Culloty expecting Windermere improvement
Last season’s RSA Chase hero was among the market principals for one of the most prestigious staying prizes of the season, but failed to land a significant blow, coming home in eighth place.
Culloty expects his stable star to learn from the experience of running in such a fiercely-competitive handicap, but is in no rush to commit him to future targets.
Culloty said: “He’s a little bit sore as he nearly got brought down going down the back (straight) when a horse fell in front of him, but it’s nothing serious.
“I think there are a number of things to take into account. It was his first handicap, on the fastest ground he’s run on in his life and they were always going a bit quicker than he was used to.
“Initially I was quite disappointed, but it wasn’t a terrible run and he is the kind of horse that improves with each run as he is such a laid-back horse at home.
“We’ll get him home and see where we go from here. He is in the Lexus, but we’ll see how we go.
“I haven’t lost any faith in him. He’s still a Grade One winner and I’m sure he’ll improve.”
Winner Triolo D’Alene marked himself as a possible Grand National contender.
Paddy Power offer 16-1 at this stage about his Aintree chance, which is not much shorter than the 20-1 starting price of the gelding after his gritty two-and-three-quarter-length defeat of Rocky Creek.
It was Henderson’s third success in the Hennessy and his and Barry Geraghty’s second in a row after Bobs Worth 12 months ago.
“After he won the Topham at Aintree last season we started to think about the National, and we will think about it,” said Henderson.
“Barry has been begging me all year to save him for the National and we were looking at Aintree next weekend. I didn’t do what I was told but the Hennessy is very special.”
Imperial Commander, who was eventually pulled up and now heads for an honourable retirement, looked younger than his 12 years as he set the pace with Highland Lodge for more than a circuit, leaving the race for younger opponents.
Geraghty’s judgement had been acute, as he picked Triolo D’Alene over stablemate Hadrian’s Approach, an early faller.
“After he won the Topham at Aintree last season we started to think about the National, and we will think about it,” said Henderson.
“Barry has been begging me all year to save him for the National and we were looking at Aintree next weekend. I didn’t do what I was told but the Hennessy is very special.”
Celestial Halo (7-2) deputised for owner Andy Stewart’s sidelined Big Buck’s in the bet365 Long Distance Hurdle and was left all on his own when odds-on favourite At Fishers Cross was stopped in his tracks by an appalling mistake at the second-last.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: “He’s been an amazing horse, beaten a short head in a Champion Hurdle, and I thought his price was insulting given his win in France.
“He’ll go for the Long Walk at Ascot and I’m sure he’ll end up in the World Hurdle with Big Buck’s.”
