Nicky Henderson has endured a slightly slow start to the campaign by his own high standards but a big-race double at Newbury and Newcastle has put his season right back on track.
With stable star Sprinter Sacre pencilled in to make his return at Sandown this weekend, Henderson will surely have been heartened to see the good health of his stable advertised by Triolo D’Alene, who marked himself as a possible Grand National contender with victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
Paddy Power offer 16/1 at this stage about his Aintree chance, which is not much shorter than the 20/1 starting price of the gelding after his gritty two-and-three-quarter-length defeat of Rocky Creek. It was Henderson’s third success in the Hennessy and his and Barry Geraghty’s second in a row after Bobs Worth 12 months ago.
“After he won the Topham at Aintree last season we started to think about the National, and we will think about it,” said Henderson.
“Barry has been begging me all year to save him for the National and we were looking at Aintree next weekend. I didn’t do what I was told but the Hennessy is very special.”
Henderson’s Newcastle highlight came courtesy of My Tent Or Yours and Tony McCoy in the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
The six-year-old staked his claims as a Champion Hurdle contender with his three-length victory over Cockney Sparrow, with another two and a half lengths back to the returning Grumeti.
Leopardstown bound
Meanwhile, First Lieutenant is set to head straight for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over the Festive period following his disappointing display at Down Royal last month.
Mouse Morris’ star chaser was placed on multiple occasions at Grade One level last season and enjoyed his day in the sun in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree in April.
He has failed to fire in two starts this season, however, being beaten at odds-on at Punchestown before trailing home a well-beaten fourth in the Jnwine.com Champion Chase.
The Betfair Chase at Haydock was considered and he is also entered in next weekend’s John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, but Morris is keen to give his charge a break before cranking things up for the second half of the season.
