He once did it with Shishkin, so can Nicky Henderson use the Sidney Banks as a launchpad to festival success again?

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This race has a rich history and Nicky Henderson has taken it three times over the last 11 years, including with Shishkin in 2020. French Holly, who won it in 1998, is another who stands out on the roll of honour, so there is every chance we could see a top-class horse here.

Henderson is back again with Act Of Innocence, who was turned over at 2-7 when last seen in an introductory hurdle at Newbury in December, but time might tell that wasn’t a bad run.

He was conceding 20lb to the juvenile Minella Yoga, who has since finished third in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham, so pulling 12 lengths clear with that rival at Newbury was probably a solid effort. 

Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville before Act Of Innocence's win at Newbury in NovemberCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Act Of Innocence’s previous form also entitles him to be favourite. That’s because he beat main rival Sinnatra by two and three-quarter lengths when the pair met at Newbury in November, and that was off level weights. They are on the same terms here, giving Sinnatra a tough task to reverse the places, but could he have improved subsequently?

It certainly appears that way because Sinnatra now sets the standard on Racing Post Ratings, having been awarded an 8lb higher figure than Act Of Innocence’s best when scoring by 55 lengths at Sandown last time. The question is can a win at odds of 1-8 be taken at face value?

I would still rather take Act Of Innocence’s victory over Sinnatra as the deciding factor, but it won’t be a huge surprise should they come home the other way around. Let’s wait and see.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Going update

The ground was described on Wednesday as good to soft, soft in places. Clerk of the course Andrew Morris said: "We've a bright day today. There's 2-3mm forecast tonight which should be gone before racing. The ground will probably be soft."

What they say

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Fresh Perspective and Lady Tadita
We had wanted to run Fresh Perspective at Exeter on Sunday, but we were worried it might be off so he’s running here. He’s wearing a tongue-tie for the first time, which he’s done well in at home, and the step up in trip should suit him. Lady Tadita is a real poppet and won her first three races for us before running second in a Listed race at Taunton. It looks a tough race, but hopefully she can get some more black type.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Act Of Innocence
He's in good form and the ground doesn't sound like it's too bad, given most places are heavy or abandoned at the moment. We took him out of Cheltenham that day only because we felt going two miles five furlongs on heavy ground wasn't the right thing for him at the time; it had nothing to do with the hole in the ground. I thought it was a solid run at Newbury giving 20lb to Paul Nicholls' horse, who is a ready-made sort. They're clearly two good horses. We're in a nice position because we have Old Park Star for the two-mile division, and we think this horse can grow up for going further."

Andrew Martin, trainer of Glance At Midnight
He won at the track before Christmas and we expect him to get this longer trip. This will tell us a bit more, and he has two entries at Cheltenham.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Sinnatra
He’s a lovely horse and we’ve been very happy with how he's been since his win at Sandown. We don’t see the step up in trip as an issue and I feel like we're in good shape.

Fergal O’Brien, trainer of Tiddesley Wood
It’s a great race to be involved in and we won it a few years ago with Marble Sands. Tiddesley Wood is a nice horse. He was a bit disappointing at Doncaster last time, but we've freshened him up and hopefully he can put up a decent performance.
Reporting by David Milnes

By Lewis Porteous

1) Warren Greatrex described Milou Du Chenet as one of the nicest horses he's trained, when speaking to the Racing Post in November, and the four-year-old duly went on to record a comfortable victory at Wincanton the following month. Unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, he faces a sterner test of his credentials in the 2m½f junior hurdle at Doncaster (1.15), with Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton runners in opposition. Henderson saddles Auteuil winner Mustang Du Breuil for the first time in the colours of JP McManus, while Skelton sends debutant Duc De Rohan into action. Both look smart on paper and Greatrex will be entitled to dream even bigger if Milou Du Chenet can give weight away and still come out on top. 

Paggane: in Listed action at HuntingdonCredit: John Grossick Racing

2) Paggane is the clear class angle in the Listed Lady Protectress Mares' Chase (2.00) at Huntingdon. Previously trained by Willie Mullins, she has won twice at Listed level for Faye Bramley this season and, with a handicap mark of 148 over fences, is miles clear of her rivals on official ratings, yet has to concede just 4lb to them. A 20-1 shot for next month's Mares' Chase at Cheltenham, Paggane also featured among the Grand National entries revealed on Tuesday. She was last seen finishing third to the 154-rated Spindleberry at Doncaster in December, when she looked like she might prefer going right-handed again, which gives further confidence heading into this Huntingdon race.  

3) Nicola Currie appears to have found a small opening at Andrew Balding's powerful Kingsclere yard and is making the most of her opportunities for the Classic-winning trainer. Currie is operating with a 60 per cent strike-rate for Balding since January 1, scoring three times from five rides for a level-stakes profit of £23, and she must fancy her chances of making it four from six when partnering Allegrino in the 6f handicap at Southwell (5.00). Currie was riding Allegrino for the first time when landing a novice with a bit in hand at Lingfield last month, and the three-year-old filly could be starting life in handicaps off a potentially lenient mark of 68.

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