Henderson keen for Punjabi prep

Nicky Henderson is pinning his hopes on a two-mile hurdle race being added to the card at Kempton next Saturday to enable Punjabi to have a preparatory outing ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

The current holder of the Champion Hurdle title was due to run at Wincanton yesterday, only for the meeting to be abandoned after a heavy overnight frost.

Plans had been in place on Friday to move the race to Ascot should the plug have been pulled earlier, and Henderson is keen that the British Horseracing Authority and other stakeholders can come up with a replacement.

BHA public relations manager Paul Struthers said: "We will consider the situation on Monday. It may be that we don't save the Kingwell but instead look to put on a conditions hurdle over two miles."

"We will make a final decision on Monday after discussions with racecourses, the Levy Board and connections."

Henderson said: "It is very disappointing to lose the race when it would have suited everybody to have run it at Ascot. Everything was in place to transfer it and it has been lost when it needn't have been."

"I understand Wincanton wanted to race on their big day but I now have a horse sat at home who I want to run. If Kempton put on a two-mile hurdle next weekend then Punjabi will run there."