Afsoun pleases Henderson

NICKY HENDERSON was more than satisfied after Afsoun was made to pull out all the stops to make a winning start to his fencing career in the Commscope Solutions And Anixter Business Partners Novices’ Chase at Warwick yesterday.

The six-year-old, a dual Grade Two winner over timber and third in last year’s Champion Hurdle, refused to settle in the early stages of the two-mile contest and as a result, some of his jumping was less than perfect.

Jockey Barry Geraghty was having to nudge his mount along before turning for home but he picked up again after jumping the final fence to score by a head from Oh Crick.