Horse racing: Henderson strengthens Gold Cup hand
Nicky Henderson left Newbury on Saturday a very contented trainer after seeing his two contenders for Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup honours strengthen their claims for chasing’s Blue Riband.
Bacchanal was the choice of stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald in the Aon Chase and he was proved right, but Marlborough, who would not have been at home in the testing ground, ran with immense promise on his seasonal reappearance.
It was not entirely plain sailing for the winner, who showed a tendency to jump slightly to the right and needed to be shaken up by Fitzgerald in the early stages after running a little lazily.
Marlborough had looked a threat two fences out but concerns over his race-fitness proved justified as he tied up markedly on the run-in and was caught for second by Shotgun Willy on the line.
A delighted Henderson said: ‘‘They have both run fantastic races and I’m as happy with both of them as I could possibly be.
‘‘They’ve both run crackers and they’re both on course for the Gold Cup.
‘‘All we wanted was to come out of the race intact these preps are horrible.
‘‘Bacchanal had to win whereas Marlborough didn’t and I am thrilled with both of them.
Bacchanal’s jumping will be tested fully by the stiff fences at Cheltenham, but Henderson is hopeful that his charge will not let him down.
‘‘He did go right, I won’t deny it,’’ the trainer said. ‘‘He has his own way of doing it but the engine is supreme.
‘‘I’d be the first to say that Cheltenham puts a lot more emphasis on going left than Newbury but we’ll keep working on him.’’
Fitzgerald will have the choice of riding either Bacchanal or Marlborough in the big race and admitted that it was going to prove a tough call to make.
‘‘Marlborough is a horse who loves going round the tight bends at Cheltenham and that is part of what is required to win a Gold Cup,’’ said Fitzgerald.
‘‘Bacchanal has the class and goes into the race with the best form don’t forget he is a Stayers’ Hurdle winner.
‘‘But there will be more than seven runners in the Gold Cup and there is no quarter given. His jumping will have to be better than it was here.’’
