Henderson Remains Baffled By Kim Flop

Nicky Henderson was still at a loss on Sunday to explain Khyber Kim's tame reverse in the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster.

Sent off the 2-5 favourite after a superb debut success over timber at Newbury, the six-year-old could only finish fourth to Tazbar.

The Caroline Mould-owned gelding returned to Seven Barrows in good nick but Henderson believes that performance was too bad to be true.

Significantly, the form from his Newbury win in December was franked as Theatre Girl, no match for Khyber Kim that day, ran a fine race behind Henderson's Chomba Womba in a Grade Two on Town Moor.

'Nothing has come to light at the moment and he's perfectly sound,' said Henderson.

'Chomba Womba and him are very similar at home and what Chomba Womba and Theatre Girl did on Saturday showed that form was probably wrong.

'It's our job to find out what happened and to hopefully get him back to where he was.'

Chomba Womba was three-quarters of a length too smart for Alan King's Theatre Girl and is as low as 5-2 to win the inaugural David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old also holds an entry in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle but will not be heading down that road.

'We won't be going for that (the Champion Hurdle) as two miles is probably too tight for her,' added Henderson.

'She's fantastic after Saturday and it was a really good effort over two miles and on that ground.

'I was extremely happy because her and the other one (Theatre Girl) finished a long way clear of the rest ? they are very, very good.'

Henderson also reflected upon a profitable afternoon at Cheltenham, where Aigle D'Or rubber-stamped his Festival credentials with a noteworthy victory in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.

The JP McManus-owned gelding now heads the betting for the same-sponsored race in March and is likely to return straight to Prestbury Park.

Henderson said: 'He's absolutely fine and we are not expecting him to run again (before Cheltenham).

'He will have learned a lot from Saturday because he learned absolutely nothing when he won at Lingfield.

'Two and a half miles looks his trip ? he's certainly not short of speed and he's proved he can stay.'

(C) PA Sport