. The plan would probably be the Fighting Fifth again, the Christmas Hurdle and then the Unibet International Hurdle which has been switched to Trials Day at Cheltenham in January. It will then be the Champion Hurdle and, all being well, either Aintree or Punchestown. He is a wonderful horse, and it would be fantastic if he could go and do it all again.

Doddiethegreat (IRE)

• Breeding: Fame And Glory (UK) - Asturienne (UK) (Sleeping Car (FR))
• Last Race: Ayr, 19 Apr 2024 15:20
• Result: 7/14, off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, weakened between last two

131 rated hurdler. Winner of both his bumpers at Ludlow in November 2020 and Huntingdon in March 2021 and retained his unbeaten record with a 22-length success from Pontresina in a novice hurdle at Kempton in November 2021.

He suffered a nasty injury in November 2021 when winning impressively at Kempton and has a serious wound to his tendon. He did three months good work in the spring, and we nearly got him back but we just ran out of time. He is back and we are very pleased with him and let’s hope he can continue where he left off.

Donwave (FR)

• 5-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Gentlewave (IRE) - Don'aventure (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))
• Trained by: A Chaille-Chaille
• Last Race: Auteuil, 03 Jun 2023 16:15
• Result: Won/11,

Winner of a hurdle contest at Auteuil in June.

He won a hurdle race at Auteuil in June, so he is a novice hurdler for this season. He had a nice break since coming over from France and will have to start with a penalty. You won’t see him until the ground eases.

East India Express (IRE)

• Breeding: Milan (UK) - Roztoc (IRE) (Desert King (IRE))
• Last Race: Punchestown, 01 May 2024 15:40
• Result: UnseatedRider/14, mid-division, mistake and unseated rider at 5th

Scored by six and a half lengths from Support Act in a bumper at Kempton in February.

We wanted to run him in the sales race at Newbury and we started him off at Kempton in February to give him experience and Sam Twiston-Davies rode him as Nico was on another one of ours, Iolaos Du Mou. As it turned out East India Express lived up to his name and won very impressively. However, he had a bout of coughing after and missed the Newbury race. He looks a very exciting prospect for novice hurdles.

Easy Peasy (IRE)

• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Cause Celebre (IRE) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
• Last Race: Stratford, 21 Apr 2024 14:15
• Result: Fell/6, close up towards rear, went prominent at 5th, pushed along and headway to dispute lead last where mistake and fell

Winner of both her bumpers - scored for David Harry Kelly in Ireland in July and followed up with a four and a half length victory on her stable debut at Plumpton in September.

She hasn’t been with us that long but made a pleasing start at Plumpton in September and she could be an exciting prospect when we send her over hurdles.

Excello (FR)

• 5-y-o; grey gelding
• Breeding: Cokoriko (FR) - Pafadas (FR) (Martaline (UK))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 12 Mar 2024 14:50
• Result: PulledUp/21, raced wide in mid-division, weakened 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out

133 rated chaser and hurdler. Narrowly beaten when runner-up in two hurdles at Auteuil and also runner-up in two chases at Auteuil (one listed) with a victory in a chase coming at that venue in March.

He is a very exciting new recruit from France with some excellent form. He remains as a novice chaser until December 1st, but he remains a novice over hurdles and that is probably the route we will take with him. He will need plenty of cut in the ground, but I can’t wait to get started with him. He has summered really well.

Fantastic Lady (FR)

• 9-y-o; bay mare
• Breeding: Network (GER) - Latitude (FR) (Kadalko (FR))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 14:25
• Result: Won/7, waited with in rear, good headway out wide 4 out, closer on inside home turn, angled out before 2 out, went 2nd between last two, led approaching last, ridden and came readily clear run-in

145 rated chaser. Scored by four and three quarter lengths from Zambella in a Listed Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen in November and subsequently ran a cracker in the Topham Trophy at Aintree in April when runner-up, beaten a length and three quarters, to Bill Baxter. Put in another solid effort when third, beaten seven and three quarter lengths, to Hewick in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown in April.

She has lived up to her name throughout her career and given us plenty of excitement. Her season began with a comfortable victory from Zambella in a Mares’ Listed Chase at Market Rasen in November before she ran below par at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, but she put up a brave performance when runner-up in the Topham at Aintree in April and gained more black type when third in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown in April. She will go Mares’ Listed Chases again and Aintree could well be on the agenda again.

First Street (GB)

• Breeding: Golden Horn (UK) - Ladys First (UK) (Dutch Art (UK))
• Last Race: Bangor-on-Dee, 28 May 2024 19:25
• Result: 5/5, chased leaders, went 2nd before until 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out

147 rated hurdler. Made a winning reappearance in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury in November of last season when beating Grivetana two and a half lengths and then finished third, beaten six and a quarter lengths, to stablemate Marie’s Rock in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day form slight below that in three outings afterwards.

He started off last season with an impressive success in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle under topweight and then probably over-raced when third to Marie’s Rock in the Relkeel over two and a half miles at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. I thought two miles was more his trip and he ran in the County Hurdle in which he finished second to State Man the previous year and wasn’t beaten far even though he was only 11th. He ran a similar race in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr and Nico wasn’t confident about his wind, so he has had an operation through the summer. Life won’t be easy over hurdles off his mark, and we might even think of jumping a fence. He has always jumped his hurdles well and whatever he does I think there is more to come from him.

Iberico Lord (FR)

• 6-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Cokoriko (FR) - Valcelita (FR) (Voix Du Nord (FR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 12 Mar 2024 15:30
• Result: PulledUp/8, held up towards rear, niggled along after 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, dropped out quickly from 2 out, pulled up before last

126 rated hurdler. Opened his account for the stable when beating Beau Balko a head at Stratford in April and then finished strongly when runner-up, beaten a half a length, to stablemate Under Control in a valuable novices’ handicap hurdle at Sandown on the final day of the season off a mark of 120.

He came to us after winning his bumper in France and we were probably aiming a little high when starting him in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham in November. He then fell at the last at Kempton on Boxing Day but came good at Stratford in April and followed up with another cracking effort on the final day of the season when runner-up to our Under Control. I would think there is a lot more to come over hurdles before we send him over fences.

Impose Toi (FR)

• Breeding: It's Gino (GER) - Saraska D'airy (FR) (Ungaro (GER))
• Last Race: Kempton, 13 Jan 2024 14:42
• Result: 3/19, tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, ran on one pace

121 rated hurdler. A winner twice last season in novices’ hurdles beating Asian Spice 16 lengths at Exeter in March and ending his first season with the stable when scoring by 15 lengths from Chestnut Pete when returned to two mile and five at Ludlow in May. Runner-up in his other two outings.

He is another really nice horse belongs to JP, and he came to us from France after winning two AQPS races. He won two of his races in eye-catching fashion and he has loads of potential. He has the size and scope to jump a fence, but we may keep him to hurdles for the time being. He shows us nothing at home and keeps it for the track but that’s not a bad thing.

Jeriko Du Reponet (FR)

• Breeding: Choeur Du Nord (FR) - Ukaline Du Reponet (FR) (Agent Bleu (FR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 12 Mar 2024 13:30
• Result: PulledUp/11, tracked leaders on inside, mistake 1st, slow jump 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and weakened quickly after next, pulled up before last

Easy winner of his point-to-point in Ireland in March.

He is a lovely individual who had one run in a point-to-point in the north of Ireland and was extremely impressive. He hasn’t been with us that long, but I like what he is showing, and he could be very exciting. We could go straight over hurdles with him.

Jet Powered (IRE)

• Breeding: Jet Away (UK) - Cloghoge Lady (IRE) (Presenting (UK))
• Last Race: Newbury, 02 Dec 2023 13:40
• Result: PulledUp/10, chased leaders, lost position quickly before 3 out and soon pulled up

Looked a classy individual when hacking up by 11 lengths from Ittack Blue on his hurdling bow over two miles at Newbury last November but very disappointing when heavily odds-on for similar event at the same course and distance in December.

He looked a very exciting prospect when winning his point-to-point in Ireland and very much looked that on his hurdling debut at Newbury in November but ran nothing like that on his return there in December. He is obviously much better than that and, hopefully, we have sort out his issues and he can have the opportunity to fulfil his potential.

Jingko Blue (FR)

• Breeding: Great Pretender (IRE) - Vibraye (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 13 Mar 2024 13:30
• Result: PulledUp/7, chased leaders on inside, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last

Winner of a two and a half mile point-to-point in Ireland.

He won a very competitive point-to-point in Ireland in February and was bought at Cheltenham Sales. He was pleasing us at home, but the ground dried up and we had to draw stumps for last season when he had intended to run him in a bumper. He works very well and has schooled very well, and he could go straight over hurdles.

Johnny Blue (IRE)

• 5-y-o; brown gelding
• Breeding: Soldier of Fortune (IRE) - Accordian Lady (IRE) (Accordion (IRE))
• Last Race: Exeter, 19 Apr 2024 16:55
• Result: 2/5, led, headed after 4th, tracked leader, mistake 3 out, soon driven, pressed leader run-in, lost on the nod

Winner of his bumper at Worcester in June by a neck from Thirtyfour Thirty.

He had made his debut in a bumper at Worcester in June and won quite nicely and the runner-up has boosted the form since. He has schooled very well, and we are looking forward to running him over hurdles this autumn.

Jonbon (FR)

• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Star Face (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 15:00
• Result: Won/7, mostly jumped well, led, hit 3 out, ridden between last two, over 4 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged

166 rated chaser. Winner of five of his six chases last season and was odds against for the first time when runner-up, beaten five and a half lengths, to the odds-on El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March. Had previously completed a hat-trick with a five and a half length success from sole rival Calico in a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Warwick in February and was in great form in the spring when beating Marvel De Cerisy 43 lengths in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April and when following up with a three and three quarter length victory from Captain Guinness in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown later that month.

He has only been beaten twice in his career once over hurdles by Constitution Hill and then by El Fabiolo in the Arkle and is the most lovely horse. Apart from the odd mistake in couple of races his jumping has been pretty flawless, and he has put up some excellent displays. After his defeat at Cheltenham, he bounced back with an impressive display in the Maghull at Aintree and round off his season when beating experienced chasers in the Celebration Chase at Sandown. I was considering stepping up to two and a half miles, but Sandown probably told us to stay at two miles for now. He has developed both physically and mentally and let’s hope he has a very bright future.

Joyeuse (FR)

• 5-y-o; bay filly
• Breeding: First De Retz (FR) - Tilda (FR) (Denham Red (FR))
• Trained by: M Mottier
• Last Race: Vincennes, 25 Jun 2023 16:15
• Result: 2/14,

Winner of her AQPS race in France over a mile and a half in October 2022.

She is a gorgeous filly and a three parts sister to Epatante which obviously gave her plenty of appeal to JP. She had one run as a three-year-old in France which she won nicely and came to us over Christmas and just never stopped growing. She jumps extremely well, and she will go straight over hurdles. She has had a good summer at Martinstown and she is a bigger version of Epatante but we can only hope she might be as good as her.

Kingston Pride (IRE)

• Breeding: Kingston Hill (UK) - Milans Pride (IRE) (Milan (UK))
• Last Race: Exeter, 19 Apr 2024 19:30
• Result: Won/8, tracked leading trio, went close 3rd halfway, 2nd going well over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ran on well

Winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland in April.

He was bought at the Cheltenham Festival Sale and won his only point-to-point in April. He is an imposing sort, and I would expect to go straight over hurdles although, like so many of ours, we have the option of going for a bumper first.

Kintail (GB)

• Breeding: Blue Bresil (FR) - Speed Bonnie Boat (UK) (Alflora (IRE))
• Last Race: Lingfield, 21 Jan 2024 16:10
• Result: 5/11, tracked winner until ridden 2 out, weakened next

Runner-up in his first bumper at Wincanton in April and went one better in a similar event at Warwick the following month.

He is another by Blue Bresil who I obviously adore for obvious reasons, and he was very green when finishing second on his debut at Wincanton but went one better in what I think was a warm bumper at Warwick next time. He has schooled very nicely, and we are forward to running him over hurdles.

Luccia (GB)

• 6-y-o; chestnut mare
• Breeding: The Gurkha (IRE) - Earth Amber (UK) (Hurricane Run (IRE))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 15:30
• Result: 4/8, mid-division, not clear run when looking to close after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, no impression before last, went 4th flat

136 rated hurdler. Impressive winner of a listed mares’ hurdle at Newbury on her reappearance in November and when beating Palace Boy in a listed event at Exeter in February. Favourite for the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March but could only finish third, beaten four lengths, to You Wear It Well. Another solid effort when third, beaten two and three quarter lengths, to Inthepocket in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April.

She is a star and made brilliant start to her hurdling career when winning a listed contest at Exeter. We had to give her another run before Cheltenham, so we went to Exeter for another listed contest, this time against the boys, and again she was very impressive. We thought she was one of our best chances at Cheltenham, but we had to rush her to get to Exeter and that may just have taken the edge off her for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. I think she is bit better than she showed that day and we took her to Aintree for the Top Novices’ Hurdle when she finished third, beaten two and three quarter lengths, to Inthepocket. I have no doubt she is destined for top honours this season and she may well stay further than two miles. She will be running in all those Mares graded hurdles and there’s no reason she shouldn’t finish up in the Mare’s Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Marie's Rock (IRE)

• Breeding: Milan (UK) - By The Hour (IRE) (Flemensfirth (USA))
• Last Race: York, 25 May 2024 15:20
• Result: 5/10, towards rear, pushed along 3f out, stayed on steadily, never threatened

152 rated hurdler. Returned from a break to beat Dashel Drasher six lengths in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day before finishing seventh, beaten 15 lengths, to Honeysuckle when 9-4 joint-favourite for the Grade1 Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Finished runner-up, beaten three and a quarter lengths, to Sire Du Berlais on her final start in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April.

There were few opportunities for her before Christmas, so we started her in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and she was most impressive when beating Dashel Drasher six lengths. After that it was straight to the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham where she disappointed behind the great Honeysuckle. She was much more her own self when we stepped her up to three miles and she ran a cracking race to finish second, beaten three and a quarter lengths, to Sire Du Berlais. She has been a wonderful servant to her owners Middleham Park Racing and three miles in probably now her optimum trip. She has already won over £285,000 and, hopefully, she is ready for another successful season.

Mister Coffey (FR)

• Breeding: Authorized (IRE) - Mamitador (UK) (Anabaa (FR))
• Last Race: Newbury, 10 Feb 2024 15:50
• Result: 3/5, led until hit 11th and headed, led again 13th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened soon after

143 rated chaser. Placed in three of his four starts last season including when third, beaten 15 lengths, to Gaillard Du Mesnil in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March. Creditable effort final start when eighth, beaten 26 lengths, to Corach Rambler in the Grand National at Aintree in April off a mark of 145.

Perhaps a little embarrassingly he is still a novice after two seasons but that doesn’t tell the full story as you know he has been second and third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and probably his best ever run was when finishing eighth to Corach Rambler in the Grand National at Aintree in April. He didn’t quite get home after leading at the 18th, but I don’t think it was necessarily lack of stamina and the National will be on the agenda again. He really shouldn’t have too much trouble winning a novice and he is obviously still qualified for the National Hunt Chase. He is a very honest and genuine horse, and he certainly deserves to win his races.

No Ordinary Joe (IRE)

• Breeding: Getaway (GER) - Shadow Dearg (IRE) (Beneficial (UK))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 15 Mar 2024 17:30
• Result: 7/21, chased leaders, close up final bend, soon ridden, weakened before last

143 rated hurdler. Made a winning reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Kempton in December when beating Big Boy Bobby a head and best subsequent effort when runner-up, beaten a length and a half, to Iroko in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 139.

On his day he is a high-class horse, and he won a valuable handicap at Kempton over Christmas. He probably exceeded that performance when runner-up to the well-handicapped Iroko in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap at Cheltenham in March and he is one that will always be in the firing line in those big handicap hurdles.

Persian Time (GB)

• Breeding: Califet (FR) - Persian Forest (UK) (Presenting (UK))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 16:45
• Result: PulledUp/9, well off the pace in rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 11th (water)

129 rated hurdler. Scored by two and a quarter lengths from Diyaken in a novices’ hurdle at Ascot in November and ran well after including when runner-up, beaten two and a quarter lengths, to Hugos New Horse over an extended two and a half miles at Ayr in April.

He did well for us last season and ended his campaign with good effort over two and a half miles at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting when runner-up to Hugos New Horse. He has the size and scope to jump fences and that is where he will finish up. We have yet to decide whether to go over hurdles first.

Russian Ruler (IRE)

• Breeding: Sholokhov (IRE) - Hot Choice (UK) (Zafeen (FR))
• Last Race: Aintree, 13 Apr 2024 13:20
• Result: 14/21, off the pace and always towards rear

127 rated hurdler. Off the mark over hurdles at Newbury in March when beating Arqoob four lengths and followed up with a two and three quarter length success from Alien Storm at Kempton in April.

He is a horse we have always adored even though things haven’t always gone according to plan. He came good in the spring, and he looks every inch a two-mile chaser. If he shows us on the racetrack what he shows us at home, we could go a long way with him in novice chases.

Shanagh Bob (IRE)

• Breeding: Mahler (UK) - Exit Bob (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
• Last Race: Aintree, 12 Apr 2024 16:40
• Result: 4/8, held up behind leaders, outpaced when mistake 3 out, soon weakened

Winner of his point-to-point in Ireland in December.

He came to us in January after impressing in his point-to-point in Ireland in December and we almost ran him in a bumper, but the ground dried out, so we put him away. He is another exciting prospect from the point-to-point field, and we can’t wait to get him going.

Shishkin (IRE)

• 10-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Sholokhov (IRE) - Labarynth (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 14:55
• Result: 4/7, chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd before 8th until next, mistake 13th, not much room before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, not much room before 2 out, no impression on leaders before last

173 rated chaser. Winner of 13 of his 17 chases and achieved four Grade 1 victories winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2021, the Clarence House Chase in 2022, the Betfair Ascot Chase and the Aintree Bowl in 2023. Stepped up to three miles and a furlong for the first time when beating Ahoy Senor a length and a half in the Aintree Bowl in April.

What more can you say about Shishkin - he was a champion over two miles in his younger days and it transpires that he is now a genuine stayer. His record speaks for itself, and he was back to his very best in the Betfair Ascot Chase at Ascot in February when beating Pic D’Orhy 16 lengths before not being the most fluent when runner-up to Envoi Allen in the Ryanair. We sent him over an extended three miles at Aintree in the Bowl and he had a great battle with Ahoy Senor before coming home a length and a half victor. We don’t know where he will reappear, but the King George VI Chase at Kempton has to be on the agenda and then we will go from there. He is a real superstar and let’s hope he can continue to be a major force in all those top events.

Sir Gino (FR)

• 4-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: It's Gino (GER) - Anzi Star (FR) (Anzillero (GER))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 14:20
• Result: Won/5, chased leader until before 4th, not fluent 6th, mistake 3 out, switched right and went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led last, ridden flat, stayed on, won going away

Winner of a listed three-year-old hurdle at Auteuil in April

He won his only start in the Wild Monarch at Auteuil in April and that race has a habit of throwing out some pretty smart horses. He is a gorgeous individual with the size and scope to jump fences in time, but he is still qualified to run in juvenile hurdles, and we hope he can progress and be a high-class juvenile.

Southoftheborder (IRE)

• Breeding: Leading Light (IRE) - Dante's Queen (IRE) (King's Theatre (IRE))
• Last Race: Sandown, 26 Jan 2024 13:15
• Result: 2/8, chased leaders, challenged turning for home, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, no impression towards finish

Winner of his point-to-point in Ireland last November and made a winning start for connections when beating High Treason three lengths in a bumper at Ffos Las in March.

He won his point-to-point for Derek O’Connor, and we gave him one run in a bumper at Ffos Las in the spring and he ran out a comfortable winner. He looks another very exciting prospect for novice hurdles this season.

Steal A March (GB)

• Breeding: Mount Nelson (UK) - Side Step (UK) (Norse Dancer (IRE))
• Last Race: Huntingdon, 25 Jan 2024 15:45
• Result: PulledUp/13, held up, dropped to rear 7th, pulled up 2 out

134 rated hurdler. A winner twice and runner-up twice last season and last seen out when beating Stellar Magic three quarters of a length in a Pertemps Qualifier at Wincanton on Boxing Day off a mark of 134.

He had our sight set on the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and he won his qualifier at Wincanton very well but, most unfortunately, we had to miss Cheltenham as he seemed to lose his action less than a fortnight before. His issues have been identified and hopefully the problem has been resolved. He is still a relatively young horse and, hopefully, he can continue to progress over hurdles.

The Carpenter (IRE)

• 8-y-o; grey gelding
• Breeding: Shantaram (UK) - Just Another Penny (IRE) (Terimon (UK))
• Last Race: Exeter, 31 Jan 2024 14:10
• Result: PulledUp/6, close up, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out

134 rated hurdler. Unbeaten in three starts for the stable - scored by three quarters of a length from Off To A Flyer in a novice hurdle at Exeter in Febuary after 701 days off and followed up with an 11-length success from Sound And Fury in a similar event at Newbury in March. Continued his winning streak in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in M\ay when beating Ballybeg two and a quarter lengths off a mark of 129.

For the first two seasons at Seven Barrows I couldn’t get him to the racecourse due to splints and other minor complaints, but the wait was worthwhile when we finally got to Exeter in February and then he followed up with a wide-margin victory at Newbury. He did the same on his handicap debut at Uttoxeter and he is a lovely big horse who will make a chaser in time but there should be plenty of options over hurdles before then.

Under Control (FR)

• 5-y-o; chestnut mare
• Breeding: Doctor Dino (FR) - Delinda (FR) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
• Last Race: Galway, 01 Aug 2024 17:05
• Result: 6/19, tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th 2 out, pushed along and no impression before last, no extra run-in

136 rated hurdler. A winner three times for the stable last season culminating in a half-length success from stablemate Iberico Lord in a valuable novices’ handicap final at Sandown on the final day of the season off a mark of 128.

She isn’t very big but has done nothing but thrive since joining us and ended her season winning a £100,000 novices’ handicap hurdle at Sandown in April. She has come back from Martinstown looking great after her summer break and she will go do the Mares’ Hurdle route.

Walking On Air (IRE)

• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Refinement (IRE) (Oscar (IRE))
• Last Race: Chepstow, 24 Feb 2024 15:08
• Result: PulledUp/12, mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

138 rated hurdler. Landed a Pertemps Qualifier at Exeter in February by three and a half lengths from Sabrina off a mark of 133 and finished fifth, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to Good Time Jonny in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March off his current mark.

He is a grand big chasing type and, to be honest, he didn’t have a lot of luck last season. He wasn’t beaten far in an decent handicap hurdle at Doncaster in December and then won a Pertemps Qualifier at Exeter in February where he won impressively. He has no sort of run at all coming down the hill at Cheltenham in the Pertemps Final and still finished fifth after having such an unlucky run. It is time to go chasing with him now and we are really looking forward to the season ahead.

Willmount (GB)

• Breeding: Blue Bresil (FR) - Youngstar (UK) (Old Vic (UK))
• Last Race: Newbury, 30 Dec 2023 15:00
• Result: PulledUp/9, mid-division, closed up at 4th, lost position and pushed along after 4 out, soon beaten and pulled up 3 out

Winner of his point-to-point in Ireland in February of last year and won both of his bumpers at Doncaster for Neil Mulholland. Scored by 13 lengths from Luckie Seven in Jan and by four and a half lengths from Broomhill Road in March.

He is a new addition to the stable this season and is by Blue Bresil, who I adore. He won his two bumpers for Neil Mulholland, and he will start his campaign straight over hurdles. He looks something to look forward too.

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Nicky Henderson Stable Tour

Superstars constitution hill, shishkin and sir gino spearhead a supremely talented team from seven barrows for the big meeting..

• Thursday 22 February 2024

Nicky Henderson took his amazing Cheltenham Festival record to 73 winners when Constitution Hill collected the Champion Hurdle in 2023, and hopes are high that a formidable team from Seven Barrows can prove even more potent this time around.   

Of course, Michael Buckley’s pride and joy will spearhead the attack again in the Champion Hurdle on day one where Nicky will once again “be looking to settle the nerves”.             

Though with Sir Gino currently odds-on for the Triumph Hurdle (a race he won last with Pentland Hills in 2019), Shishkin very much reviving his Gold Cup hopes with his recent success in the Denman Chase and the unbeaten Jeriko Du Reponet a live fancy for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (a race Henderson has already won five times) the omens look good.

Nicky said: “What we would normally do, and we would like to do is being dictated to by the weather which is rather boring. We like to do a lot of our work on grass and that’s not so easy at the moment as everywhere is so very wet.

“We have been lucky as all the horses bar Constitution Hill have had their runs and the only one to have work to do is him. He hasn’t run since Christmas, which is exactly the same as last year, but we had a couple of weeks in the middle when he wasn’t quite right. I would like to have an awayday with him.” 

There are plenty others in the Henderson team that could well display their venom in the handicaps and elsewhere, and with the Festival fast approaching, Nicky kindly talked to Tony Elves of attheraces.com about his star-studded squad. 

Bold Endeavour (GB)

• 8-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Fame And Glory (UK) - Araucaria (IRE) (Accordion (UK))
• Trained by: N J Henderson
• Last Race: Haydock, 11 May 2024 13:35
• Result: 13/16, prominent, mistake 1st, headway to join leader after 9th, pushed along 3 out, soon weakened
• View full form

Form profile

Winner of five of his 16 starts and currently rated 143 over hurdles. Has finished runner-up in two of his five starts this season and ran well when beaten only two and a quarter lengths by White Rhino in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in December off a mark of 142.

Trainer says

He would be one for the Pertemps and is in good form at present. He ran a good race at Cheltenham in December.

Chantry House (IRE)

• 10-y-o; brown gelding
• Breeding: Yeats (IRE) - The Last Bank (IRE) (Phardante (FR))
• Last Race: Punchestown, 02 May 2024 18:35
• Result: 5/25, rear of mid-division, headway into 5th 2 out, went 3rd travelling well entering straight, ridden in 2nd before last, no impression on winner when mistake at last, no extra run-in

Winner of nine of his 18 starts and currently rated 143 over hurdles. Finished fourth, beaten 12 ½ lengths, to Beachcomber in a Pertemps Qualifier at Huntingdon (3m 1f) in January off a mark of 145.

He would be one for the Pertemps Final. He obviously has some good form in the past. I was a little disappointed with him last time, but we might put some headgear on him for the Pertemps.

Constitution Hill (GB)

• 7-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Blue Bresil (FR) - Queen Of The Stage (IRE) (King's Theatre (IRE))
• Last Race: Kempton, 26 Dec 2023 13:55
• Result: Won/5, raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd at 4th, angled out home turn, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, canter

Winner of all of his 8 starts and currently rated 175 over hurdles. A winner at the last two Festivals putting in a superlative performance when slamming stablemate Jonbon 22 lengths in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2022 and coming back a year later to defeat State Man by nine lengths in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle. Has never looked like being beaten in any of his starts and made a winning reappearance in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (2m) on Boxing Day when an easy nine-length victor from Rubaud.

As you know with him, nothing worries him and he would even run on Friday 13th if he had too. He is in very good shape, and I would be very happy is in the same shape as this time last year. He was ready at Christmas as he should have gone to Newcastle, so he was very well prepped for the Christmas Hurdle. I would like to have one away day and that will do it. His mind is always good and his weight's good and I think he was exceptional in his work last Saturday. It was pretty misty, but he was moving beautifully, and the ground was beautiful. He is very professional and that is the secret to him. He has the same attitude as when he first started and is just so laid back, you could wake him up and he just comes alive for you and is so easy. We are going to find out one way another if he is as good a Champion Hurdler as I ever had, and the one thing they all had in common is their ability to jump a hurdle. He as fast as you have seen a horse jump a hurdle and he is as good at that as See You Then who came from the dark ages. Buveur D’Air and Epatante, they were all electric over their hurdles and Constitution Hill is just so fast and low and deadly accurate. He has to be accurate and going to the last at Cheltenham 12 months ago not many horses would not have survived that error, but he was such a fresh horse and wasn’t remotely tired and halfway through you could see him put himself right. He is the ultimate professional and you can do anything with him, if they want to go fast fine and if they go very slow then we might go on. You don’t need pacemakers for him or anything for him and if I gallop him, he can gallop on his own, he doesn’t need others. We had to give him three weeks off, but his scope was only two out of 10 but you can’t ignore it and think we might get away with it but if you start doing that you start playing with fire. There is an element of pressure, and you feel nervous, but responsibility comes into it and he is the Special One at the moment and long may it last, all good things come to an end and Altior won 19 races before his run came to an end. We have beaten State Man once and let’s hope we can do it again.

Doddiethegreat (IRE)

• Breeding: Fame And Glory (UK) - Asturienne (UK) (Sleeping Car (FR))
• Last Race: Ayr, 19 Apr 2024 15:20
• Result: 7/14, off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, weakened between last two

Winner of four of his 6 starts and currently rated 132 over hurdles. Finished a respectable fourth, beaten eight and a half lengths, to Iberico Lord in the Grade 3 Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury (2m 1/2f) this month off his current mark.

I would love to go for the Coral Cup with him, but he is not going to get in. He ran a great race at Newbury, and I was looking forward to the Coral Cup.

First Street (GB)

• Breeding: Golden Horn (UK) - Ladys First (UK) (Dutch Art (UK))
• Last Race: Bangor-on-Dee, 28 May 2024 19:25
• Result: 5/5, chased leaders, went 2nd before until 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out

Winner of four of his 18 starts and currently rated 146 over hurdles. Placed in all four starts this term and third, beaten 11 lengths, to stablemate Constitution Hill in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (2m) on Boxing Day. Again third, beaten 10 ½ lengths, to Lossiemouth in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in January.

He went up 4lb for his run against Lossiemouth and poor old First Street looks high enough anyway, but he will go for one of the handicaps. We have been running around all winter with him chasing prize money which he has done pretty well, but he keeps on going up in the handicap for doing it. He wants to go another half a mile and he does get into the Coral.

Hyland (FR)

• 7-y-o; grey gelding
• Breeding: Turgeon (USA) - Medine (FR) (Mansonnien (FR))
• Last Race: Uttoxeter, 30 Jun 2024 13:50
• Result: 4/5, led until 6th, not fluent 4 out, outpaced 2 out, no extra last

Winner of four of his 14 starts and currently rated 135 over hurdles. Winner of his first two starts over hurdles this year which included a two-length success from Judicial Law in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in October off a mark of 129.

He will be one of four I run in the Pertemps Final. He won at the course in October and is on schedule to go back there.

Iberico Lord (FR)

• 6-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Cokoriko (FR) - Valcelita (FR) (Voix Du Nord (FR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 12 Mar 2024 15:30
• Result: PulledUp/8, held up towards rear, niggled along after 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, dropped out quickly from 2 out, pulled up before last

Winner of four of his 8 starts and currently rated 143 over hurdles. Progressive hurdler who returned to winning form with a two and a quarter length victory from L’eau Du Sud in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (2m 1/2f) this month off a mark of 134.

I wouldn’t say he is a step ahead, but he has won two very good handicaps. He looks really, really well, and he would be going for the County.

Impose Toi (FR)

• Breeding: It's Gino (GER) - Saraska D'airy (FR) (Ungaro (GER))
• Last Race: Kempton, 13 Jan 2024 14:42
• Result: 3/19, tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, ran on one pace

Winner of five of his 9 starts and currently rated 134 over hurdles. Winner of his first two starts this season including a two and a quarter length victory from Donnacha in a novices’handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in November off a mark of 121. Finished third, beaten six and a quarter lengths, to Jay Jay Reilly on his latest outing in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton (2m 5f) in January off his current mark.

Impose Toi is another lurking in the County, and he could come into it - there is a whole lot of them.

Jeriko Du Reponet (FR)

• 5-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Choeur Du Nord (FR) - Ukaline Du Reponet (FR) (Agent Bleu (FR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 12 Mar 2024 13:30
• Result: PulledUp/11, tracked leaders on inside, mistake 1st, slow jump 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and weakened quickly after next, pulled up before last

Winner of his three starts over hurdles and currently rated 132 over hurdles. Made an impressive winning debut at Newbury (2m 1/2f) in December when beating King William Rufus three and a quarter lengths and followed in similar fashion when accounting for Secret Squirrel by a length and three quarters on his return to that course and distance later that month. Not as impressive but still did the job when beating Lump Sum a length and a quarter in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster (2m 1/2f) in January.

Jeriko will stay at two miles, and he has been great since Doncaster. He is good and I think the two-miler is going to be the hot one.

Jingko Blue (FR)

• Breeding: Great Pretender (IRE) - Vibraye (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 13 Mar 2024 13:30
• Result: PulledUp/7, chased leaders on inside, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last

Winner of two of his 3 starts and currently rated 138. Off the mark over hurdles with a nose success from Masaccio in a novices’ hurdle at Newbury (2m 4 1/2f) in December and stepped up on that effort when scoring by six lengths from Titan Discovery in a novices’ handicap hurdle at Sandown (2m 4f) this month off a mark of 124.

Jingko Blue won at Sandown will probably be kept to two and a half.

Jonbon (FR)

• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Star Face (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))
• Last Race: Sandown, 27 Apr 2024 15:00
• Result: Won/7, mostly jumped well, led, hit 3 out, ridden between last two, over 4 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged

Winner of 12 of his 15 starts and currently rated 170 over fences. Winner of two of his three races this term, beating Edwardstone nine and a half lengths in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham (2m) in November and following up with a two and three quarter length victory from the same horse in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) in December. Didn’t jump with the same fluency and almost put paid to any chance when making a bad mistake four out in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase run at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in January when eventually finishing runner-up, beaten a neck, to Elixir De Nutz.

He schooled this morning - AP was here - and he schooled very good. We haven’t done anything different since Cheltenham and he schooled over ten fences which is more than he will do in the Champion Chase. He won the Shloer and that proves he goes around Cheltenham. They are going to go some gallop and that suits him, he wants to be going forward, forward, forward. It looks like Edwardstone is coming back and he won well at Newbury and could make the running, but we could also if we had to. The challenge of him in a way is that he is not straightforward and the thing that cost him at Cheltenham was coming to the last. If he could get more propulsion going to the last that would have been game over, he just landed in a bit of heap and the other horse got away from him again. We will see how it goes but he could eventually go over two and a half miles. We were in tip top shape going to Ascot to take on El Fabiolo and he is the one horse that when you have got that clock wound up, a week is a long time to persuade him to relax and the spring would have bust. To him, something like him a week does matter and Jonbon is very different to everything else.

Luccia (GB)

• 6-y-o; chestnut mare
• Breeding: The Gurkha (IRE) - Earth Amber (UK) (Hurricane Run (IRE))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 15:30
• Result: 4/8, mid-division, not clear run when looking to close after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, no impression before last, went 4th flat

Winner of five of her 9 starts and currently rated 140 over hurdles. Returned to winning form when beating Impose Toi a neck in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Ascot (1m 7 1/2f) in December off a mark of 136.

It sounds like Luccia is going to run in the Champion Hurdle. He owner Sandy is a real enthusiast and has been in the game for years. She is a home bred and he is very keen to run her. The ratings tell you it’s not a great idea, but there is a lot of prize money and if that is his wish then it will be my command.

Lucky Place (FR)

• Breeding: Pastorius (GER) - Luckystar Du Frene (FR) (Perrault (UNR))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 13 Mar 2024 14:50
• Result: 4/21, towards rear, wide and headway approaching last, stayed on towards finish

Winner of one of his 5 starts and currently rated 137 over hurdles. Off the mark over hurdles at Doncaster (2m 3 1/2f) in December when beating El Granjero 13 lengths and has shown better form in defeat since. Finished runner-up, beaten only half a length by Gidleigh Park in the Grade 2 Classic Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

We haven’t really sorted the novices out but he, like Jingko Blue, he could be kept to two and a half and I wouldn’t rule out running him in the Martin Pipe.

Marie's Rock (IRE)

• 9-y-o; bay mare
• Breeding: Milan (UK) - By The Hour (IRE) (Flemensfirth (USA))
• Last Race: York, 25 May 2024 15:20
• Result: 5/10, towards rear, pushed along 3f out, stayed on steadily, never threatened

Winner of nine of her 18 starts and currently rated 150 over hurdles. Runner-up, beaten seven lengths, to Bob Olinger in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) on New Year’s Day and retuned to winning form in a Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster (3m 1/2f) later that month when beating You Wear It Well a length and a half.

She is in very good form, and I couldn’t be more pleased with her. She goes for the Mares’ Hurdle. Obviously, Lossiemouth is in the way, but she has to go it is the sensible race.

Mill Green (GB)

• 12-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) - Ceilidh Royal (UK) (Erhaab (USA))
• Last Race: Cartmel, 27 May 2024 15:30
• Result: Won/4, chased leaders, not fluent 2nd or 16th, went 2nd before 4 out, led last, ridden out

Winner of four of his 24 starts and currently rated 140 over hurdles. Has been placed in his last three runs and third, beaten three and a half lengths, to Shallow River on his latest run in a handicap hurdle at Exeter (2m 7f) this month off his current mark.

He has finished third in the last two runnings of the Pertemps and is a 12-year-old now but that is where he will go.

No Ordinary Joe (IRE)

• Breeding: Getaway (GER) - Shadow Dearg (IRE) (Beneficial (UK))
• Last Race: Cheltenham, 15 Mar 2024 17:30
• Result: 7/21, chased leaders, close up final bend, soon ridden, weakened before last

Winner of four of his 12 starts and currently rated 140 over hurdles. Runner-up, beaten a length and a half, to Iroko in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) last March off a mark of 139. Has cut little ice in two runs this season and finished eighth, beaten 18 ½ lengths, to Geronimo in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster (2m 3 1/2f) in January off a mark of 141.

He would be in the Coral Cup, he finished second in the Martin Pipe last year. He schooled this morning and is in good form. It would probably be helped by spring ground.

Shanagh Bob (IRE)

• Breeding: Mahler (UK) - Exit Bob (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
• Last Race: Aintree, 12 Apr 2024 16:40
• Result: 4/8, held up behind leaders, outpaced when mistake 3 out, soon weakened

Winner of both his starts and currently rated 134 over hurdles. Heavily odds-on when scoring by seven lengths from All The Glory in a novices' hurdle at Plumpton (2m 4 1/2f) in November and followed up with a length and a quarter victory from Destroytheevidence in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) in December.

He could go for the Albert Bartlett. He had a dirty scope and was wrong over Christmas. He schooled this morning and was very good and is in very good form. He was a bit sharper than he was before Christmas and it appears to have done him the world of good.

Shishkin (IRE)

• 10-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: Sholokhov (IRE) - Labarynth (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 14:55
• Result: 4/7, chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd before 8th until next, mistake 13th, not much room before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, not much room before 2 out, no impression on leaders before last

Winner of 14 of his 20 starts and currently rated 173 over fences. Refused to race on his reappearance in a Grade 2 Chase at Ascot in November and was in front when unseating his rider after two out in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton (3m) on Boxing Day. Returned to winning form with a four and a half length success from Hitman in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury (2m 7 1/2f) this month.

I think the Gold Cup is open enough to be in it and Shishkin deserves to be in it. He would have been first or second in the King George and I am confident he would have won but it was still a hell of a performance for his first run of the year. He did that nicely at Newbury and we come into Cheltenham on the right stride. If you go back to the King George, good old Frodon was bashing away out front and he goes a good gallop, but Nico saw fit, quite rightly to go push it along the back straight. He was in pretty good command all the way from there and had beaten the others. He came out of Newbury really really well and is as good as I have ever seen him. It looked like he needed all of three miles at Aintree last year and when he got to Ahoy Senor he was gone, and he stayed on very strongly at Newbury so the Gold trip should be ok.

Sir Gino (FR)

• 4-y-o; bay gelding
• Breeding: It's Gino (GER) - Anzi Star (FR) (Anzillero (GER))
• Last Race: Aintree, 11 Apr 2024 14:20
• Result: Won/5, chased leader until before 4th, not fluent 6th, mistake 3 out, switched right and went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led last, ridden flat, stayed on, won going away

Winner of his 3 starts over hurdles and currently rated 145. Scored by 14 lengths from Royal Way on his stable debut in a Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton (2m) in December and confirmed the impression of that success when slamming Burdett Road 10 lengths in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in January.

He has only had three races in his life and is a real professional. He is a lovely big horse and we always thought he was very good, but I didn’t want to get too carried away before we actually got to see it. He is a very talented horse, and I wasn’t surprised there was so much improvement from Kempton as he didn’t jump very well and I think most of that was babyishness. He got very goofy on the run from the second last and normally you would expect these French horses to do it in their sleep. He was untidy at Kempton, and we did quite a bit between then and Cheltenham.

Under Control (FR)

• 5-y-o; chestnut mare
• Breeding: Doctor Dino (FR) - Delinda (FR) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
• Last Race: Galway, 01 Aug 2024 17:05
• Result: 6/19, tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th 2 out, pushed along and no impression before last, no extra run-in

Winner of four of her 7 starts and currently rated 138 over hurdles. Having her first run since a wind operation when runner-up, beaten two and a half lengths, to Ashroe Diamond in a Grade 2 Mares’ contest at Doncaster (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

She might go for the Morebattle. I want to see what the ground is like at Kelso and when she has won that she will have to go for the Mares’ anyway! She is well-handicapped but she doesn’t need to run in a handicap. We never found out what went wrong in the Gerry Feilden as she was going to hack up going to the second last and then was pulled up. She finished very strongly at Doncaster and that was very encouraging. If Kelso was very soft, then we could think of the County Hurdles.

Walking On Air (IRE)

• Breeding: Walk In The Park (IRE) - Refinement (IRE) (Oscar (IRE))
• Last Race: Chepstow, 24 Feb 2024 15:08
• Result: PulledUp/12, mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

Winner of two of his 9 starts and currently rated 139 over fences. Finished runner-up, beaten a neck, to Henry’s Friend on his reappearance in a novices’ handicap chase at Newbury (2m 6 1/2f) in December off a mark of 138.

He goes to Chepstow on Saturday and needs to finish third in the Pertemps Qualifier to get in the Final. I would like Walking In Air for the Pertemps if we could get in.

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Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson talks you through his team for the graded contests at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

Shishkin (Sporting Life Arkle)

“It’s amazing how this race has gone from about three or four weeks ago, when Shishkin was odds-on and everyone saying it was going to be boring. All of a sudden Willie [Mullins] has come along with Energumene and that’s arrived on the scene and I think Allmankind was impressive again at Warwick. It was only three weeks ago it was boring, and now there’s a real fight on and people are seeing it as one of the big headline clashes of the week.

“I think Shishkin’s performance in the Supreme last year was pretty good because he did get literally taken into the car park at the second-last, so to get back in and win was a solid performance. He probably hasn’t had a lot of opposition over fences, but he’s been very clinical and accurate and he’s done it well every time. He comes in having got ten ticks on all three occasions, even if he didn’t have to beat anything very sensational, and he’s had a good run in. He’s got a couple of bits of work I’d like to do with him beforehand, this weekend and next, and I’d put him on a shortlist to go to Kempton [for a racecourse gallop] if we do that. He’ll have another school, but everything’s fairly on course at the moment.”

Shishkin dominates the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase! Watch LIVE: 📺 @ITV4 📱 https://t.co/HGM9TtXkhB #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/mwQWLB1CYv — ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 27, 2020

Epatante (Champion Hurdle)

“Kempton was disappointing because she was very, very good in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. Christmas just didn’t go her way, she wasn’t herself, but fair play to the winner Silver Streak, who was very good and set a proper test, and we were at no stage really in a position to have a crack at him. We have a few things ironed out I hope because obviously she is better than that but Silver Streak was very good on the day and we weren’t - but I think we’re back in the right place now.

“Newcastle was a bit of a mess because Silver Streak was taken out with another early on and that emptied the race a fair bit, but take nothing away from her, she was very impressive. She picked up Sceau Royal who was leading to the last and she went past him with so much class. She looked wonderful there, and if we’ve got her back there, she’s got as good a chance as any.”

Buveur d'Air (Champion Hurdle)

“Haydock was particularly testing and we were in a period where only two going descriptions were available – abandoned or heavy – so you either took it and got on with it or stayed at home. It did just find him out at Haydock, I thought we were going to get there going to the last but he probably just emptied a bit and he was entitled to in that ground but it did him the world of good and he’s in good shape. I honestly think Buveur D’Air has been forgotten and he’s out with the washing at the moment, while Epatante is sharing favouritism with Honeysuckle and Goshen and it’s all going to be very competitive.”

Dame de Comapgnie (Mares' Hurdle)

“We were a bit short of opportunities with Dame De Compagnie so we had to throw her into a Grade 1 [over fences], which was a bit of a baptism really. I think she’s very likely to come back for this, and she’s in very good form. The fall did her no harm, and I don’t see why she shouldn’t come back over hurdles. She showed in the Coral Cup that two and a half miles is her trip and I think it’s a good call. We can always go back over fences, and she’s not ready for the Mares’ Chase as yet. JP has the favourite for that [Elimay], so we’re just trying to split the troops.

Floressa (Mares' Hurdle)

"I’m pretty keen to run her and she’s always struck me as if an extra half a mile would help her. She’s been running very well in graded races at two miles, but we’ve always felt that two and a half would suit her."

Verdana Blue (Mares' Hurdle)

“I think Verdana Blue has become more versatile than she used to be. She was very speedy and wanted fast ground, but I think funnily enough her Flat season last year told us that she’s staying better and coping with softer ground better – as she was a very close third in the Ebor on soft ground. So she might well be better going up to two and a half.”

Dickie Diver (National Hunt Chase and Brown Advisory Novices'' Chase)

“He’s never been easy, but he had one run over fences at Newbury and ran very well and jumped well. He really needs to back it up again and is in a few, but he might well get a run again before the Festival – and will probably need to.”

Altior (Champion Chase)

“Altior went off with Mister Fisher and had a good gallop, jumping fences. They were both in good form and it all went very well. I am very happy with where Altior is. He will have one more bit of work here and he is fit and seems very well. Chacun Pour Soi and plenty of others will be there but he is still there and will be sharper this time. There will be a battle and I am looking forward to it.

“One has to remember he is 11 now and is on 11 year old legs. He has done very little wrong. One or two things have conspired against him and I have to go back to the race at Ascot last over 2m5f on heavy ground against Cyrname. But I am not struggling with Altior at the moment – he is good. It was a miracle when Sprinter Sacre came back and I don’t think you can hope for two miracles! If Altior won it would be very special. He has been a fantastic horse to have had.

“I think [headgear] is something to be considered. It is something we have discussed. We have eliminated the Ryanair Chase as an option so we might look at something to try and sharpen him up over two miles.”

Chantry House (Marsh Novices' Chase)

“I was very pleased with Chantry House at Wetherby the other day. He was very impressive first time out at Ascot, and if you go back last year he was a very good third in the Supreme, and we always felt he needed further. Ascot isn’t a place I would often choose for first time out novice chasers, but he was very good and won well. We then went to Cheltenham and he was very disappointing and completely forgot his jumping. He had a bit of surgery on his back and he did really well because Wetherby was only eight weeks after we’d corrected his back, so that was a pretty quick turnaround. I thought he jumped beautifully and travelled very well on horrible ground. He stays, touch wood he jumps, and the only problem is Envoi Allen!

Fusil Raffles (Marsh Novices' Chase)

"It was only one start in very heavy ground at Cheltenham [that caught him out] and I’m absolutely certain he wants two and a half. You do have problems in doing that, as you bump into one of the Irish bankers of the week in Envoi Allen. He’s got to be taken on and I think with Chantry House and Fusil we’ve got two shots at him.”

Mister Fisher (Ryanair Chase)

"I’d like to think he’s got a very good shout. He went away with Altior earlier this week and his jumping has been very good. He won the Peterborough Chase, which was moved from Huntingdon to Cheltenham, and put up a first-class performance. He would very much like good ground. If he gets some decent ground, I think he’ll be very competitive.”

Mister Fisher beats Kalashnikov to win the Fitzdares Club Loves The Peterborough Chase! Watch LIVE: 📺 @ITV4 📱 https://t.co/HGM9TtXkhB pic.twitter.com/xZWBF6PuVg — ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 11, 2020

Heross du Seuil (Triumph Hurdle)

“He runs at Warwick tomorrow [Friday 26th February] and let’s see how things go. I love the horse and I thought he did well to win at Kempton first time out. He’s got to get more experience and he’s got to be impressive tomorrow, but you never know. I’ve opted for the easier option at Warwick over the Adonis, so let’s wait and see.”

Bothwell Bridge (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle)

“He could well run at Hereford on Sunday over three miles. We think that’s what he wants and he’d have to do something spectacular there but he’s very capable of it. I was very impressed with him the first time he ran, so he’ll be at Cheltenham one day for sure.”

Champ (Cheltenham Gold Cup)

“He is an extraordinary horse – if you saw him at home a week before he was working on our grass gallops with On The Blind Side. On The Blind Side has had a good season but is basically a three-mile hurdler who is not good enough to be entered in the Stayers’ Hurdle. It took Champ all day to get to him and my assistant Charlie Morlock said to me he didn’t look like a horse who would go over two miles. But Champ at home and Champ on a racecourse are completely different – you wouldn’t think they are the same horse. He does nothing at home but when he sets foot on a racecourse he sparks up.

“I was hoping we’d see what he saw [in the Game Spirit Chase], and my head was on the chopping block if this ridiculous idea didn’t work, but it worked because he could do it. His jumping at the fences was exceptional and we’ve all come away very happy.

“It was an extraordinary performance [in the RSA Chase last season], almost reminiscent of dear old Might Bite. He was out of it and not going to feature, then from the second last to the last he was dropping back and it looked like he was going to finish a moderate third jumping the last. I was focusing on the leaders and all of a sudden Champ came back into sight and swept pass them. That proves one thing which is important – his stamina. That was his first and only try over three miles. The second thing which was interesting was that he faltered going to the second-last.

“When he came back into training we loose-schooled him at Henrietta Knight’s and when he came back here we could definitely hear a noise which we had never heard before, which makes me wonder what happened to him last year at round about the second-last. That is the point in the race where pressure is applied and if your breathing apparatus isn’t working as well as it should be - this is only a Henderson observation - that could be what made him lose ground before he got his second wind and took off. So that is why we had to do his wind.”

WOW! Champ pulls it out of the fire to take the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at @CheltenhamRaces in dramatic fashion Watch LIVE 📺 @ITV 📱 https://t.co/fJXuj4d6h6 #CheltenhamFestival #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/PfnsKnyLTq — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2020

Santini (Cheltenham Gold Cup)

“He’s had a difficult season, because he started off by going to Aintree where he ended up running in a Flat race, but actually he ran really well. We had no intention of running him in the King George as Kempton isn’t the track for him, but it just occurred to me that there was too much of a gap between the Aintree race and the Cotswold Chase, and he’s not a horse who sits still. Unsurprisingly he found the track sharper than ideal, but it was still a good exercise for him.

“He took on the Cotswold Chase at Sandown which was great, but the ground that day was testing. I can’t say I was thrilled but it was a good run and Aidan [Coleman] was able to look after him and he finished a good third without getting a desperately hard race. Hopefully that puts him where we want him and he seems in good shape. He was great in the Gold Cup last year and I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t do just as well.”

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• Nicky Henderson Stable Tour: 'He belongs at the top – I can't stress that enough' 🤩

Nicky Henderson Stable Tour: ‘He belongs at the top – I can’t stress that enough’ 🤩

It could be another exciting year for veteran trainer Nicky Henderson. All looks set for another titanic race for the trainer’s championship with Paul Nicholls. Henderson’s stable tour came out this week and there are several horses that he’s buzzing to unleash from his Lambourn base. We’ve picked out three horses whose reports are particularly bullish. There are plenty of new and old faces to look out for. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

‘He belongs at the top and is in tremendous order’

Chantry House  had a disappointing season on the whole last year. The highlight was winning the Cotswold Chase but pulling up in both the King George and Gold Cup doesn’t suggest he’s at the top of the tree. Henderson has been particularly impressed with him so far however. His trainer said: “It’s extraordinary he’s grown so much at his age, but he has and he’s now a great, imposing individual […] He belongs at the top and is in tremendous order – I can’t stress that enough.”

‘Her schooling is superb, she could be anything.’

Luccia  is adored and revered by her trainer who couldn’t be more complimentary of her. Her trainer was enamoured by her impressive victory in a Listed bumper at Sandown and can’t wait for her to go hurdling. This is evidenced by his assessment: “I think she’s special and she showed that with a mesmerising display at Sandown […]  She’s grown two inches and looks fantastic, while her schooling has been superb, so she could be anything.”

‘his future is bright, extremely bright.’

Wiseguy  beat the useful Hillcrest in a bumper back in January before winning a three-mile maiden hurdle at Doncaster on just his second start over obstacles. Injury cut his campaign short but he retains plenty of potential according Henderson: “He’s not a novice over hurdles and lacks experience for fences, but he could go novice chasing. Either way, his future is bright, extremely bright.”

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or  racingpost.com . Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.

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Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Nicky Henderson

Graham Clark with a full stable tour for Nicky Henderson's 2022 Cheltenham Festival team.

Nicky Henderson threw open the doors of his Seven Barrows yard in Lambourn today for a stable visit organised by The Jockey Club ahead of The Festival™ at Cheltenham.

The six-time champion Jump trainer has saddled 70 winners at The Festival, making him the most successful UK-based trainer of all-time at the four-day spectacular and second overall behind Willie Mullins (who has saddled 78 winners).

For many, Henderson’s leading contender for The Festival in 2022 is Shishkin . The Marie Donnelly-owned eight year is seeking his third Festival victory having taken the Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2020 and the Grade One Sporting Life Arkle in 2021.

Shishkin is undefeated in seven starts over fences. After making a winning reappearance in the Grade Two Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park over Christmas, the Sholokhov gelding was last seen when getting the better of the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene by a length after an epic tussle in the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot on 22nd January.

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Currently the 4/6 favourite for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase with the sponsor, Henderson is adamant Shishkin should not be regarded as a “banker” by any means.

The master of Seven Barrows said: “There is no way he is going to be a banker. That was a fantastic race (at Ascot). Everybody loved it bar Willie and myself! Sadly one of us knew we were going to go down. It was great we came out in front but there wasn’t that much in it and it looked like he had got us in trouble – he (Energumene) is a tough horse.

“Willie is going to chuck Chacun Pour Soi in as well and you never want to underestimate him. I know they will say he doesn’t travel or do this. He can still be a real player. There was only a length between them the other day and anything can happen. Going left-handed possibly helps us. There is not much in it and a length is not much.

“It (the Clarence House Chase) doesn’t seem to have left a mark on Shishkin. He seems in very good form. He hasn’t schooled since but he will do next week. He will follow anybody and I would expect the same sort of tactics will be employed by both teams. Willie might try and do something different but I’m sure there will be a good pace on whatever happens.

“Shishkin has a different style of racing to Altior and Sprinter Sacre. He hasn’t got the exuberance in his jumping of an Altior or a Sprinter Sacre in the way he doesn’t stand off miles away. You hardly notice him leaving the ground. He is just very quick from A to B. They both had enormous scope and he has got loads of scope but he crosses the fence in a different manner but he is very efficient.

“He grew upwards and outwards during the summer. It was very noticeable. I don’t think he is a banker whereas in their era (Altior and Sprinter Sacre’s) they probably were bankers. We have definitely got a fight on our hands whereas you would probably say in Altior and Sprinter they were probably as close to a banker as you could get. I don’t think this horse is.

“Turning in at Ascot the other day, you would say crikey we are in trouble, but then stamina kicked in as they had gone a good gallop. That is his strength and I’d say the hill would help him.

“Willie says he doesn’t know how we will beat Shishkin but I think he is playing games there as I know perfectly well he is looking forward to having another crack. I don’t think he is that frightened. I would have love to won by 20 lengths but the great thing about it was that it was a great race and everybody got the race that they wanted and it hasn’t spoilt the Champion Chase.

“There is very much room for round two. If one had won by 10 lengths you would have said it would have wrecked the Champion Chase but it hasn’t and it has left the door wide open.”

Henderson has saddled a joint-record six winners of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase - Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016), and Altior (2018, 2019).

Encouraging signs with Epatante

He is also the most successful trainer of all time in the Unibet Champion Hurdle with eight successes - See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987), Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010), Buveur D'Air (2017, 2018) and Epatante (2020).

Epatante is bidding to become the third horse to regain the Champion Hurdle this year following on from Comedy Of Errors (1973 & 1975) and Hurricane Fly (2011 & 2013).

The JP McManus-owned eight year old mare was third to Honeysuckle in the 2021 Unibet Champion Hurdle and has won her two starts so far this season, taking the Grade One Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November (when she dead-heated with Not So Sleepy) and the Grade One Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Henderson said: “Epatante might well go to Kempton (to exercise in the build-up to The Festival) and she is in very good form. We are very happy. Everything says she is really good. We set off at the beginning of the season and JP said we have two objectives this year - the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle. That is what we wanted and we nearly got it. We got one and a half which was great.

“I thought at Kempton she was great and she really did look like her old self. She was hurdling like she always used to and tanked Nico into the race. She doesn’t normally go on that early but she was all for getting home and getting back to bed and she was off.

“We’ve still got one big problem in front of us (Honeysuckle). I walked out of the stand with JP and the first thing I said was I want to see what Nico said, as he hadn’t ridden her before, just to see if she would get two and a half and therefore you could switch her into the Mares’ Hurdle. He hopped off and I said ‘Would we ever get two and a half? And he said ‘No, she is pure speed’. He was absolutely adamant there is no way you would go two and a half with her.

“She has been in very good form and is in totally different shape to last season where it all went a bit pear shaped. She won the Fighting Fifth very easily but then it went wrong. I was hoping Appreciate It was going to take on Honeysuckle the other day and if anything was going to give her a test, it was going to be him. From our point of view we didn’t get to look at that. She looked very good and she will be very hard to beat but I do think we are at least back where she was (with Epatante) when she won her Champion Hurdle. That might not have been the strongest field in the world and I’m the first to admit that.

“I do think we are back in the right place. She is not under our radar as we are getting very good vibes from her. Her form this season has been good but it is the way she has been doing it. Everything has been very professional and she is sharp and good.

“Every summer with every horse you are going to do MOT’s and you are going to sort out what you think can help. She does tend to carry her head quite high even when she is cantering or trotting around here. She has always been a horse that wants lots of massages and things like that but she is a sweet filly. Honeysuckle is going to be very hard to beat as she has looked spectacular and faultless the whole way through. It doesn’t look like there is any chink in her armour but we have all had horses like that. All good things do come to an end. Altior got to 19 then all of a sudden things went wrong. You can never say it is unbeatable and it is very rare they stay unbeatable.”

Champ primed for Stayers' Hurdle

Champ , also owned by JP McManus, is seeking a second Festival victory, having won what is now the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in 2020. This season, the 10 year old made a winning reappearance in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December before going down by just over three lengths to Paisley Park in the Grade Two Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, 29th January. His Festival target is the Grade One Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

Henderson said: “He was maybe a little underwhelming on Trials Day. I didn’t think he jumped quite as well as he did at Ascot. He did little wrong. Full credit to Emma (Lavelle) and her team to get that horse (Paisley Park) back especially when he gave us a 20 length head start.

“If I can get him back where he was at Ascot, and I think he can, he has got to be thereabouts. He wasn’t as sharp as he was at Ascot. Ascot was his first run in quite a long time as he didn’t really have a race in the Gold Cup so actually his last real race was the Game Spirit at Newbury last season. He might have bounced a little bit but he was a better horse at Ascot than he was on Trials Day.

“He is good at home as he doesn’t do a lot. He doesn’t like the all-weather. He has to go up and down it but he is not flashy up there. Nico used to ride him a lot at home and when you needed him to do a little bit you asked for it and you got it. If you leave him alone he will do his own thing.

“In the Gold Cup last year he walked through the first, broke the second and pulled up before he fell over the third. It was a disaster and there was no doubt something was ailing him.

“The general feeling was the less pressure to put on him jumping-wise is to keep the jumping down to a minimum. If you are going to do that you might as well jump hurdles and not fences.

“It was really was (quite a straightforward decision to go for the Stayers’ Hurdle). Though he was in the Gold Cup it seemed the obvious thing to do really and that is the way he is going to go for now.”

Chantry House going for Gold

The Seven Barrows representative for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup will be Chantry House , who also races in the iconic silks of JP McManus. Winner of what is now the Turners Novices’ Chase at The Festival last season, the eight year old has won two of his three starts so far this season, most recently collecting the Grade Two Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.

Henderson, who is seeking a third victory in chasing’s Blue Riband following Long Run (2011) and Bobs Worth (2013) said: “He wasn’t earth shattering last time out but we have reason to think we have got a little bit up our sleeves.

“If you go back, he hadn’t really had a race since Aintree (last season). He had a solo spin in a two horse race around Sandown. He had a two mile gallop in the King George but the King George didn’t work at all. We put the cheekpieces on him at Cheltenham. We talked about putting them on in the King George but AP (McCoy) who is a great help and comes down a lot and watches the horses school and talk to the boys, and Nico just wondered whether he needed them.

“They thought that while we were going three miles they are going to jump off and go and the first half mile would test his experience and ability to cope with a lot more runners around him. It was not like novice chases where they are all looking after each other.

“Both Nico and AP mulled over cheekpieces to help him in the early stages in the King George and they were probably right but it was the only bit of work he did before the King George that I thought he was flying. He then went to school and I said I can’t believe this horse needs cheekpieces but I called it wrong.

“We did put them on in the Cotswold Chase. I don’t say they made a great deal of difference but they helped him focus on it. He was good and got stuck in. I know the runner-up (Santini) pretty well and he was second in a Gold Cup. It is very solid form.

“The Gold Cup has opened up a lot and good horses have won good trials. Nothing has absolutely jumped off the front page and stamped his authority on the race so it is up for grabs. It is an intriguing race and you could make a case for a lot of horses. He is a high class horse and he is a good stayer too.”

Daily Guide to the rest of the team

Tuesday 15th march.

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Constitution Hill, Jonbon

“They are both chalk and cheese. Constitution Hill would stand there all day and he would lie down for you. That is the way he behaves through life. He is completely the opposite to Jonbon, who is quite a hyper horse. He is in good form and they (Constitution Hill and Jonbon) worked on Saturday. They would both get two and a half miles. They don’t need to work together and it would ruin the whole party wouldn’t it if we knew the answer. I don’t want trials here and that is not the point of working horses together.

“I don’t want them ripping up trees and having dust ups here as they would do too much. They are very good. It is probably a help Jonbon is in the first race and we will have ways and means of keeping the adrenalin and atmosphere out of him as he will be the one that is on his toes. We will protect him. That is the way he is whereas with Constitution Hill nothing would worry him as he is very straightforward. They are both good rides in a race. Jonbon can be a bit keen but there is no danger of Constitution Hill being keen. Cheltenham will suit them both, it should do.

“Jonbon had a race last time at Haydock and I was pleased with him. He quickened up in horrible ground. By running Constitution Hill again I was never going to find a competitive race. There wasn’t anywhere else to go where you were going to get more than four or five runners (like in the Tolworth).

“They will work again this Saturday and the following Saturday. Constitution Hill will probably want to do a bit more than Jonbon but Jonbon has had that extra run at Haydock. You would have to be careful not to wind Jonbon up. It is like anybody winding up a watch with him as you can over wind. I think they are both very strong. Like Altior and Shishkin you would like to think they are in their sort of league.

“There is going to be plenty of opposition you know that. It is always the best race to win on the whole card to be honest with you. We want to see England 1 Ireland 0. It is nice to have two, as two is better than one.

“They have done everything right and I hope all goes well. There is no doubt Willie’s are good but our job is to mind our own horses. I will let them jump four hurdles before the race as it is good to let them keep their eye in and they will probably do that the week before. I wouldn’t think either would go to Kempton.

“I think it wouldn’t harm Jonbon to have an away day. It wouldn’t do him no harm to go there and back again and have a day out. It is rather like the day we took him to Newbury before the Ladbrokes Trophy weekend. That did him a lot of good. It would do him a lot of good to go to the races walk around the paddock then come home again. The trick worked if you like.”

Marie’s Rock – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

“I’m quietly looking forward to this. She is pretty good. She gets two and a half. I thought she was an absolute rocket to start with and she went wrong literally a week before Cheltenham when she favourite for the mares’ novices hurdle (in 2021). Last season I couldn’t find her at all.

“This season she has come straight back except for the Lanzarote where she jumped into the back of one but that wasn’t her fault. She stuck her neck out at Warwick and she galloped right through to the line. She was very strong at the end. You would think the two and a half at Cheltenham would suit her. It is what it looks like (that she excels over two and a half) as when she won first time at Kempton this season she stayed very well. I thought she was all speed as a youngster but she seems to stay very well which you need to do as it is quite a tough race for those mares.”

Wednesday 16th March

Walking On Air, I Am Maximus - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

“Walking On Air is very good. He took Newbury well enough but there was a couple of weeks where he wasn’t quite moving right. Something tipped him and I thought I can’t afford to do that again quite so close. I would have liked to have got another run into him but Nico is quite confident if any horse can do it on two runs, one bumper and one novice hurdle, it is him as he is so professional.

“I Am Maximus form is very good and that horse of Henry’s (Daly) is going over three miles. He is a good horse and I thought we nearly got him in trouble going to the last as there was nothing in it. He (Hillcrest) might have known a bit more or stayed a bit better but it was still a good performance. I think he is a classy horse.”

Dusart - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

“There is no doubt it will help him going the other way round. I think a lot of people were surprised I went right-handed again (at Exeter) after his first effort. His first effort was rather bad luck as it was one of those days at Leicester where there were not really any fences down the back straight. So they galloped down the back straight and came up over the little hill around the bend, down the hill and then suddenly there was a fence. It was the last thing the poor horse was expecting. It was a good lesson.

“Nico was very pleased with him at Exeter. It wasn’t that he needed a horse on the outside, he just needed company. He has been schooling a lot. Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) was down last week. He has got to learn to go straight with his jumping. He was as straight as a gun barrel, once with a horse on his left, once with a horse on his right and once on his own. Never did he move off a straight line.

“I had him in here, there and everywhere this week but everybody told me not to. He is a good horse. Bravemansgame is going to be one of Britain’s bankers. Britain needs bankers and most of them are in the city! You have got to take him on and I think that is his race.”

Thursday 17th March

Mister Fisher – Ryanair Chase

“Considering the ground I thought Mister Fisher ran a good race last time out. He would go for the Ryanair if the ground was decent enough.”

Mister Coffey - Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase

“Mister Coffey could easily run in the Kim Muir. He is a good solid fellow, looks like he wants to go left handed and jumps well. That was extraordinary (what he done at Sandown, taking fence out), I’ve not had the bill yet! I do like him.”

Friday 18th March

First Street, Broomfield Burg, Balco Coastal - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle

“First Street will definitely be in the County Hurdle. He is pretty smart. I would think the same thing would be on the agenda for Broomfield Burg. He was a bit disappointing at Newbury as I didn’t think there was a lot between them at the time. He came there at the second last and didn’t finish it out quite so well.

“Balco Coastal, I couldn’t make my mind up whether it was stamina that ran out (last time) as he came to win the race to be fair. I don’t know if he is a two miler or a two and a half miler so he could come into one of the handicaps or we might keep him for Aintree.”

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Nicky Henderson 2023-24 Jumps season stable tour

Between waters, call me lord, call the dance.

Chantry House

Choccablocc, constitution hill.

Doddiethegreat

East india express, fantastic lady, floating line, gentleman’s relish, iberico lord, jeriko du reponet, jet powered.

Marie’s Rock

Mister coffey, no ordinary joe, pentland hills, persian time, russian ruler, shanagh bob.

Southoftheborder

Steal a march, the carpenter, theatre glory, under control, walking on air.

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