Henderson Walking On Air with novice hurdlers

Walking On Air added his name to Nicky Henderson’s already lengthy list of smart prospects and could be on course for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after sauntering to success in the Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury this afternoon.

The 5/6 favourite had been beaten in a Kempton bumper on his debut last season, but made no mistake on his hurdling bow, powering to a 13-length success from Hecouldbetheone in the hands of Nico de Boinville.

Henderson said: “We were getting going before Christmas and then he had a few niggly problems — nothing serious — and it has taken a bit of time to get ready and get out.

“These sort of races are where we need to start.

“He is lovely, he is big, solid and is going to make the most fantastic chaser one day — he jumped them big all the way around. I think the good part is that the mare (Refinement) stayed three miles.

While the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is an option, with Coral cutting his odds to 25/1 from 50s, Henderson already has Jonbon and Constitution Hill in that event so may head for the Ballymore instead, for which Ladbrokes go 10/1 from 40/1.

He said: “You would have to be thinking along the lines of the Ballymore. I would not want to go any more than two and a half. If that is the plan, he would need to run again.

“He has won his maiden and so you can afford to run in a novice under a penalty. You’d like to think he would be going to Cheltenham. He is a mature fella and he looked the part.”

That next start could be at Huntingdon next month. Henderson added: “The Sidney Banks is one possibility. He is obviously not going to go to Trials Day (at Cheltenham).”