'I knew he'd love the hill' - Iberico Lord powers home in Greatwood Hurdle to deliver big-race double for connections

It was only a matter of time before Nicky Henderson won the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle. It was one of the rare omissions from the Cheltenham section of his CV, but Iberico Lord sorted out that anomaly after favourite Onlyamatteroftime dramatically ran out through the wing of the fourth-last hurdle. 

"I don't know what the plan is now," said winning owner JP McManus afterwards. "This was the plan."

It was a very well executed plan. Iberico Lord had not been seen since chasing home his feisty female stablemate Under Control at Sandown in April, but the 204-day absence did not matter and nor did his inexperience. This was only his fifth outing over hurdles and his second handicap, but he zoomed around as though he had been contesting these big-field races all of his life. 

In Nico de Boinville, he had a partner who is operating at the very top of his game right now. He was always in the right place at the right time and once he took aim at Lookaway coming down to the last, there was only going to be one outcome. 

Henderson said: "It took time for him to get his act together last season. He won a very moderate race at Stratford and it didn’t sound like we were heading for the Greatwood at that time. The Sandown run was good, but Under Control might be pretty good too."

It was the performance of a well handicapped young horse, but it would have been very interesting to see what would have happened if Onlyamatteroftime had not performed his new party trick down the back straight. 

This was another Paul Byrne plot. The shrewd owner who managed to find Noble Yeats, Corbetts Cross, Feronily and 2021 winner of the Greatwood, The Shunter, among others, would have been more than happy with how the 7-2 favourite was travelling down the inside as the race began to heat up. That was until he ducked out, just as he did on his previous start at Cork in August. 

"It's very frustrating. He never does anything like that at home," said Patrick Mullins. 

Onlyamatteroftime (right) crashed through the guiding rail to the fourth lastCredit: Racing TV

The business end of the contest saw the brave Lookaway try to fend off the two Seven Barrows troops who arrived on the scene either side of him. He did his best, but Iberico Lord wore him down on the run-in and won going away. 

There was a fleeting few strides when Luccia looked the one poised to break Henderson's duck in the race but, not for the first time, her last furlong was not her best one. 

"Apparently this is my first time winning the race, but I can’t remember what happened 40 something years ago!" added Henderson. "But, at least Unibet sponsors this race now as they are very good sponsors, as they sponsor this race and me!

"Going to the last I thought one of you would you please win [Luccia or Iberico Lord] and they both ran super races."

Nicky Henderson and JP McManus celebrate Greatwood Hurdle success swiftly on from Jonbon's Shloer Chase winCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was a splendid Sunday for De Boinville too. Positive on Jonbon in the Shloer Chase, he had to be patient on Iberico Lord. 

The double-winning rider said: "He was great today. It got a bit rough at the top of the hill but I was able to just take a pull and give him a breath of air.

"I knew Luccia was going to take me all the way to the last and to be fair she did. The way he ran at Sandown last time he was staying on all the way and I knew he’d love the hill and that ground today."

Iberico Lord adored the hill and scampered away from Lookaway, who did Neil King proud.

King said: "We might now go to Ascot for the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Christmas and that is what I have got on my mind at the moment. I must admit I thought we would take a lot of catching today, but there was just one who turned out able to get past us unfortunately."

That one was Iberico Lord, and it was only a matter of time before Henderson won the Greatwood. 

Read more . . .

Dominant Jonbon in a different league to Shloer Chase rivals as he thrashes Edwardstone 

An undertaker during the week, a Cheltenham winner on Sunday - trainer on the up unearths Supreme contender 

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