Henderson likely to put star Soldatino away for year
Nicky Henderson added to the embarrassment of riches in his hurdling team as Soldatino provided him with a fifth success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Henderson has won the last two renewals of the Champion with Binocular and Punjabi, while last year’s Triumph hero Zaynar graduated to take third behind the former on Tuesday.
And Soldatino was given quotes ranging from 33-1 with Sky Bet to 14-1 with Ladbrokes for the 2011 renewal after denying Barizan a gutsy front-running success.
Barizan went off like the clappers in front and he bounced off the quick ground to pull 15 lengths clear of the pack charging to the second-last.
In stark contrast Barry Geraghty had French import Soldatino buried away at the back of the field on his second British outing before making stealthy headway passing halfway.
The Gold Cup day crowd could sense a dramatic climax and the roars reached fever pitch as Barizan rounded the home turn with a healthy advantage, which was steadily being eroded by Soldatino.
The 6-1 chance slowly but surely ate into the lead and collared Barizan soon after the final flight to pull a length and a quarter clear.
Henderson said: “This is lovely as we came here with a young squad all round and it is nice they are doing the job.
“You nearly felt sorry for the second horse because he got away from them. You have to say he’s run a fantastic race.
“You worry that he is only a baby and it was a long way to have to go on your own and catch the other horse because the gap was huge, but he does stay.
“He’s an exciting horse but I don’t think you will see him again as I am inclined to put him away for the year.”
Geraghty was always confident of catching the front-runner, and said: “I gave him a couple of slaps before the last to keep him going forward. I knew I would get there well enough.
“It’s a long way from the second-last home and having gone that quick, he couldn’t keep it up to the line.”
Soldatino is owned by the increasingly prominent Simon Munir, who said: “I am glad we entered him in the Triumph. We only registered him the day the entries closed so it was a job to get him in.
“We ran him in the Adonis and that made us think to give the Triumph a go.”
The runner-up’s trainer Evan Williams said: “It is disappointing to get gunned down close home but the winner is obviously a very talented horse. He needs good ground so Aintree is an obvious target and the track should suit.”
The field finished well strung out with Alaivan a seven-length third, and his Irish compatriot and 7-2 favourite Carlito Brigante just over three lengths adrift in fourth.
Alaivan’s trainer Edward O’Grady said: “He has run a great race and reversed form with Carlito Brigante, which we are delighted about.
“He could possibly take the same route as Jumbo Rio last year and go to France as he stays well and likes soft ground.”
