Nicky Henderson, the most decorated UK trainer in Cheltenham Festival history, provided invaluable updates on his powerful team heading to Prestbury Park. This included the latest on Constitution Hill and Jonbon, the hot favourites for the Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase, respectively.
Henderson also shared his views on Lucky Place, the UK’s leading hope for the Stayers’ Hurdle, Jango Baie, the third-favourite for the Arkle, plus the prospects of supplementing the impressive William Hill Hurdle winner, Joyeuse, for the Mares’ Hurdle.
The Triumph Hurdle is a race in which Henderson has tasted plenty of success and the stable has two live chances in Lulamba and Palladium. Nicky gave his thoughts on the two horses as he seeks a record-extending eighth win in the race.
The former jockey and current racing pundit, Jane Mangan, was on hand to give insight on the formidable Irish challenge, including the latest on Spillane’s Tower, a leading Ryanair hopeful trained by her father. Jane also confirmed Kopek Des Bordes, the warm favourite for the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, is likely to wear a hood.
Paul Ferguson, the author of Jumpers To Follow and the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, completed the panel and gave expert opinion on both the UK and Irish challenge, plus details on some of the key stats. He also believes two longstanding trends could be broken by Majborough and The New Lion in the Arkle and Turners Novices’ Hurdle, respectively.