Coach Nicky Henderson instructed the Unbridled podcast Structure Hill is a much-happier horse as he steps up his preparation to win again his Champion Hurdle crown on the Cheltenham Competition in March.
Regardless of stumbling on the final in Saturday’s Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham, Britain’s finest two-mile hurdler claimed a straightforward Grade Two triumph on Cheltenham Trials Day and now turns his consideration to Champion Hurdle again at Prestbury Park in March.
Talking to Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan on Unbridled, the Seven Barrows man mentioned: “He suddenly realised he is quite important, he really believes that now. Kempton was amazing and the crowd actually gets him going. He’s such a placid laid-back horse, everything he does is unexciting but it’s as if he’s suddenly got himself into a new frame of mind.
“He is a a lot happier horse than he ever was earlier than and he likes the brand new home we constructed him. I simply assume he is having fun with life an terrible lot. He is effectively, that is the important thing factor.”
When requested if his celebrity may ever get again to the heights of his 2022-23 marketing campaign when he received the Combating Fifth, Christmas Hurdle, Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle, Henderson remained unconvinced.
He mentioned: “It will be arduous to be higher than what he was. Within the Supreme and Champion Hurdle you could not think about a horse may probably decimate these he did with out coming off the bridle, however he can do this. In fact he was the identical on Saturday however, with due distinction to the opposition, he was doing one factor they usually have been minding their very own enterprise.
“He is in command and having fun with himself – that is essentially the most superb factor, however I do assume he is shifting very effectively. He is bought that swagger about him and the group was simply sensible on Saturday – pre-race and afterwards.
Structure Hill’s exploits have seen many onlookers evaluate him to the good Sprinter Sacre, who struck Grade One gold 9 instances for Henderson throughout his heyday years of 2012 to 2016.
Evaluating the 2, Henderson noticed: “He’s a long, long way in stature and presence from what Sprinter Sacre was but Sprinter knew he was the best looking horse in England, as well as the best horse. Constitution Hill is not the best looking horse in England but he’s getting that sort of idea about it that people do quite like him, it’s like ‘oh, look at me!'”
A uncommon day when Structure Hill didn’t take a look at his glowing finest was throughout a public gallop alongside Sir Gino final autumn, which drew comparisons to a equally poor piece of labor at Kempton within the run-up to the 2024 Cheltenham Competition.
Trying again, Henderson mentioned: “I might give up public gallops and I’m trying to be good when he’s not racing to show he’s alive and well. I’m very glad we did do that in public last year because it was such a catastrophe I’m not sure anyone would have believed me anyway. At least everyone could see where we were – in a bad place – and appreciate that.
“To be honest, the Newbury gallop wasn’t that dangerous as a result of I used to be attempting to point out everybody look out, [Sir] Gino is a really sensible horse. That is what Structure Hill was taking over at Newbury, there wasn’t something improper with him – the opposite horse was only a bit extra ahead than him however he is very excellent.”
After success on Trials Day, Henderson is set to give his Champion Hurdle hope a short break before the preparation for the Champion Hurdle truly begins – against the wishes of jockey Nico de Boinville.
“Nico bought off him final week and mentioned ‘this horse is just too recent, maintain working him, do not give him any day off!’ He is having this week off, I can guarantee you, whether or not you are Nico or Paddy [Brennan].
All roads result in the Sport Spirit for Sir Gino, with Jango Baie primed for Sandown check
Regardless of beginning his season over hurdles within the Combating Fifth, Sir Gino has loved a stellar marketing campaign over fences for Seven Barrows to this point.
When requested if the upcoming Sport Spirit Chase could possibly be a possible subsequent check, Henderson replied: “I think that’s the plan, I’d like to go to Newbury and he’s in good form.”
One other of Henderson’s fees displaying promise is Jango Baie, who sparkled on seasonal look at Cheltenham’s December assembly, beating the likes of Springwell Bay and Caldwell Potter.
Trying forward, Henderson commented: “[The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase] has been his target all the way along and hopefully we’ll be there [at Sandown] on Saturday.”
East India Dock to check Lulamba in Triumph
James Owen’s East India Dock emerged as the primary challenger to Henderson’s Lulamba for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with an attention-grabbing success in a Trial at Ascot not too long ago, which caught the eye of the six-time champion coach.
“I was impressed with him [East India Dock]. We’ve got to do our thing, they’re going to do theirs. He sets a good pace and if he’s going to do that come March then he’s going to give them a nice lead and I hope we’re somewhere on his tail to have a look and see what’s happening.
When asked if he had any others in the yard he couldn’t wait to run, the 74-year-old replied: “The opposite one which comes out is Fortunate Place for the Stayers’. That type is excellent! When he received on New 12 months’s Day, he beat Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse [Gowel Road] giving it 6lbs and that got here out and received Saturday. I believe that type is fairly strong. We’re taking that he’ll keep three miles on belief so he did not run on Saturday, however I believe he comes into the equation.”
What’s the latest on Palladium?
All eyes were on Huntingdon on January 23 when €1.4m purchase Palladium flew the flag for Henderson for the first time, donning the colours of Lady Bamford. Despite a fair amount of nay-sayers on social media after the victory, his trainer was pleased with what he saw.
He said: “We have been thrilled with him. It is a type of foolish conditions due to price ticket. For those who keep in mind years in the past each time Jonbon ran they needed to point out what he price. You will discover now they by no means point out what he price, as a result of he was low-cost.”
“Palladium does must run once more. He is a giant colt they usually take fairly much more work – he is fairly stuffy. I used to be even speaking to the earlier trainers who mentioned he wasn’t good at residence, he solely got here on on the racecourse. He will have a summer time marketing campaign on the Flat. We will win the Hardwicke after which he’ll turn into a stallion after going for the Melbourne Cup.
Earlier than hanging up the telephone, Matt Chapman squeezed in a closing query about the potential for sooner or later sending Structure Hill Flat racing.
Jovially, Henderson responded: “We talked about it a couple of years ago and I said to John Gosden, ‘look out we might go for the Gold Cup!’ He thought I was talking about Cheltenham, but I was talking about Ascot! It’s always crossed my mind. The ground would be the frightening thing to keep him up for that long to find out it’s too firm to run on.”
Watch Unbridled with Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan in full on the At The Races YouTube channel.
