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Tuesday, 22 November 2011

The Magnificent Henderson Seven



Nicky Henderson has achieved a first as a four-timer at Kempton contributed to a grand total of seven winners from as many runners across the country.

Darlan, Mossley, Chablais and Whoops A Daisy won at Kempton, Foxbridge and Owen Glendower at Ludlow, while Top Of The Range was victorious at Ffos Las.

"This is quite special, I don't know if I've had seven, I remember having six one Boxing Day," Henderson said.

"We haven't had seven out of seven, that I can be fairly sure of."

The seven runners obliged at combined odds of 66-1 in an accumulator.

Henderson is the first British trainer to have seven winners from seven runners in one day and his triumphs evoked memories of Frankie Dettori's magnificent seven at Ascot in 1996 when the jockey went through the card.

Mossley was the shortest-priced runner at Kempton at 1-8 favourite following his second place in last season's Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Barry Geraghty, who was aboard all four at Kempton, had to sit tight when Mossley misjudged the fifth-last fence but the pair soon recovered to finish 10 lengths clear.

"I think Mossley slightly went to sleep, he made one mistake, but Barry said he winged the last two," Henderson said.

There was a little added pressure in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle as owner JP McManus was on hand to watch his 1-4 favourite Darlan.

Winner of his only start in a bumper at Haydock last April, Darlan was not foot-perfect over the obstacles but was far too speedy for Sleeping City.

And even if Chablais (8-15 favourite) developed a habit of jumping to the left in the two-mile Halcyon Gallery Novices' Chase, the lightly-raced gelding had pounds in hand himself.

"We had a fantastic day on Friday with five winners and then Saturday was a bit bruising with Long Run and Oscar Whisky being beaten, but this is special," Henderson added.

Paul Nicholls's Violin Davis went off the 11-10 favourite for the Listed race and tried to make all the running but was tackled by Whoops A Daisy (7-2) and Cloudy Spirit in the home straight.

It was the latter who gave Henderson's runner most to do and eventually finished two lengths behind.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Darlan
Mossley
Chablais
Whoops A Daisy
Foxbridge
Owen Glendower
Top of the range