As things transpired, had the filly gone on to win the race she would have been the first of an amazing six winners on the card for her popular handler. As it was, he had to settle for just five, including sending out the first two in the William Hill King George VI Chase with the tremendous Long Run (9/2) and the tough as teak Riverside Theatre. Henderson’s 357/1 five-timer stole the show on a day when many had expected his arch-rival Paul Nicholls to bask in the limelight once again with Kauto Star. But it wasn’t to be for Nicholls, who left the Sunbury track empty-handed.
French import Nadiya De La Vega (4/7f) made a winning start to her career with Henderson, landing the novices’ chase in some style, earning quotes of as short as 16/1 for the Arkle Trophy. In the next race Henderson’s 15/8f Chablais impressed most observers with an authoritative display in the novices’ hurdle after which he received quotes of around 12/1 for the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Skint failed to justify favouritism in the handicap hurdle finishing second, but normal service was resumed in the next when Polyfast (9/2) returned from a long absence to carry top weight to victory in the handicap chase, to complete a hat-trick for Barry Geraghty. Those who had placed horse racing bets on Henderson’s charges would have been very pleased by events.
Tony McCoy was aboard Henderson’s Binocular (13/8f) a brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle and now a strong favourite to retain his title in the Champion Hurdle, before Sam Waley-Cohen gave Long Run a superb ride to lad the ‘King George’ from stable companion Riverside Theatre. The party at Seven Barrows on Saturday night must have been something special and Henderson could be forgiven for not surfacing too early on Sunday morning after a truly memorable performance the day before.
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