Nicky Henderson: ‘It hurt like hell - it was soul-destroying for everyone here’
The Seven Barrows trainer opens up to Lewis Porteous after a tough few weeks
When it comes to success or failure, March is the pivotal month of the year as far as Nicky Henderson is concerned. His Seven Barrows yard has long been geared towards the Cheltenham Festival, so when things don't go right at the biggest jumps meeting of them all, it can feel like Armageddon has arrived in his historic corner of Lambourn.
Looking back never gets you very far in life, but just two winners from 31 runners in March and no winners at the festival for the first time since 2008 highlights better than words the minefield Henderson and his troops have been navigating for the best part of a month now.
The precise cause of some lacklustre performances on the track remains a mystery. Anything as sinister as equine herpes virus or flu has been categorically ruled out but, just when his string was meant to peak, a cloud of ill health engulfed Seven Barrows.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inInterviews
Last updated
Copy- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard
- 'There are tens of thousands of pounds at stake when we run these horses - which is why I'm riding them'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard
- 'There are tens of thousands of pounds at stake when we run these horses - which is why I'm riding them'