Nicky Henderson Stable Tour & Horses To Follow (2022/23)

12/03/2023
8 min. read
Nicky Henderson horses in training
Alex McMahon Sport
By Alex McMahon

Six-time Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson needs very little introduction. He took out his trainer’s license in 1978, having been the assistant to Fred Winter, before moving to the now infamous Seven Barrows in 1992.

Having clocked up no less than 72 Cheltenham Festival winners in his illustrious career, your average horse racing betting punter simply cannot afford to ignore Henderson’s legions of runners throughout the forthcoming National Hunt season.

Here at the 888sport blog, we’ve narrowed those legions down to just ten Nicky Henderson horses in training that we believe you should follow from the Seven Barrows stable this term.

Between Waters

An exciting prospect for mares novice hurdles this season, Between Waters was a clearcut winner of her point-to-point at Lisronagh in February 2022.

You’d have to be impressed at the way she quickened after the last and she put the race to bed with consummate ease to win by eight lengths.

Nicky Henderson wanted to run her in a bumper in the spring but she didn’t get her ground. However, the yard report that she has been electric when schooling at home.

A potential horse for the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, Between Waters looks a blacktype mare and she is certainly one for the tracker. 

Chantry House

Despite winning a Listed race and a Group Two, things didn’t really go to plan for Chantry House last season and he was pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson confirmed that he had a wind operation this summer and appears to have developed physically for another year in the field.

Could he mature into a potential Grand National horse? We know JP McManus has had lots of success in the race but Nicky Henderson is yet to win the Aintree showpiece.

It looks like he may start off in the Coral Gold Cup, formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup, at Newbury in November and plans will be made from there.

Constitution Hill

What a horse. Constitution Hill has the world at his feet after his superb performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle back in March.

It was arguably the performance of the meeting and he is top of the Nicky Henderson horses in training list for the 2022/23 season. He could be absolutely anything.

Connections have flirted with the Ascot Hurdle as a starting point but Henderson has often opted for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle with his best two mile hurdlers.

All roads lead back to Prestbury Park and a mouth-watering clash with Honeysuckle. She is a three-time Festival winner but Constitution Hill may be her toughest rival yet.

Dusart

Dusart raced four times over fences in the second half of the season, winning three times whilst finishing a respectable fifth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Highly regarded by the Seven Barrows team, Dusart won the lucrative Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase at Ayr in April and that was him done for the season.

He has had back surgery and a wind operation this summer so there could be improvement to come – but is he going to fall just shy of Graded class?

It’s hard to pinpoint a starting point for Dusart but connections may be tempted to give him an entry in the Coral Gold Cup. He carries plenty of appeal off a mark of 152.

Epatante

Epatante enjoyed another outstanding season in 2021/22, winning three Grade 1 races and showing that she stays two and a half miles in the Aintree Hurdle.

That in itself gives Henderson options – particularly as new kid on the block Constitution Hill could go and mop up the two mile hurdle division on this side of the Irish Sea.

The Seven Barrows handler has always put Epatante in the top bracket and she is certainly capable of holding her own against the boys.

However, the lure of victory in the Mares’ Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival may be too good to turn down, especially if Marie’s Rock steps up in trip.

Firestep

Touted as one of Henderson’s best novice hurdle prospects going into last season, Firestep suffered a ligament injury and was forced to miss the entire campaign.

This was frustrating for the Seven Barrows handler, with Henderson himself admitting that he believed Firestep would be one of the yard’s star novice hurdlers.

However, he is back to full fitness and is ready to make his debut in the coming months. We could see him entered at the likes of Newbury, Kempton and Ascot…

He isn’t necessarily in any best Nicky Henderson horses in training lists just yet but there is bags of potential and he is very exciting indeed.

Jonbon

Jonbon was no match for Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but he made amends by winning the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

He looks to have summered well and is an imposing beast physically, looking every inch a chaser and he could be Nicky Henderson’s main Arkle hope this year.

The Seven Barrows trainer spoke glowingly of Jonbon at his Open Day ahead of the season and we will hopefully see Jonbon make his chase debut in November.

It wouldn’t be a huge shock to see Henderson aim him at the 2m2f Beginners Chase at Kempton – a race previously won by the likes of Altior and Shishkin.

Marie’s Rock

Marie’s Rock exceeded all expectations last season, with Henderson himself admitting that he didn’t know quite how good she was.

She won the Mares’ Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival before capping off a fantastic year with a hard-fought success at the Punchestown meeting in Ireland.

While many believe she should be given a chance to defend her crown, the Seven Barrows handler has hinted at stepping up in trip – with the Stayers’ Hurdle a potential target.

One of the most versatile Nicky Henderson horses in training this season, Marie’s Rock is not only classy but gritty and Middleham Park Racing have a real diamond on their hands.

Shishkin

I’m so excited to see Shishkin back on a racecourse and I just hope Nicky Henderson can get him back to his brilliant best.

The race with Energumene in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot was something else and it was so disappointing to see Shishkin pull up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Nico de Boinville made the right call though and Shishkin has been able to get the care that he needs. There is no need to rush him back and Nicky will take his time with him.

A rematch with Energumene at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival has to be the primary aim for the season. It could be the race of the meeting if both get there in tip-top condition.

Walking On Air

If Walking On Air was mine, he’d be going novice chasing. He looks every inch a chaser but I completely get Henderson’s point of wanting more experience over hurdlers.

The Stayers’ Hurdle division is relatively weak and an injury to Flooring Porter will open the door for one of the new kids on the block – potentially Walking On Air.

He has had some surgery at Coolmore this summer but Henderson believes he has returned better than ever and is now in ‘tremendous condition’ ahead of the new season.

If everything goes to plan, Walking On Air could take high rank in the staying hurdle races on this side of the Irish Sea. Let’s see how he gets on…

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 12th October 2021

About the Author See all Alex McMahon Articles
Alex McMahon
Alex McMahon Sport

Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.