After an excellent three winners at the Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson now has his sights set on Aintree with his two star chasers.
It was a successful week for Seven Barrows, kickstarted by Old Park Star winning the Supreme. Holloway Queen landed a Tuesday double, and Jingko Blue took the BetMGM Cup Handicap. Speaking to the Press Association, via Sporting Life, Henderson noted: “It has been a long week of stresses and strains, but it was terrific as we had a great week. You would have settled for the score of three winners on the Monday.”
Jango Baie was a gallant second to Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup, backing up his fine King George third. His attention now turns to Aintree as Henderson seeks a third Grade 1 Aintree Bowl. On his Gold Cup second, he said “In a competitive Gold Cup like that it was entitled to be tough. But you could easily go to Aintree with Jango Baie. He was very good at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Any one of the front four could have won that day, and that would have been nice to get that in the bank.
“That was only his third start of the season in the Gold Cup. We missed the Denman Chase on purpose because of the ground. I would like to think he could run again. I would like to go to Aintree if we can. He deserves to get his head in front in a Grade One again, but you can’t complain as he has had a good season.”
Lulamba to step up in trip
Lulamba was a respectable third in the Arkle after making a mistake 2-out, failing to find a gear to recover. Jonbon and Shishkin went on the the two-mile Maghull Novices’ Chase after their Arkle bid, but Henderson is keen to step Lulamba up in trip.
“I’m pretty keen to run Lulamba” remarks Henderson. “He ought to go two and a half miles at Aintree as that looks like the obvious place to go with him after his run in the Arkle.”
Another potentially in the Seven Barrows Aintree contingent is Jingko Blue, potentially into graded company. “He is likely to get a good bit from the handicapper following his win in the BetMGM Cup” said Henderson. “You could look at the William Hill Aintree Hurdle with him. Or there is a good race at Sandown on the last day of the season”
“He will definitely go again and he has got the scope to go on, but not over fences as he didn’t much like it when we tried.”
Two who are unlikely to be seen again this season are Old Park Star and Act Of Innocence. Henderson stated “Old Park Star winning seems a long time ago now. Both he and Act Of Innocence I’m pretty sure won’t run again this season.
“I would have thought both of them will be through and through chasers next season. I’d be surprised if they aren’t chasers as I don’t think we saw a Champion Hurdle horse in either of them.”