Exclusive: Nicky Henderson's Stars Shine after Lucky Place Wins the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham

In-form trainer Nicky Henderson described Lucky Place as “the most charming horse” after his grade two Relkeel Hurdle victory at Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting.

Lucky Place Shines in Relkeel Hurdle

The likeable six-year-old made it back-to-back graded success after his Howden Ascot Hurdle win in November, with Henderson hinting he could be a Stayer’s Hurdle candidate.

“He has such a wonderful temperament! We through him in the Coral Cup last year because we thought he wasn’t quite at the grade 1 level. He ran a great race and was one of the few that turned up," Henderson told SportsBoom.com. 

“I think we are building up to him being a Stayers Hurdle horse. I thought about the Long Walk at Ascot, but today was always the plan. Stamina won it him today. He could go to the Cleeve Hurdle, we would want to step him up in trip before the festival."

"He was going to chasing but there was no opportunities for him, he definitely will be next year!"

Chantry House Rolls Back the Years

It was a double on the day for the Seven Barrows team, as Lucky Place proceeded Chantry House, who rolled back the years in the three-mile handicap chase. 

Rated 162 in his peak, after a lacklustre campaign over hurdles last season, Henderson admitted he was slightly surprised he was able to get back to winning ways.

“Turning in I thought he was blowing up!” Said Henderson. “It wasn’t the plan to win today, the plan was to go hunter chasing and I just needed to get another run into him. I’m not sure we haven’t made a bosh of it, because I’m not sure if he’s eligible now. We’ll have to go and win the Grand National instead!"

“That has scuppered things, we were always trying to re-kindle his enthusiasm, because he used to be a very good horse, but now we’ll have to have a re-think."

“He jumped and travelled well, followed them round and I thought he might get tired, but it is lovely to see him come back and do that, but it was slightly unexpected!”

Diva Luna Targets Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Diva Luna will be heading to the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the festival after “getting the job done” confirms trainer Ben Pauling.

Speaking after winning the two mile four maiden hurdle, Pauling is adamant we haven’t seen the best of this horse, admitting she’ll have to improve to win at the festival.

He said: “I think she’s going to be better over two miles; I think she’s deadly with her speed, she’ll end up getting three miles over time, but she wants to get on with things right now."

“I was thinking of going to the Jane Seymour Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Sandown, but it’s just good to get her back in the winner’s enclosure, she is a very talented mare and one of the best horses we’ve got."

“She has to improve a lot to win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but she’ll definitely come back here in March.”

Kalif Du Berlais Impresses in Novice Handicap Chase

Paul Nicholls has plenty of options for Kalif Du Berlais who won the Novice Limited Handicap Chase over two miles.

He jumped impeccably throughout, putting the race to bed in facile fashion and Nicholls was clearly taken with the performance. 

A delighted Nicholls said: “He is filling his frame and he jumped absolutely awesome, the fall at Carlisle may have helped him as he was exuberant, but it made him think. He was brilliant today, I love how he is improving, he’s only five-years-old, there is a lot still to come."

“He’s progressive, he’ll get two and a half and there is plenty of good races for him whether we come back here or go to Aintree. He’ll have all the entries, you have to stick him in the Arkle because anything could happen, but he’ll have an entry in the two and a half handicap as well.”

Springwell Bay Finally Breaks Through

The Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase could also be the destination for Springwell Bay, after he sauntered clear to win the Premier Handicap Chase for Jonjo and Anthony O’Neill.

It was an overdue victory for this horse who often runs well in defeat, with Jonjo O’Neill confirming this two-mile four trip is probably his best.

He said: “He did everything sweet, I was a little worried about the ground, but he handled it well. They went a good gallop, and it suited him."

“Hopefully, all being well he comes back here for the festival. We’ll probably stick to two and a half, but depending on ground, we’ll enter him up well and hopefully pick the right race."

“We’ve stepped him up to three miles a couple of times, but he doesn’t just quite get that last little bit."

The new two-mile four novice handicap chase will probably be the one for him.”