- Nicky Henderson rated his runners ahead of the Betfair Hurdle on Saturday
- 74-year-old has four runners in the line-up amid testing Newbury conditions
Nicky Henderson says Iberico Lord and Doddiethegreat are the best equipped of his four runners to cope with testing Newbury conditions for the Betfair Hurdle.
The trainer, who has won Britain’s most valuable handicap hurdle five times, also has top weight Luccia and Under Control in the line-up.
Iberico Lord, who impressively beat today’s rival Lookaway in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, followed up with a below-par effort when behind Luccia at Ascot’s Christmas meeting.
Henderson said: ‘I’m never sure about Luccia. She won at Sandown in desperate ground but I think better ground helps her. I know Nico De Boinville feels Iberico Lord will like the soft ground and probably Doddiethegreat.
‘I cannot explain Iberico Lord’s run last time, his performance was shocking really. Nothing came to light and his work has been very good.’
Nicky Henderson rated the respective chances of his four runners at the Betfair Hurdle
Veteran trainer insisted he couldn’t understand Iberico Lord’s disappointing Ascot performance in December
Willie Mullins’ Ocastle Des Mottes, who makes his debut for the Irish trainer, heads the betting. He has winning form on heavy ground in France and is potentially well handicapped with the British handicapper giving him a lower rating than his Irish counterpart.
The Newbury going has prompted Ben Pauling to scratch Tellherthename.
