Nicky Henderson: "We’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead"

Nicky Henderson: "We’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead"

Unibet ambassador Nicky Henderson with an update on some of his stable stars as the Jumps Season gets underway.

WE'RE just days away from the start of the National Hunt season proper when Cheltenham opens its gates again on Friday week and we’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead.

The horses have summered well and many are quite forward including lots of our novice chasers who have been doing plenty of jumping on our new All Weather schooling strip which we put in during the summer.

I was delighted with Pym’s performance at Chepstow last Saturday where he made a winning debut over hurdles despite having to make his own running into a strong head wind so I was particularly pleased. He was one of our first runners to come back after a holiday, therefore we have a good idea as to where we are fitness wise with the rest of the squad.

Altior is in great shape and I couldn’t be happier with him. We were forced to miss the Tingle Creek last year but that race is very much the early season target this time around although that’s not to say he won’t turn up at Cheltenham for the Shloer Chase in November if things continue to go well.

The Betfair Chase is the likely starting point for Might Bite and we might as well have a go at the Jockey Club Triple Crown and the million pound bonus. We were tempted with it last season but the King George was our main goal, however this year we might as well give it a shot and see where we end up.

Everything is going well with Buveur D’air and he is on track for another crack at the G1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle next month before, all being well, taking in the G1 Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. I’ve be very happy with him since he came back from Martinstown where he enjoyed plenty of fun with Istabraq before returning to Seven Barrows where he underwent a routine wind operation ahead of coming back into full work. It’s nothing serious and has not effected his normal routine one iota.

On the human front, I’m delighted to see that our yard conditional James Bowen has been nominated for a gong at the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year awards. James is a fine horseman and it is fantastic that his achievements are being recognised on the bigger stage. It is great for racing and I hope you all join me in supporting him as best as we can!

Unibet will be filming a stable tour at Nicky Henderson's in the next few days. If you have any questions for Nicky, or want to know about a horse in particular, please tweet @UnibetRacing.

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