Henderson hoping for Top Notch outcome in relocated Peterborough

Peterborough Chase | Grade 2 | 4yo+ | 2m5½f | RUK

The Peterborough Chase has relocated to a different course but Nicky Henderson hopes to still have a say in the outcome as he aims Top Notch and Josses Hill at Huntingdon's historic chase.

The tracks may be 200 miles apart but have more in common than not as Henderson seeks to add to his four victories in the Grade 2 race he captured 12 months ago with Josses Hill.

Josses Hill beat Tea For Two well enough for Alan Spence to sanction his supplementing for the 32Red King George VI Chase, in which he was last of five, but he has a lot of ground to make up on Top Notch, who beat him 69 lengths in an impressive victory at Ascot last time.

The pair are among five declarations in a race that also features former Henderson inmate Vaniteux, Ptit Zig and Max Ward.

Henderson said: "The nicest thing is that the BHA and racecourses turned this race around. Going to Warwick left-handed wouldn't have suited Josses Hill because he has to go right-handed.

"Top Notch can go right or left, it doesn't matter. I'm very appreciative they made the switch after Huntingdon was called off to Taunton, where decent ground is likely. They were going to take each other on last Sunday so they will take each other on here.

"Top Notch was very good at Ascot but I can't run him in the King George with Bristol De Mai going there for the same connections on the bonus trail, so it wouldn't be wise for them to take each other on."

Ptit Zig contested the Peterborough Chase in 2015 but fell at the last fence. He unseated next time out and has been tackling hurdlers ever since. On his best run over fences he was second to Vautour at Ascot.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He fell in the Peterborough when he would have been right up behind Al Ferof. He is capable of running tidy if he jumps.

"He has been hurdling since then but has been schooling well over fences, which is what he had never been particularly brilliant at before, so the hurdling may have sharpened him up.

"If he jumps well he has an outside chance. He is a classy horse who would love the ground and going right-handed. On all known form he has a little bit to do.

"We think we have gone as far as we can over hurdles but if he jumps well we'll stick with chasing and may step him up in trip."

Vaniteux changed hands at the end of last season and was picked up by David Pipe for £125,000. He has not found his best form in three runs so far.

Pipe said: "We were going to Cheltenham with Vaniteux but the ground is getting softer and softer and it looks more decent ground at Taunton. We are trying blinkers for the first time.

"We ran him at Cheltenham on ground that was too soft for him, then ran him six days later, which was the wrong thing to do. We have freshened him up since. He has it to do on form figures but the race should suit."

Max Ward's trainer Tom George said: "He put in some nice runs last year but probably needs to step up again on ratings."

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