'Don't worry' - Henderson unconcerned about 17-day drought as Cheltenham looms

Nicky Henderson, the key figure in Britain's attempt to fight back against the Irish onslaught at the Cheltenham Festival, insists there is no need to worry about his stable's comparatively poor form going into jump racing's biggest meeting, despite fielding just one winner from 27 runners since Ascot Chase day.

Britain's most successful trainer at the festival is set to unleash a strong squad, including Champion Chase hot favourite Shishkin, Stayers' Hurdle contender Champ and leading Supreme Novices' Hurdle hopes Constitution Hill and Jonbon, both of whom were left in contention at Wednesday's confirmation stage.

The form of Henderson's Seven Barrows string has prompted some concern among punters, with the yard operating at a strike-rate of 3.7 per cent since Ascot Chase day on February 19, the final Grade 1 meeting before Cheltenham, compared to a strike-rate of 17.1 per cent in that same period last year. In 2019 and 2020 that number reached 29.2 and 36.4 per cent respectively, and he enjoyed four festival winners in each of those years.