Henderson chases Cheltenham title

13 April 2012

Dark Shell and Kahtan, two former stars of the Flat, are poised to enhance an already strong Cheltenham Festival team for trainer Nicky Henderson.

The Lambourn handler trails Martin Pipe by just one winner in the race to become the most successful current handler at the showpiece National Hunt fixture.

Henderson has enjoyed 24 victories to date at the Festival and made ground on his Pond House rival last year when saddling a record-equalling four winners - Bacchanal, Stormyfairweather, Marlborough and Tiutchev - compared with Pipe's sole success, Dark Stranger's Mildmay of Flete triumph.

This year, Henderson promises to have a leading chance in nearly all of the 20 races. Main hopes include last year's William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase winner, Marlborough, in this year's Gold Cup and 2000 Arkle hero, Tiutchev, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Yesterday, he also unveiled a 23-strong novice-hurdling squad with 30 entries shared between them. Although leading Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle hopeful, Pedro Pete, disappointed when a distant second to new ante-post favourite, Jair du Cochet, three days ago, Henderson still has "some strong cards to play".

He pinpointed Dark Shell, a close third to Ungaro in a 12-furlong German Group One in 1999 for Newmarket handler Sir Michael Stoute, and Kahtan, a high-class stayer who won the Listed Godolphin Stakes for John Dunlop that same year, as the "most exciting" of his unraced novice hurdlers.

"Dark Shell and Kahtan are the two most exciting horses among those yet to run for me, as both have very high-class form on the Flat," said Henderson. "The former had a problem last spring for Sir Michael, who recommended to owner Lord Weinstock that he go back to stud, be gelded and then go hurdling.

"Kahtan was bought at the December Sales. Like Dark Shell, he's schooling well over hurdles but both are a couple of weeks off a run just yet.

"They are exciting to have but, with both aged six already, they are starting late."

Both horses have entries in the two-mile Gerrard Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in which Henderson also has engaged Artic Jack and Razer Blade along with six others.

This duo also hold options in the 2m5f Royal & SunAlliance and currently carry their handler's greatest hopes among those with experience in the novice hurdling division.

"Artic Jack and Razer Blade are very good, although the latter needs good ground. Which way round we play them in the Festival races depends on what Dark Shell and Kahtan do once they reach the racecourse," he said.

Henderson admitted to being "pretty sick" at the sight of Jair du Cochet's runaway success in Cheltenham's Wragge & Co 4-y-o Hurdle last Saturday, having passed up an option to purchase him last year. "He didn't pass the vet when I was going to buy him, so I'm pretty sick to see what he's done for trainer Guillaume Macaire since," he said.

"After that, Kadarann's form is now probably standing up best of my eight Triumph entries. He's done nothing wrong and wants better ground than the soft stuff we're stuck with at the moment.

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Henderson chases Cheltenham title

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