Tinkler lands plum Hennessy ride on Oedipe

Barry Geraghty's decision to give up at least five good rides for Nicky Henderson at Newbury's Hennessy Gold Cup meeting on Saturday could pave the way for the biggest win of Andrew Tinkler's career when he partners the well-fancied Oedipe.

Geraghty has opted to ride Henderson's Punjabi in the WBX.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle - partly due to loyalty to the five-year-old and maybe down to the £1million bonus the sponsors are putting up for any horse that also lands the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

"Barry had the choice and he has decided to go to Newcastle," said Henderson. "It is the right thing as he knows the horse so well, while Andrew will stay on Oedipe. He won on him at Aintree and knows him."

Tinkler, 23, has come in for many good rides over the years and landed his first Cheltenham Festival success in 2006 when, amid emotional scenes, Greenhope won the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, named after Nicky's father.

Oedipe also features highly on Tinkler's list of accomplishments in the saddle after the six-year-old initiated an Aintree double, he followed up by landing the bumper on Carole's Legacy, for the rider at this year's Grand National meeting.

He said: "When I won at Cheltenham on Greenhope it was fantastic, but to win two in a row at Aintree has to be the best."