As he begins the task of marshalling his forces for the Cheltenham Festival there may be days that Nicky Henderson regrets making the month of February his self-imposed alcohol-free period but it may be the course executives at Sandown Park who have been driven to drink.
Henderson is bringing three of his main Cheltenham hopefuls to Sandown and rival trainers have responded by largely ducking the issue. Binocular has disappointed in two starts this season, will be taken on by just Dee Ee Williams and Marodima in the Listed toteplacepot Conditions Hurdle.
Binocular was third in last year’s Champion Hurdle but, having finished only fifth in the “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle in November and then third in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park in December, he did appear vulnerable to a credible challenger. Given that Dee Ee Williams and Marodima would be receiving 26 and 33lbs respectively in a handicap it is hard to see either of them providing much in the way of competition.
Punchestowns, Binocular's stable companion, has four other runners lining up against him in the Grade One toteswinger Challengers Novices' Chase, and while this offers Henderson the opportunity to give Punchestowns some much-needed jumping practice it is unlikely to be under any great pressure even if Tchico Polos manages to put in a clear round this time.
The most significant race could be the toteswinger Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, in which Triumph Hurdle gamble According makes his debut for Henderson. It may be the perceived lack of depth to the juvenile division this season but According has already been elevated to the top of the pile.
Now comes the chance to prove it. Prince Pippin, who finished nine lengths third to Advisor at Ascot last month, offers a fair yardstick by which to judge According but it would be a surprise if he was capable of achieving more.
Lough Derg has achieved plenty in his career, but never at Sandown. He has run 50 times for the Pipe stable but the totescoop6 Heroes Handicap Hurdle will be his first appearance at Sandown. Although Lough Derg tends to be found out in the highest class, he has a decent record in handicaps and lost little in finishing third to a couple of progressive types in Mamlook and Tasheba at Ascot last month.
He has a 72% win or place strike-rate at Ascot and may well find Sandown, which has many of the same characteristics, and this trip to his liking. Throw in the determination from the saddle that is Tony McCoy, who has a 34% strike-rate riding for David Pipe, and it could be a winning combination.
Tom Scudamore, Pipe’s stable jockey, has elected to ride at Doncaster and may be rewarded by Leo’s Lucky Star winning the Blue Square Handicap Chase. Pipe has a 20% strike-rate with the few chasers that he has run at Doncaster and Leo’s Lucky Star, who is in his novice season over fences, get into this race on a 5lb lower mark than his career-best over hurdles.
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