Aintree rematch on the cards for My Tent Or Yours and Annie Power

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old returned from a near two-year absence to run a fantastic race in the two-mile showpiece on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, finding only the brilliant mare Annie Power too strong up the famous hill.

Willie Mullins has already pencilled in a trip to Merseyside for Annie Power and with My Tent Or Yours more tractable at Cheltenham than has been the case previously, a rematch could be on the cards.

Henderson said: “We were thrilled to bits with how he ran. He settled very well, which was great, as he has been renowned for pulling very hard.

“If we’d got a run in, what might have been?

“I don’t know. Annie Power is a seriously good mare.

“We’ve made no great decisions, but he’s fine.

“You could wait for Punchestown, or come into Aintree. Again, Annie Power is going to be there (Aintree).

“It is just three weeks after Cheltenham, which was his 
first run for two years, so you do walk into this dreaded ‘bounce’ factor.

“I don’t know whether we’ve a bounce in front of us or behind us, but the ball’s in the air, to be fair.

“I want to talk to Barry (Geraghty) and AP (McCoy) and see whether if he’s in the mood he’s in at the moment, which is quite relaxed, will he go to sleep over two-and-a-half miles?

“He was pretty good at Cheltenham. We had some pretty novel contraptions on and they seem to be working.

“If they are happy for him to go two-and-a-half, I think that’s the most likely scenario.”

My Tent Or Yours is set to spearhead a strong Seven Barrows team at next week’s Grand National meeting, despite confirmation Sprinter Sacre will not be in attendance following his emotional second triumph in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Altior appears bound for Aintree, as does his stable companion and Supreme third, Buveur D’Air.

“I think it’s almost certainly Aintree or nothing for Altior,” said Henderson.

“He’s great and has come out of Cheltenham very well.

“I think he did prove he’s a very good novice who has got his whole life still in front of him. We haven’t even begun yet, so there’s an awful lot to look forward to.

“That doesn’t mean he won’t run again this season – another run isn’t going to do him any harm. We’ll see how he is over the coming weekend and then make a decision about Aintree.

“He’s got everything you could wish to have for a two-miler.

“I would think Buveur D’Air will almost certainly go to Aintree over two-and-a-half. He has an enormous future over hurdles and particularly over fences.”

Kerry Lee claimed her second victory of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse as Top Gamble ran out a comprehensive winner of the Normans Grove Chase.