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| Cheltenham Festival 2010 |
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Nicky Henderson Stable Visit
02/03/10
Trainer Nicky Henderson today described his star novice chasers Long Run and Punchestowns as the best horses he has handled in a training career spanning nearly 32 years.
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The duo are set to lock horns in the RSA Chase and while it may not have been the best Reynoldstown ever that he won, he won it well and that’s two Grade Twos now this year.”
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Henderson also confirmed that Barry Geraghty looks likely to partner last year’s winner Punjabi in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
"I think that Barry will stick with Punjabi through loyalty but nothing is set in stone and AP (McCoy) will ride whatever Barry doesn't in the Champion," said Henderson.
"Zaynar stays very well. He won the Triumph last year but the Champion is run on an easier course earlier in the week and I think that will be against him.
“He is surprisingly stuffy and I knew he’d need the run at Kelso and we’d have been stuck if he hadn’t gone there.
“I was dead chuffed with Punjabi at Kempton on Saturday, I know he had to win as he did but I just liked the way he did it. He gets forgotten but he’s done very little wrong and he’s won an Irish Champion as well.
“He’s going there on the back of a really good prep this year compared to last when he came in on the back of being walloped at Wincanton.”
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The Queen’s Barbers Shop is on course for the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle.
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Soldatino, who made an impressive British debut when winning at Kempton on Saturday, is likely to take his chance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
“He was relaxed, jumped well, didn’t pull and then picked up and took off in the straight. He can only come on a ton for that race and we’ve got to be tempted to give Cheltenham a go,” added Henderson.
“You’d have to say it’s a pretty weak year for the four-year-olds, compared to last season when there were the likes of Walkon and Zaynar about. There are a couple in Ireland but I haven’t seen anything too outstanding.”
Reflecting on his overall squad for this year’s Festival, Henderson added: “You’d have to say our team has a bit of strength in it and we are covered in as many areas as we can. What’s really nice is that a lot of our strength is with the young horses, we are very strong in the novice hurdles and chases so they are all about the future. I’m the only thing getting old around here!”
