Nicky Henderson sends Champion Hurdle victor Epatante to Newcastle for Fighting Fifth

Aidan Coleman is set to be reunited with Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante when she reappears in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on Saturday week.
Cheltenham queen: Now-retired jockey Barry Geraghty aboard Epatante following their victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March.Cheltenham queen: Now-retired jockey Barry Geraghty aboard Epatante following their victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March.
Cheltenham queen: Now-retired jockey Barry Geraghty aboard Epatante following their victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March.

The JP McManus-owned mare provided trainer Nicky Henderson with a record eighth victory in the two-mile showpiece at the Cheltenham Festival in March under the now-retired Barry Geraghty.

Epatante enjoyed a racecourse spin with esteemed stable companion Altior at Newbury yesterday – finishing full of running in the hands of Jerry McGrath, while Nico de Boinville pushed Henderson’s dual Champion Chase winner out to the line.

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With stable jockey De Boinville set to be back in Berkshire for the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting, Coleman is in line to partner Epatante at Gosforth Park on the same day, having steered her to win the race formerly known as the Gerry Feilden at Newbury 12 months ago.

Plotting a route: Epatante's trainer Nicky Henderson after her victory last spring. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.Plotting a route: Epatante's trainer Nicky Henderson after her victory last spring. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.
Plotting a route: Epatante's trainer Nicky Henderson after her victory last spring. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.

Henderson said: “Aidan was due to be here this morning, but unfortunately we were told yesterday that jockeys couldn’t ride at a race meeting and here.

“JP has got a lot of horses, and Aidan is going to be riding a few of them – there is no particular retained jockey in this country.

“He won the Gerry Feilden on her last year, so he has ridden her before.”

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Henderson also issued a positive update on the well-being of dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D’Air.

The nine-year-old has been off since suffering a foot injury in last year’s Fighting Fifth, but is reported to be making excellent progress.

“Don’t forget we have Buveur D’Air, who is in very good form. I can’t tell you where he is going to go but he is doing a lot of work and he is very well,” said Henderson.

“Hopefully he and Epatante will meet in March.

“In my absence, he went a mile and a quarter up the grass at home this morning.

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“He is still cantering – he has not started fast work yet, but touch wood, it’s all going to plan.

“He wouldn’t be ready for the Christmas Hurdle.

“To be honest with you, even if you went for the Contenders Hurdle (at Sandown in February) and then to Cheltenham, you would have settled for that at the start of the season, but we appear to be miles ahead of that schedule.

“His foot has grown over. He seems in tremendous form, but it was a horrific injury.

“Everybody has done a brilliant job, and to get him back is a dream.”

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Altior is firmly on course for next month’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase after satisfying Henderson in his gallop.

The 10-year-old is on something of a retrieval mission this term after relinquishing his unbeaten record over obstacles when beaten by Cyrname at Ascot last November, and then taking time to recover from those exertions before returning with victory in the Game Spirit Chase in February.

A splint issue derailed Altior’s Champion Chase defence, but Henderson believes the brilliant two-miler is now back to his best.

While Altior came off second best at the end of the gallop with Epatante, Henderson described his role as that of a “pacemaker” for his fellow stable star.

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He said: “He is good and is heading for the Tingle Creek. He loves his jumping. If you would have seen him on Thursday, it was terrifying. He just jumped fences.

“He looked quite dreamy out there today, but I had to use him as a pacemaker. He enjoyed himself, but he is miles better when he is aiming at a fence.”

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