Henderson Hopeful Over Afsoun

Nicky Henderson believes there is 'every reason to hope' that Afsoun will make the line-up for Friday's JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Seven Barrows handler issued a warning over the weekend that all was not totally well with the four-year-old after he failed to eat up on Friday night.

However, Henderson is satisfied with Afsoun's present condition and will maintain a watching brief.

'We've just had him out and he is a bit brighter this morning,' he said yesterday. 'I think we are just going to have to monitor him over the next 24 hours.

'We will be taking blood from him tomorrow morning but he's been out for a little stretch.

'He's an exuberant horse and he seemed quite perky in himself and he nearly ate up last night.'

Afsoun is as low as 5-1 with William Hill after winning at Huntingdon and Cheltenham on his last two starts.

Henderson is hoping the extra time before Friday's race will be in Afsoun's favour and he is glad to have completed the bulk of the gelding's preparations.

'He's done all his work so there's nothing I need to do on that score and I think we have every reason to be hopeful he will be OK,' he explained.

'If it was on Tuesday we would be in trouble but the race is not until Friday.'

Henderson also issued an upbeat bulletin on the rest of his Festival team which could include Liberthine, Caracciola and Greenhope.

'The others have all been out and they're all in very good form,' he added.

? PA Sport