Nicky Henderson tends not to do things by halves so, after drawing a blank last year, it would be no surprise to see him bounce back in some style this time around. A total of 31 winners makes him the top present-day trainer at the Festival meeting, and leaves him just three short of Martin Pipe’s tally and nine-shy of Fulke Walwyn’s all-time record. "We appear to be going there with good chances", said Henderson (a master of understatement), who is 8/1with Skybet to be top trainer*.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2m 1f):
Kyber Kim, Sentry Duty and Binocular - The trainer is convinced that Kyber Kim ‘bounced’ on his second run back from injury at Doncaster where he was very edgy before the race. The time before that he had looked a very good horse indeed when winning at Newbury and a reproduction of that effort would make him hard to beat. Sentry Duty is not without a chance judged on his defeat of Celestial Halo on his seasonal return at Doncaster. Considered for the 2m5f race, he’ll be staying on at the finish. Binocular runs here instead of Friday’s Triumph Hurdle and could go well with his four-year-old allowance.
Best current prices: 17/2 (bet365), 12/1 (general) and 9/1 (Paddy Power) respectively.
Champion Hurdle (2m ½f):
Punjabi and Afsoun - Punjabi ran a cracker when second in the Totesport Trophy under top weight and has the ability to run a big race. Afsoun was third in this race last year but there’s always a danger he will boil over in the preliminaries, as he has done in previous races here.
Best current prices: 28/1 (VCbet) and 28/1 (Paddy Power) respectively.
Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2m 5f):
Aigle D’Or - Potent mix of speed, stamina and proven course form gives him every chance, although he does lack the experience of a typical winner of this race. AP (McCoy} rides.
Best current price: 11/2 Stan James.
Champion Bumper (2m ½f):
Gold Award - A rare runner at the Festival for the Queen, and he looks a leading contender after winning both his starts impressively, including beating a highly regarded sort Conflictofinterest last time out at Ascot. Still, in a race the Irish have dominated, he’s got it all to do to beat the likes of Zaarito and Apt Approach.
Best current price: 14/1 Paddy Power.
World Hurdle (3m):
The Market Man - Quietly fancied by some shrewd judges to run into a place and, if Inglis Drever is not at his best on the day, who knows? Remember, he was a head second to Mighty Man at Cheltenham's December meeting two years ago, which is top class form.
Current best price: 25/1 William Hill.
Grand Annual Chase (2m ½f):
Greenhope and My Petra - Greenhope won this race in 2006 and is reported to be in "rather good form" at home despite not running since last May. Henderson is very keen on the chances of My Petra, but she is not certain to get a run. Her length second to Noland last time out certainly reads well and she jumps beautifully, so it’s a case of fingers crossed.
Best current prices: 25/1 (Paddy Power) and 9/2 (bet365) respectively.
David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle (2m 4½f):
Chomba Womba - Three from three this season over trips ranging from 2m to 2m5f, but this is her best distance. Goes on any going and is very much the one to beat.
Best Current price: 3/1 Ladbrokes.
Henderson also has chances with Juveigneur (William Hill Trophy); Barbers Shop (Jewson Novices’); and Caracciola in the County Hurdle, but one thing’s for sure, with a mainly young team to go to war with this week, he’s going to be a force for years to come.
Settled on the number of winners trained. If there is a tie for the number of winners, it will go down to the number of second places, if there is still a tie, the number of third places will be taken into account.