Nicky Henderson is the most successful trainer of all time at the Cheltenham festival. He now has an incredible 60 wins. One win came yesterday in the Champion hurdle through the fantastic Buveur D’Air who outbattled a very gutsy, hard-working horse in Melon.
Nicky Henderson said:
He was tough and what a great race. They’ve gone a fast gallop there you wouldn’t believe they would keep up in that ground and they have quickenes again all the way up the hill. Two very brave horses, im sure we got headed at the last and he was very brave to come back. He battled brillianty and im over joyed with the performance.
Today was the match up all racing fans have been waiting for, for some time I may add. The battle between Altior & Douvan. Henderson’s charge seemed to be struggling for the majority of the race due to the abysmal ground. His rival Douvan looked in great condition and was tanking along before misjudging the fence and tumbling down.
This left the door open for Altior who battled on bravely and simply swept his rivals aside.
Jockey Nico de Boinville was absolutely ecstatic after the victory. He said:
That was sensational. He was in trouble all the way. Only his jumping kept him in it. It was a true test. I thought I was slightly cooked but that if I switched him out I might find the last bit of gears and that’s what he did.
Henderson has some live chances still remaining in the festival, he could complete the ultimate hat-trick on Friday afternoon in the Timico Gold Cup with hotshot Might Bite and Nico de Boinville teaming up again, that would be some story if he was to pull it off.
