'He's a young horse on the up' - Mister Fisher jumps into Ryanair Chase picture

There were no disagreements this week, no late-night angst about whether to run and no need to defend decisions. Nicky Henderson rolled the dice with Mister Fisher in the Peterborough Chase and came up with the result he wanted.

Following the controversy around Altior's withdrawal from the Tingle Creek Chase last weekend, Henderson was once again faced with a ground conundrum as he pondered the rearranged Peterborough Chase, salvaged from Huntingdon and retaining Fitzdares as sponsor, or the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup 24 hours later for Mister Fisher, who had disappointed badly when pulled up on soft ground in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month.

Would you be a backer or a layer of Mister Fisher at 16-1 for the Ryanair Chase?

In the end, Henderson plumped for the Peterborough Chase, fearing rain could arrive if he waited the extra time, and was rewarded with an eighth win in the Grade 2 contest.

Peterborough Chase full result and race replay

"He was pulled up in the Paddy Power and that was a combination of his first run and on very, very soft ground, but this is harder work than I'd hoped for – talking about the ground is off the agenda this weekend!" Henderson said.

"We kept him out of the Caspian Caviar and this was the right race for him. Being up there with a bit of daylight suited him and they went a good gallop all the way. He jumped great too. He's learning and looks like a young horse on the up."

Mister Fisher was ridden to lead at the second-last by Nico de Boinville and found generously after the final fence to hold the late surge of favourite Kalashnikov, who tried with all his might to overhaul the leader but could not quite do so.

Nicky Henderson: top trainer was winning the race for the fourth time in the last five yearsCredit: Edward Whitaker

De Boinville felt the ground had not been perfect for Mister Fisher but added his mount would hold good prospects for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, for which he was cut to 12-1 (from 20) by Betfair and Paddy Power.

"He'd have a live chance and he'd be a great spin," he said. "I'd give him a better ride than I did [when fourth] in the Marsh Chase anyway."

The months prior to the Cheltenham Festival will not be overlooked for Mister Fisher, according to Henderson, with races prior to the Ryanair Chase to be considered for James and Jean Potter's six-year-old.

"Nico says Ryanair and I'll go with that," Henderson said. "I won't wrap him up and put him away. He'll run again but he wants a spring campaign rather than a winter campaign."

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