Cheltenham Festival: five things we learnt from the Kempton gallops

A gallops morning is invariably a tricky thing to ascertain when looking ahead to the CheltenhamFestival.

On a cold February morning at Kempton Park, the highlight for many in the packed car park was an antiques fair, but for this intrepid journalist and a few other hardy souls, the only bargains to be found were a few snippets of information gleaned from the All-Weather surface in use.

Nicky Henderson, Ben Pauling, Milton Harris, Warren Greatrex and Harry Fry all utilised the surface as their stars continued their build-ups to the greatest show on earth. Here are five things we learnt.

Despite getting warm in the pre-parade ring, Jonbon caught the eye under the watchful eyes of Henderson and Sir Anthony McCoy. Partnered by regular pilot Aidan Coleman, Jonbon breezed alongside two stable companions, but what captured my attention was his wellbeing.

A couple of weeks on from his workmanlike Kingmaker success, the seven-year-old looked lean, mean and ready for the El Fabiolo rematch. There are still two more weeks until his date with Arkle destiny and a couple more metaphorical fences to cross, but if there was a stand-out from a fitness point of view, it was certainly him. Henderson was unusually coy about Jonbon when questioned suggesting “it did him good to have an away day.”

Stick or twist. Listening to Henderson amidst the cold of Kempton, he clearly fancies gambling with Marie’s Rock over three miles.

With Epatante now firmly in the Mares’ Hurdle picture once again, it seems that Henderson and Middleham Park Racing are both of the same opinion that a Stayers’ Hurdle bid looks a sage plan.

Henderson honestly opined “that scenario would suit me, but it isn’t about me.” Blazing Khal, Teahupoo and Gold Tweet have all thrown their hats in the ring in recent weeks, but Marie’s Rock has always been well thought of at Seven Barrows and connections seem convinced she will stay. Despite having a title to defend in a red-hot Mares’ Hurdle, surely a roll of the dice in a wide-open Stayers’ Hurdle makes sense?

Henderson clearly has the biggest battalion of any British trainer targeting the Festival and despite a nod to the dominance of Willie Mullins, the Seven Barrows maestro is clearly relishing this year’s meeting.

In Constitution Hill and Jonbon, he has two of Britain’s leading hopes, but his ability to potentially separate Epatante and Marie’s Rock to target different Grade One contests, reiterates the strength in-depth Henderson has at his disposal this year.

One of his most telling comments was the fact that he is likely to run six in the Pertemps Final – “if Willie can, why can’t we?” Walking On Air looks the pick of his sextet who could line-up, whilst a big nod was given to His Majesty The King’s Steal A March, who would be a poignant winner.

Constitution Hill vs Sprinter Sacre vs Altior on the gallops – who would win? Henderson would not be drawn on such fantasy racing, but the freakish nature of Constitution Hill’s raw ability was evidenced by the fact that the Seven Barrows maestro struggles to find anything to work with his odds-on favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Joined by two stable companions for a couple of laps of the All-Weather circuit, the six-year-old pulled clear in effortless fashion at the line to leave his stablemates toiling in the distance.

Michael Buckley also turned up to watch his star put through his paces and Nico de Boinville summed up the mood in the camp remarking that he was “very happy” with his efforts.

Being the head teacher of a star pupil is no easy feat with constant media attention, but Henderson is a dab hand at this and the glint in his eye when discussing Constitution Hill who he suggested needed “a miler to jump in halfway round the back straight” to keep him honest, highlights just how special this horse is.

This might be blasé to say about a horse currently trading at 8/1 for one of the most competitive handicaps of the week, but Gin Coco is a forgotten horse of the season.

Not seen since a fine second to I Like To Move It in the Greatwood, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge could do no more than advertise the strength of that form with his emphatic Kingwell success and Fry seems confident of a bold bid from the seven-year-old in the County.

Only raised 4lb for that runner-up effort, a mark of 135 still has plenty of mileage and he looks a leading British hope for the contest.