All systems go for Henderson but Fusil Raffles faces crucial vet's examination

Nicky Henderson is happy he has his Cheltenham Festival challenge back on track following four winners for the stable on Saturday, but Triumph Hurdle second favourite Fusil Raffles faces a crucial veterinary examination on Monday morning to determine the extent of a cut to his hind leg.

Henderson described the wound as "nasty" on Sunday, and raised the prospect of rerouting the impressive Adonis Hurdle winner to Aintree should the injury wreck hopes of a Triumph tilt a fortnight on Friday. Fusil Raffles, owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, is a best-priced 8-1 to provide Henderson, the race's leading trainer, with a seventh Triumph.

Speaking on Sunday, Henderson said: “It was our first proper day back out again on Saturday as it has felt like we have been locked up for three months, with the flu vaccinations and cancellations following a week where we had a foot and a half of snow and temperatures down to -18.5C.

“All our horses were bound to need their races so that is one of the most pleasing aspects. We had four winners and two very good seconds, with Rather Be proving the only disappointment.

“It’s encouraging and there’s more work to be done, which will include a dozen horses going to Kempton on Tuesday, and we’re nearly getting there ahead of next month.”

Fusil Raffles arguably put up the performance of the afternoon on Saturday, winning by nine lengths on his first start since last summer, in the process rocketing up ante-post lists from around 33-1 to challenge Joseph O'Brien's pair Sir Erec and Fakir d'Oudairies at the head of the market. He was cut to 6-1 by Betfred (from 8) on Sunday.

Henderson, who most recently won the final-day opener with the similarly owned Peace And Co in 2015, reported: “We have left the bandage on his hind leg and we’ll take it off tomorrow morning when the vets are here. He’s got quite a lot of stitches and staples in there so we’ll have to see. It's a nasty cut – it will either hold and mend or it won’t in time for Cheltenham – but we could always try to get him back for Aintree if not."

He added: “It was a really good performance, particularly as I’ve hardly trained him as it's been so stop-start, although there’s a very strong Irish challenge in the Triumph and JP [McManus] has a fantastic hand.

Fusil Raffles (Daryl Jacob) jumps the final flight to win the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

“We’ll take Adjali to Kempton this week but he’s been working very well and could possibly run, while we have to see how Fusil Raffles recovers.”

Adjali will be one of a dozen horses from Seven Barrows to head to Kempton for a gallop on Tuesday, and they will also include three-time festival winner Altior, last year’s Gold Cup second Might Bite, Ballymore favourite Champ and National Hunt Chase market leader Ok Corral.

Angels Breath: finished second to Southfield Stone in the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Angels Breath suffered defeat for the first time to Southfield Stone in the Dovecote on Saturday, but Henderson confirmed the Dai Walters-owned five-year-old is set to stay at two miles with the prospect of a much-improved showing in the Supreme.

He said: “There should be quite considerable improvement to come from Angels Breath – he’d been locked up at home and had three fairly quiet weeks when we were just starting to prepare him.

“We’re pretty sure we’re staying at two miles for the Supreme, and a stiffer track will suit him much better, as would a little cut in the ground. He still ran very well in what was a very good time and we were all very happy with him.”

The JP McManus-owned Dickie Diver, a ready winner at Chepstow on Saturday, is a best-priced 10-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, in which he will be joined by stablemate Birchdale.

Dickie Diver finished a head second to subsequent Grade 2 winner Lisnagar Oscar on his rules debut at the same track in January and is among the market principals for the festival contest.

Henderson, a best-priced 15-8 second favourite to be leading trainer at Cheltenham, said: “Dickie Diver is a lovely horse, a fine chaser in the making, but he has the raw ability to run a big race in the Albert Bartlett.

“He’s very professional and the step up to three miles will suit him. We’ll probably have Birchdale, another really nice horse, in the race and they're two strong contenders.”

Epatante and Lust For Glory, winners at Exeter and Newcastle on Friday and Saturday, are likely to form a robust four-strong team for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Hurdle with Elusive Belle and Daphne Du Clos, while Saturday’s Chepstow novice chase scorer Chef Des Obeaux – described by Henderson as “a proper stayer” – is being considered for the Ultima Handicap Chase and National Hunt Chase.

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