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Henderson delays Duel decision

Nicky Henderson is to wait until tomorrow before deciding whether Dusk Duel will run in the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The Lambourn trainer has delayed schooling the second-season chaser over fences by 24 hours so that jockey Mick Fitzgerald can take the reins.

'I`m going to school him tomorrow as Mick couldn`t make it. The intention would be I would be looking towards running,' Henderson said today.

'But I just want to be careful. It`s an ante-post race, there is betting on the race and I`m not just going to commit him totally at this moment.'

Dusk Duel, 7-1 with Ladbrokes for the Tripleprint, was a close third to Best Mate and Wahiba Sands in the First National Gold Cup at Ascot on his reappearance three weeks ago.

Saturday already looks like being a big day for Henderson as he confirmed Landing Light a definite runner in the Victor Chandler Bula Hurdle.

'He`s absolutely fine,' said Henderson of the six-year-old, who made a winning seasonal debut in the Pertemps `Fighting Fifth` Hurdle at Newcastle last month.

And he added that Greenhope would bid to extend his 100 per cent record to three in the Mick Seery Memorial Juvenile Novices` Hurdle.