Jeriko Du Reponet set for hurdling return as Nicky Henderson hopes to 'build his confidence' after Sandown debacle

Nicky Henderson is tempted to hit the pause button on Jeriko Du Reponet's chasing career and return to hurdles this weekend following a dramatic reappearance at Sandown this month.

The five-year-old, who holds an entry in Saturday's Gerry Feilden at Newbury, had been set to go novice chasing this season, but he was pulled up by Nico de Boinville on his debut over fences following a number of pre-race issues.

Jeriko Du Reponet was taken to Kempton on Monday to walk around the pre-parade ring before racing, and jumped four hurdles with Sir Gino, who heads to Newcastle's BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday, at Seven Barrows on Tuesday.

Henderson said: “He was great at Kempton and there were no problems. He was beautifully behaved and we schooled this morning. We're happy with him and it's possible he'll run on Saturday."

A winner of three of his four starts over hurdles, including in the Supreme Trial at Doncaster in January, Jeriko Du Reponet is 5-1 favourite with bet365 for the Newbury contest as he bids to get his career back on track.

Henderson said: “He's in the race as a second-season novice hurdler. He'd jumped so well at home, so it'd be disappointing to go back [hurdling].”

Nicky Henderson with Jeriko Du Reponet's owner JP McManus at Ascot last weekendCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com)

A ten-minute delay at Sandown was caused by Jeriko Du Reponet after he had to be taken back to the saddling boxes and re-saddled after Henderson's team appeared to be unhappy with the horse's tack. Once the race started, he ballooned the second fence and his chasing debut came to an end after an error at the fourth-last.

Henderson added: "He was fine after Sandown, but everything that could have gone wrong on the day did. He went ballistic in the saddling boxes. Nico got on, the saddle went back and we had to go back into the stables to re-saddle him. 

“It was a question of whether or not he should run as the others had been down at the start for a while. He jumped the first well, ballooned the second and Nico quite rightly pulled him up.

"Consequently, it made us think about bringing him back over hurdles so we could get him back on a racecourse and build his confidence." 

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