Cheltenham Home

cheltenham festival / 2011 news /

Neptune Trouble for Henderson
09/03/11

Trainers are often said to be targeting certain races and have good records in the same events over and over but often it is worth highlighting trainers who have poor records in races especially when they have plenty of fancied contenders.

Bobs Worth
© Grossick Racing Photography

One of the more surprising records in a particular race at the Cheltenham Festival is that of Nicky Henderson in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle - for a trainer who has so many novice winners throughout the year it's strange to see him struggle in this sort of event but he does and his record stands at 0/21. Finian's Rainbow continued the run of disappointment in the race last year for the Henderson team – but at least he was fifth, that was their best placing in the race for many a year. People may be better off sticking to Paul Nicholls horse betting tips.

That fifth placing was the first time since Travado finished seventh in 1992 that the Seven Barrows team had attained a top ten placing - an amazing record considering how powerful this stable is.

So what of their two contenders this year Bob's Worth has an attitude that is hard to knock and his Cheltenham form of 1-1 is clearly going to stand him in good stead and Minella Class was shaping very well having won at Sandown and Newbury until the sharp track at Huntingdon found him out last time. Both horses feature in the first six in the betting but once again despite their chances on the form book your eye is drawn to the record of the man that trains them and that surely has to temper any enthusiasm that it's possible to have for the Henderson duo and those looking at the Cheltenham betting prices should remember this.

There appears to be no apparent reason for this dearth of success in this race but it is one of the more prevalent trainer statistics in a particular race and one that should probably be noted when making your selections for the Neptune.