Nicky Henderson has ruled out a bid for the Irish Grand National with Cheltenham Festival winner Holloway Queen.
She comfortably claimed the National Hunt Chase in March under James Bowen. That contest had proved a springboard to Irish National glory for Haiti Couleurs 12 months ago. However, Holloway Queen will not attempt to follow in the subsequent Welsh Grand National winner’s hoofprints.
Instead, Holloway Queen’s novice chasing season has now concluded. On her return next term, she will seek a hat-trick of wins, having also won on her final start prior to Cheltenham.
A budding staying chaser, the mare may well end up attempting to make history for Henderson in the coming seasons. The Seven Barrows yard have infamously never won the Grand National, going closest when Zongalero was second way back in 1979.
“She’s only six with her future in front of her” – Henderson
Speaking to the Press Association via Racing TV, Henderson highlighted Holloway Queen’s age as a reason not to rush her towards any short-term targets.
“She’s not going to go to Ireland,” said Henderson. “We’ve had a long think about it and she’s only six with her future in front of her.
“You can’t underestimate any race where they go further than three miles, never mind three-miles-six like she did last time, so we’ve decided to leave her alone.”
Henderson has enjoyed plenty of Cheltenham Festival success under all codes. He has sent out multiple winners of all four championship contests at Prestbury Park, while he has another star of the future on his hands courtesy of Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Old Park Star.
However, the Grand National has always eluded him. Perhaps now more than ever, finding a horse to deliver over the famous fences at Aintree is the ultimate dream.
“She can now come into next season wherever we decide to go,” Henderson added. “She’s young and has all the time in the world to be doing Grand Nationals and things – we don’t often win those sort of races, so she could at least try.
“Any National would do and the Irish one would have been nice, but on the other hand you don’t want to banjax things for the future by running at Fairyhouse.
“It would be quite a big ask for a young horse like that and Cheltenham was terrific, so I think we’ll rest on that and just keep the dream alive as they say.”