Racing: Henderson sees light in champion clash
Classy performer Landing Light has emerged as a serious challenger to the mighty Istabraq at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Trainer Nicky Henderson is already relishing the prospect of snatching away Istabraq’s crown with Landing Light, winner of Kempton’s Pertemps Christmas Hurdle.
Landing Light was later quoted as low as 9-2 by Coral for the Champion Hurdle after his victory in the Grade One contest.
‘‘We’re in there with a fighting chance,’’ said Henderson. ‘‘Istabraq’s got to come out and show his colours now, and I hope he does for their sake.
‘‘I don’t know what we’ll do in the meantime, but he’d certainly have only one more run between now and Cheltenham.’’
Landing Land pulled victory out of the fires of defeat, having met interference leaving the back straight.
The six-year-old suddenly picked up from the second last and a telling burst took him past Milligan and maintained the momentum to beat Bilboa by two and a half lengths, with Hors La Loi III returning to form another length and a half away in third.
‘‘Mick (Fitzgerald) said he had a horrible journey round the bottom bend, he got really knocked back,’’ observed Henderson.
‘‘He’s done well to win from there. Once he gets out, then he really does go and do it. But it was a horrible position to come from.
‘‘He has his own style of doing it, but once he’s come out he’s quickened up seriously well.
‘‘He’s given them a good start turning in, which wasn’t intentional. But he’s a good little hurdler. He’s incredibly quick and neat. Mick says he’s a motor car when you can switch him on like that.’’
