Fine Form
Joyeuse NB – 3.35
can spark another Newbury celebration for Nicky Henderson by winning the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.
The race has been known by various names over the years, but the Seven Barrows handler’s targeting of the contest has remained consistently good and the trainer is now hunting a seventh strike in the extended two-mile handicap.
While he also fields last year’s winner Iberico Lord, preference is for his stablemate who is lightly weighted and unexposed after just three British starts.
From the family of Champion Hurdle victor Epatante, the six-year-old changed hands for €235,000 after winning a French bumper in October 2022 but took some time to make her debut for Henderson, winning a Taunton maiden in January 2024.
Off the track again until this term, she has posted two fair efforts in defeat, most recently when chasing home a fine yardstick in Wodhooh at Cheltenham in December.
The third-placed Take No Chances gave the form a huge boost when winning an Ascot Grade Two subsequently and while the handicapper has edged Joyeuse up by 4lb, a mark of 123 still looks generous.
Stablemate
Sir Gino NB – 3.00
proved a revelation when sent over fences at Kempton and he can account for more experienced rivals in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase.
Aside from one untidy jump at the first in Sunbury, Sir Gino did not put a foot wrong as the Sunbury venue, easily accounting for subsequent Grade One scorer Ballyburn by over seven lengths without getting anywhere near top gear.
More seasoned performers await here but Henderson has followed the same route with Sprinter Sacre and Altior in the past, which speaks volumes about the potential star status of Sir Gino.
In contrast the William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase lacks a real star on first glance, so it may pay to give
Ga Law NB – 2.25
a chance stepped back up in distance.
He failed to fire in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham when last seen, trailing home ninth off a mark of 156, which has subsequently been eased by 2lb.
Ga Law has yet to win beyond beyond an extended two and a half miles, but he ran well enough in the three-and-a-quarter-mile Coral Gold Cup at this track back in 2023 and he may find this kind of race more suitable than a handicap off a high mark.
L’Eau Du Sud WA – 2.05
can make it four runs unbeaten over fences in Warwick’s Unibet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.
He hacked up by 10 lengths on debut at Stratford in October and then made similarly short work of a Grade Two contest at Cheltenham’s November meeting, cruising home 11 lengths ahead of the opposition while barely breaking sweat.
More effort was required to take Grade One honours in the Henry VIII at Sandown on his most recent start, with soft ground not appearing to suit him as well, but he still triumphed with nearly four lengths in hand. Any drying of the ground in Warwickshire would help his cause.
Gala Marceau WA – 2.40
may lack race fitness but she has a weights advantage in the Read Nicky Henderson’s Weekly Unibet Blog Mares’ Hurdle.
She has not run since Lossiemouth inflicted a seven-length defeat at the Punchestown Festival last May, with her second season proving tough going after a sterling campaign as a juvenile hurdler.
Willie Mullins’ Irish raider is favoured by the race conditions here and can make a winning start.
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