Champagne delivers Express victory for Henderson after spell on sidelines

Nicky Henderson has sent out 133 winners so far this season but few would have provided him with greater satisfaction than Champagne Express, who landed the 2m4½f handicap hurdle.

Although Might Bite and Altior have been the highlights for the master of Seven Barrows, Champagne Express’ success is a tribute to the trainer’s skills at nursing inmates back from long lay-offs.

Henderson said: “Barring a run in a jumpers’ bumper at Kempton last month, this horse has not seen a racecourse for over two years as we found he had a problem in his pastern – it seems he had strained a ligament, it is a rare issue and we had not come across it before.